Mystery machine
 

Any idea what this might be?

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I'm guessing it's a Jones Serpentine, but it has some strange metal doodads around the base that I haven't seen in other pictures. I think the person who took the pictures didn't know it was a sewing machine, because they photographed it from the back.

Welcome. Just a guess but perhaps it was made by a Canadian maker like Raymond.

http://needlebar.org/cm/thumbnails.php?album=151

Jon

You may be right about that, since this is IN Canada, it might well be a Canadian machine. Thanks!

Wanzer is another early Canadian maker. Too bad the photo is at an odd angle.

Jon

she would be prety all cleaned and polished up. I bet she's really old too. if you refinish her, please show us.

My word! Just look, you can still see remnants of the decals on the top bar. I bet, cleaned up, carefully....

Update 5/24 : I went to the Victoria Day auction up in Balderson, and GOT this mysterious old machine! I was right - they *didn't* know it was a sewing machine. It was in a box with some rusty old axe heads.

I haven't had time to do much work on my sewing machine projects, because it's *finally* spring and I've been planting the garden. But that's nearly done, and I'll be going back to refinishing my Singer 27 treadle cabinet, and I'll have time to study this new guy.

Still no idea who the maker is - I thought I saw a raised badge on the underside, but can't see any raised lettering. I couldn't resist just making a tiny start, though, so I got a little sewing machine oil and tried uncovering a bit of the bed to see if I could bring up some of the decal. It looks pretty!

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The balance wheel turns, but the gears don't engage, so nothing else moves. I'll try to loosen things up with PB Blaster when I get a chance. The balance wheel is grooved, so I think this might have been a treadle machine. No sign of a crank or any place to attach one.

Going to be pretty when it's done. Don't know if you have the product called 'IRON OUT" It removes rust from clothes. Maybe a rag soaked in it then just wipe down in an inconspicuous spot then use the oil. just a suggestion/thought.

Thanks! I'll see if we have that up here. I've got a feeling I'm going to be trying a lot of products on this one, at least where it doesn't show!

It is most assuredly not a Jones. I would agree it is Canadian. Wanzer, Raymond, Guelph, etc. The shuttle (if present) can go a long way to identifying it. If you would like top post pictures of the area under the bed, it may also help.

I would STRONGLY recommend only using Sewing Machine oil to do your cleaning. You can use 0000 steel wool (super fine) in the steel parts, but the decals will be VERY sensitive to almost any chemical.

I also have an unknown Canadian machine that is similar. Mine looks like a cross between a Raymond and a Guelph
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Wow. It's amaizing how good the decals and Japanning are under the rust and dust. This is going to be very interesting!

I wouldn't use PB Blaster on the top of the machine or on any painted/japanned surface - I only meant I'd try it on the gears underneath and at the end under the balance wheel. I don't even know what is under the rust on the faceplate - plain polished metal or black paint? I'll carefully swab it with oil until I can tell what's what.

Your old machine looks very nice! I suspect mine must be missing some parts, but cleaning it is the first task, and I'm not going to hurry it. I've read about how delicate these old decals are.

A couple pictures of the underside.

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I asked a good friend who is an Antique Sewing Machine broker about this. His response was "I've had similar I'm not sure exactly what it is, but there's got to be a name in the stitch plate, almost every single Canadian machine ever made is marked on the stitch plate or slide plates."

So, let us know what you find!