I'm expecting again!
 

Since most of my machines are bought online, I normally have to wait before my new babies get delivered.

This is the most recent one - who can guess what she is? I've very happy to find one of these, and the case and bobbins are included.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...pse6f83659.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...pse4a6a048.jpg

Looks like a badged Davis Rotary--rather uncommon. I noticed the sale on ebay and was very tempted to bid.

Jon

Beautiful machine. Lots of potential. I assume the 'R' stands for Reverse.

I assumed the R stands for Rotary - but it does do a back tack so maybe it is Reverse.

I figured Jon would know what it was, and I figured I might end up bidding against him too LOL!!

I'm still looking for a 3/4 size VS Davis machine (with shuttle) and then I think I'll call my Davis collection "complete".

Davis made two 3/4 size machines--the model T (similar to Singer 28 or 128) with disc tension facing operator and the model N (Minnesota D) with tension on top of the arm. There's also the model G (Burdick, Minnesota B) which is 9/10 size. I wouldn't mind stumbling across a nice 3/4 size Davis and case with HC.

I once unknowingly got in a bidding war with a fellow QB member for a Vertical Feed and wound up paying twice of what I should have.

Jon

Nice get Macybaby! I don't think reverse was common when that machine was made so even better. One of the 3/4 size machines would be nice to me too. There's been a tempting vertical feed locally for a while now in my market. No funds to pull the trigger on it though. There won't be for a while either until we get our finances stable again.
Rodney

I picked up a very nice VF (newer version) for $10 - actually I picked up three machines for $30 and that was one of them. Maybe I should look for the Model N - I'd like a Davis with a top tension as I don't have one yet. Though my DH isn't very hot on the idea of having a machine with the name Minnesota on it in our house. Having lived the first 40 years of our lives in MN - neither of us are all that attracted to that state LOL!

There is a model T on eBay right now, and the seller says it has the shuttle with it. It's not in all that great of shape, but I'm still considering it. May wait and see if it's still there when I get back from vacation - never know what I may find in my traveling.

Cathy,

"Pathfinder" is another common Badge name your husband might be more approving of. Sort of a manly sewing machine. Must admit I'm not a fan of the Davis friction drive motors but there pretty neat with the hamilton beach swing away setup. Much prefer the 1940's belted motor upgrades though not as aesthetically pleasing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Path...p2047675.l2557

Jon

I saw that one, but it didn't have the shuttle. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the 3/4 size Davis take a very specific, hard to find shuttle? I've passed up several without shuttles because of that. I've not yet bought a machine just to get a shuttle, but I've come very close!

If it does take a specific shuttle, do you have one? I'd love to get a picture and some specs - I've got such a load of shuttles and some that I can't match up with any of the Boye group. I'd hate to be passing up on a machine that needs a shuttle only to find I've already got one in stock!

Cathy,
For some unknown reason, the Boye cabinet left out the Davis 3/4 size shuttle so it's somewhat difficult to find. They turn up as used parts on ebay but it's a bit of a dice roll on condition. Always easier to find a thing when it's not needed.

The 3/4 Davis shuttle looks exactly like the full size only shorter. I'll take a few pics later in the day.

Jon

Jon I really like that Pathfinder you posted. Too bad shipping often costs more than the machine. I don't troll Ebay much just for that reason.
Rodney

Most of the fun is in the looking for me though I was a little tempted with Cathy's "Alliance" Rotary. If I was richer I'd be in trouble though.

Pic of the 2 Davis bullet shuttles. The 3/4 size is 48 mm long or roughly 1-7/8":


:

Thanks for the picture - it's good to know it's exactly like the regular Davis, only shorter.

Are there two different size bobbins as well?
I'm asking because I don't know much about long bobbin machines and don't know how interchangeable the bobbins are.
Rodney

New Pathfinder
 

I have a nice Pathfinder in a nice treadle but I think mine is made by New Home, although I have been told by some it is a Davis. I really don't think so. It is very much like my Ruby(New Home) It is a great little sewer.
Skip

The Davis 3/4 sized machines also use 3/4 sized bobbins. Originals are tough to find but perhaps a longer bobbin could be made shorter more easily than hunting up a genuine bobbin.

Jon

Hi Skip,
National bought some of the Davis assets in '24 and used there badge names as well as "Davis". I'd guess New Home or National would be the manufacturer.

Jon

A gem in the ruff...

Thanks Jon,
I new it was a New Home or National just did not look right as a Davis. Thanks for the info.
Skip

Based on the top tension design, that one is a New Home.

So far, the Davis Treadles I've seen all have the belt on the outside of the flywheel. And the VS all have a square needle plate (this one is round). However Davis is not the only company with those two features . . . so having them does not prove it's Davis, but not having them kind of takes Davis out of the running.

Rodney, back in the early 1900's Boye Needle Company researched and came up with 12 different shuttle designs to meet most of the shuttle demand of the time.

And it's not all of them, just the most common.

They numbered them and the needles for each machine, and though there are few extra needles between some shuttle numbers, it's basically Odd for Shuttle and Even for needle. Note, very early sets have some numbers switched, this is the later (and more common) numbering. Be careful when buying by "number".

This is by MFG, not badged name.

1. Household
3. New Home
5. Standard
7. Domestic (before owned by White)
9. Davis
11. White (with pin)
13. National, Foley & Williams
15. Singer & Free
17. Demorest
19. New Royal (mfg by Free, but a very different made machine)
both 20 and 21 are needles
22. Eldredge (pre National)
25. Florence (new company, not the original "Florence")

I have a machine for each one except #22.

This is why I spent so much time looking at pictures and figuring out identifying differences. So many don't have the Mfg name them, so when I saw a machine I wasn't sure of, I'd spend a lot of time figuring it out.

Skip,

I did a little research and found out instead of a Davis model N it's a New Home model N (I think) courtesy of the Needlebar:

http://needlebar.org/cm/displayimage..._display_media

The bobbin winder / stitch length set up is pretty distinctive

Jon

Thanks Jon and Cathy, I knew it was a New Home. I have been working on these old machines for a long time and doing research and knew this but just was not sure. I have so many machines that I have worked on that I get confused sometimes. Thank you for confirming this for me.
Skip