Damascus sewing machine help needed
 

How can I find the date on my machine? I can't find a serial number on it. It's don't think it's in the original cabinet

Hi Abbigail, Welcome aboard. You probably know Damascus was a Sears brand. Unfortunately they rebadged many machines so it gets tricky. if you have a vibrating shuttle machine the ID could be on the closest sllide plate. A picture could give us some clues, but it has to be very small to post it here.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]612314[/ATTACH]This is my prettiest

Hi Abbigail: Welcome from Vancouver Island, B.C.

Oh wow! That is beautiful. Mine is in bad shape, a few parts are missing including the slide plate. I had a small base made for it to have as a decoration for my room. A friend was going to throw it away!

I don't have a clue how to add photos.

If yours has the ornate decals like leon posted, then it's an earlier model. Sears sold this name with both rotary (round bobbin) and vibrating (shuttle).

I believe most of them were made by National, so I'd guess that puts them to a date after Sears stopped using Davis (early 1920's).

I have a Damascus Grant (rotary) manual that shows this model
https://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c...psgxiykblg.jpg

and it also includes this "updated" insert for the latter design.

https://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9vbvcx7n.jpg

Here is my rotary version.

https://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c...psprcmzjgr.jpg

I have the VS version to match, but don't have a picture handy.

If you notice, there are some significant differences between Leon's machine and mine. Mine is made by National, his may be made by a different company. Easiest way for me to figure that out is to see what feet match up. Even though they are top clamp used by several, most are slightly different.

Mine only has Damascus written on it. It also has a plate (missing) that opens to the front.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]612317[/ATTACH]Some Damasci have flip up bobbin covers.

I've never seen that!

visit the QB Help forum and there are many Sticky threads there that explain how to upload photos depending on the device you are using.

Leon, that looks like National to me. National made some with side facing tension, though they made more with nose end tension.

Abigail, it sounds like you have a vibrating shuttle machine. It looks sort of like this.

https://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c...psxz3bnzbl.jpg

got motivated to go out to the shed and get a picture of my Damascus

https://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c...psqchqsqrx.jpg

Link to picture library of most National sewing machine models and brief National article from Ismacs. For dating information you can try Anne at the email mentioned in the National article. For the long bobbin models the serial number is stamped in the casting underneath the front slide. If you are able to get ahold of Anne she will need the serial.

http://needlebar.org/cm/thumbnails.php?album=260&page=1

http://ismacs.net/sewing_machine_art...recommend.html

Jon

Hmm- guess I remembered wrong and Damscus is a Wards name, not Sears (use to always get them two mixed up as a kid too).

And that makes more sense as most of the machines made for Wards were National machines. I have quite a few of them - ones sold specifically by Wards.

Rats. I told her wrong on my first post too. sigh

Hello, I have a Damascus Grand and the manual says it's a Monkey Wards item too. I'd love to learn more about it. After 5 years of badgering I finally got my husband to get it up and running. :D

Damascus Grand
 

Need help knowing whether or not the hand wheel is removable on my Damascus Grand.
Most are on other vintage machines but I'm unable to get off even after removing the 3 set screws .
Any ideas? I wouldn't bother but machine is in serious need of cleaning.
Also, screw holding the bobbin winder mechanism is not budging. No amount of oil, WD40,
liquid wrench, etc. works. Again, it's dirty and in need of cleaning. Other than that, she purrs!!!

You might get more replies if you started a separate thread for this question, rather than tacking on to another thread.