Manuals with accessories/attachments pre to 1889
 

I have found very few sewing machine manuals prior to 1889, and dated manuals are even rarer.

I am particularly interested in manuals that explain attachments.

So far I have search through the Smithsonian and checked ISMACS and VSS largely without success.

Does anyone have any sources or actual manuals?

What are ISMACS and VSS. There is a site on this board for vintage machines. The Charlton Sewing Center in Charlton Massachuttes has a large collection of antique sewing machines. They may have information. There is or was a museum of textile in Lowell Massachuttes that had early machines. Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge Ma has a large collection of sewing information. These may be helpful.

Also, the Vintage Sewing Center and museum in a Tulsa Ok

VSS is victoriansweatshop.com, ISMACS.net is International Sewing Machine Collectors Society.
bk

A fun search!
I suppose a number of attachments have come and gone as good ideas that weren't, but most attachments have been pretty standard though time. Rufflers, bias or flat lock binders, rolled hemmer, walking feet, buttonholers... if there isn't a Griest room on some museum there should be :)

Unfortunately I live in Australia and it appears that the Charlton Sewing Center and the Vintage Sewing Center in Tulsa do not have useful web sites.

Richard, I think the best bet is collector sites where they are willing to share manuals. Are there specific machines in question? I am surprised you did not find much on VSS. Have you tried facebook? I doubt sewing centers would have the manuals you are looking for?
Specific countries?+Needlebar.org has a few manuals
I wish I could be of more help, but it seams you have checked the major groups.

I found this from ISMACS. Hope this will help in a small way. I'm going to keep searching.

http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...ments-1888.pdf

This may help some also. Scroll down for attachment directions.

http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...e-manuals.html

Tulsa museum on Peoria is closed but the center is still partially open. older pic