Davis Verticle Feed, here she is, picture heavy
 

She's going to be wonderful! Congratulations.

NICE!! Now...I think you should package up those attachments and manual right away and send them to me for inspection!! While you're at it, toss the machine in the box too!! :D :D :D

Please tell me how that machine feeds the material with out feed dogs? I'm just dying to know.

Nice machine and glad you finally hooked up with the seller.

Joe

Uh fat chance Charlee. Just think what I went through to get her. The poor manual is so tattered and fragile so I am going to carefully straighten the pages and scan them. One of the worst worn and torn pages is the one showing how to wind the bobbin. Another page shows the exact size of the needle with an IMPORTANT NOTICE. The last sentence says "If there is no dealer in DAVIS V.F. SEWING MACHINES in your place, write directly to any office of this Company, enclosing 35 cents for one dozen needles of such sizes you may indicate. OK. I wonder if the offer is still good? Just kidding though. Does the Davis take a special size needle? Yep, I have a lot to learn. I think I may have found the name of the original owner though. Did do a little genealogical sleuthing and I think her first name may have been Elvira. Not conclusive at this point but it is a good vintage name.

Here is a youtube video showing the fabric feeding mechanism. Not my model but same principle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rxpWrP5Wrc

Once you see it you will understand how it operates. You may even decide that the Davis VF is a machine you might add to your growing collection. Best of all, no re-wiring.

Here is another one, a hand crank being operated by a man. Yes, Joe. You can do it.
:thumbup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW_hQ_HoBuE

I don't think Joe can watch You Tube on dial up?

Joe, it advances the fabric with the needle, and a bit with the foot of the machine. Instead of a round hole for the needle to travel through to get to the bobbin, it's an elongated hole, that allows the needle to move front to back while it's in the bobbin area. Once it gets to the back, the needle lifts and starts the cycle over. These machines are engineered to stitch 1200 stitches per minute, which is not bad for a treadle machine! :)

Ok Caroline...I understand if you don't care if your manual and attachments, along with the machine are good enough for you...I was just trying to help.... :( ~wink and a grin~ If you'll share that last name with me, I'll help you look for Mrs. William ???

ETA: I forgot to ask...did you join the Davis VF yahoo group yet? You need to enter the machine's info in the database...we can get a good idea of the date that way! :)

And then I didn't answer your needle question! Yes....they took a Boye 10 needle, or Jon tells us we can use a Mtx...uhmmmm.....er.... 190?

Mizkaki sells them...I know that much!! :D

I guess good machines come to those who wait.... and wait....... Glad you have what you sought, and I think it will clean up well. Please post before and after? Thanks.

Wonderful, enjoy!!!!

I learned about the MTx.....uhm......er....190 from the Davis VF group. At the time they had a few members who studied replacements for obsolete needles which I thought was really interesting and practical.
Jon

:D Jon, would you by chance be making fun of my aging memory?? ~wink and a grin~

Not at all, at least you didn't call it a "stabber thingy".
Jon

Well worth the messing around. Should clean up beautifully.

Charlee,

Yes I can watch YouTube videos, but it takes a very long time to download load them.

Thanks for the description of how it works.

Joe

That would be because Caroline already reminded me that they're called "needles"!! :D

Joe, do you want detailed photos of the needle area?

Sure, a couple wouldn't hurt. You know what they say; a photo is worth a 1000 words.

Joe

Here you go!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]322660[/ATTACH]

this first one is needle up...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]322661[/ATTACH]

Needle Down...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]322662[/ATTACH]

Needle moved to the back of the slot.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]322663[/ATTACH]

Needle back up. You'll notice the needle plate has two "slots". They are different sizes, one for large needles, one for smaller needles.

Hope this helps! :)

Caroline, Congrats on your Davis!! You will love sewing with this one. As Charlee stated, sign up at the Yahoo Davis groups. There is also an excellent tutorial on cleaning the inside of the machine, if needed. Enjoy!!

Thanks for the Yahoo reminder. I will sign up. And yes, she needs a good cleaning inside and out. Besides dust and varnished oil, she even had cobwebs. I do plan to restore the cabinet as someone had attempted it but never finished. Also tomorrow I will do an inventory of the attachments and take pictures to post.

I have a pdf of the manual for the Davis VF if anyone needs it. I just finished restoring my Davis. What a hoot! She is running great. Gonna make my next quilt on her. She is supposed to be great for quiulting and sewing curves. We'll see. Will post pics as soon as I can.

I would love to have a pdf of the manual. The manual that came with my new girl is so tattered and fragile that I hesitate to use it. I will PM you to give you my Email address. Thank you for the offer.

The Davis Yahoo Group has a manual on their site.

Congratulations!! You have lots of very nice decals on her, and a drawer full of attachments is a great find! I got attachments with mine, too, and have found out they are rare as hens teeth!

There are some sources for Boye #10 needles on the internet...I found a couple through eBay, but it's kinda hit and miss. I have bought a few and honestly am hoarding them!! They are hard to find, but keep looking!

Thanks, I joined last night but have not had time this morning to go look. My fault as I am spending too much time on the QB this morning. LOL

She will be so much fun, I am working on "Miss Faye" at the moment too. She is a Damascus treadle. Beautiful! Beautiful machine you have. Have fun!

Update - Davis VF attachments
 

Very NICE collection of attachments. The manual shows you how they work. I have tested some of mine that came with my Davis NVF and posted on my blog photos. Enjoy!!!

Congratulations, I bet she will be really beautiful after her spa treatement. Nice cabinet too.

Hi Caroline,

Looks like you have a boat shuttle from possibly an earlier Davis. Hard to come by. Good luck with the new "baby".

Jon

Jon, so Caroline's machine, from 1904-5, would have a "regular" bullet shuttle?

Yessum, hopefully it's in the machine.

Jon

Yep, there is a shuttle in the machine besides the one in the drawer. Going down to take it out and take pictures.

Pics of the shuttles. Top shuttle is the "boat" shuttlle that obvviosly does not belong to the sewing machine.The bottom shuttle was in the sewing machine. The second photo shows the shuttles and the bobbin with vintage thread still on it. Note that the "boat" shuttle is a little shorter and fatter.

Cool!! You can send the boat shuttle to me!! :D (I know....it's a sin to covet...but I'm so very good at it! LOL!!) (And I should also add that I'm joking...I have two for mine....)

Hi,

Doesn't look like a Davis boat shuttle. Interesting to figure out what machine it belonged to, though. I'm sure someone out there would love to have it.

Jon

I agree with you Jon. It is not a Davis boat shuttle. The Davis shuttle is marked Davis. I am going to take other pictures of it tomorrow and post them. I did do a little Internet searching trying to find an image of the one I have and so far no luck. So far it is an unknown.

Congratulations!!

Hi Caroline,
Think Davis only marked their shuttles for a period of time, most of my bullet shuttles are not marked and none of my boat shuttles are.

Enjoy
Jon