Bobbin & Thimble ID Help Needed
 

Hi,

I just received some sewing related junk from ebay and need some help on identifying some bobbins and thimbles.

The bobbins I originally thought were Wheeler and Wilson but are much thicker than any W&W I'm familiar with. Dimensions are 13/16" in diameter and 9/16" thick. Anyone know what machine these went to?

I know pretty much nothing about thimbles and silver but one thimble is hallmarked and all are non magnetic. Can any one decipher the hallmarks and how to tell whether a thimble is silver or not?

Thanks
Jon

Take the thimbles to a Jeweler who, I am sure, can tell if they are silver. I know nothing about bobbins.

Thanks Trish.

I did some research on the hallmarked silver thimble and found it was made in Birmingham, England by James Fenton. Not positive but I believe the "A" for Birmingham silver represents 1849.

The bobbins look like ones recently posted here for a Singer Improved Manufacturing machine. Tough to tell whether the thickness is the same.

Fun night on the internet.

Jon

Jon,

I have some of those 'looks like, but is too big to be a W&W8' bobbins too. Mine are stamped with a tiny '4' on one side along the outer rim. Those things are thick. Very curious. I will go try one on my IM, but that machine takes the same bobbins as the IF (I have only 1 between the two machines).

Beautiful thimbles!

Suzanne

Suzanne,

If they work they're yours.

Jon

Thanks for the offer Jon, but I have no clue what they go to. They are much thicker than the bobbins for the IM/IF. Almost about 15 class size. So very curious!

Although you can let me know if you run across any spare IF bobbins. Those I could use!

Suzanne

first photo is mystery bobbin w/IF bobbin, second is w/class 15.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]537550[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]537552[/ATTACH]

Suzanne,

The Singer Improved Family or early Class 15 are still available new. I believe Cindy Peters @ Stitches In Time still keeps them. The are very tiny bobbins.

Our W&W style mystery bobbins appear to be the same thing.

https://www.facebook.com/17308731937...type=3&theater

Jon

looks like the one from my W&W 12

Hi Steve,

When opportunity permits, could you take a measurement? My bobbins measure 13/16" x 9/16" overall.

Thanks
Jon

Yes, mine are 9/16" thick by 13/16" round as well. Steve, you need these?

Suzanne

Jon, thank you for reminding me! I am such a bobbin snob and try to stick to vintage whenever possible that I totally forgot about the new ones.

Suzanne

The lion hallmark is English Sterling hallmark.

how is this?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]537588[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]537589[/ATTACH]

Edit to NOTE: These came from the only machine in my collection that Actually came out of a Victorian sweatshop... The reason that the bobbin has not been polished.

Steve,

Thanks, the bobbin appears to be 1/2"-9/16" wide. Can you use a few more bobbins? I think a collection is being taken up.

Jon

Patrick,

Yes, English sterling silver. Thank You.

I didn't know a thing about silver hallmarks until last night. I did some Googling and turned up the 14 is the thimble size. The J.F represents James Fenton, a Birmingham silversmith. The lion, like you say, for English sterling silver. The anchor for Birmingham assay office. The A represents the year 1773 or 1849, I'm guessing 1849. Turns out London and other different English towns all have different date hallmarks. Fascinating stuff one turns up in the pursuit of sewing machines.

Jon

i could indeed. off-board of course