davis vertical feed question
 

I went to look at an "1883 Davis sewing machine" from CL today in hopes that it would be one of those vertical feed machines that has gotten praises here for its quilt binding capabilities. However, I am not at all sure what I was looking at. Unfortunately I do not have pics. My understanding of the vertical feed machine is that it has no feed dogs and the needle bar goes back and forth as well as up and down. Well, this machine had no feed dogs, but the needle bar only went up and down, not back and forth. It had some gizmo in front of the needle that looked as if it would push fabric under the needle from the top. Was this an earlier model of the VF, or was it the usual VF machine with the back and forth motion frozen and some sort of pleating attachment on it? That is all I can think of. I would love to hear anyone's thoughts on this! Thanks!

Here is a link to the different models of the Davis Vertical Feed machines:
http://www.kelsew.info/domestic/davisVFmodels.html

Do you have the link to the CLs ad? Without a photo of machine, I can't be of much help.

Thanks! I think it was most like the VF2, but cant recall if the body was rounded. I don't think it was. The ad did not include a photo and I am kicking myself for not taking one myself. I was confused by the contraption in front of the needle. After looking at the manual on ISMACS, I am inclined to think it was a ruffler attachment. It had a flat piece of medal that pushed towards the needle as I turned the wheel. My concern is that the needle only moved up and down, but perhaps that is how it works with the ruffler on? This will be my first treadle if I decide to get it, don't know much about them!

This is what the ruffler looks like for the Davis. [ATTACH=CONFIG]293482[/ATTACH]
The front piece is the ruffler (left side) and the needle and foot are behind (right side of photo image).
Hope this helps.
You are picking up an excellent machine to work with for quilting and binding work.

Monica, that pic with the ruffler is great!! At first I was very confused by my Davis regular foot...I couldn't figure out what the bar across the front was for. But after getting it to stitch a little bit, I see how it works. So ingenious!!

BTW - You can clean up that ruffler with some Bar Keepers Friend...it's great on those little rusty spots.

Thanks for that pic! It seems very similar to what I saw, although I don't remember it having little teeth on it like that, but perhaps I just didn't notice. I am not sure it had that foot on it either, but maybe I just need to go take another look! Thanks for all the trouble you have gone to with the picture!

That for the tip on the Bar Keepers Friend. I have a couple of other attachments that need a good cleaning also.