New National - New Home
 

It kept popping up on the computer screen. Sewing machines will do that. Most Craigslist machines are only on the screen once, maybe twice. But this machine hung around a little longer than most. Then I didn't see it for a while.

It was back a couple of weeks later. After some time passed again, and it reappeared a third time, it seemed like it was really seeking our attention.

The machine is a New National. Based on its appearance, we casually judged its manufacturing date as somewhere around 1900. Just our impression. With a couple of phone calls and a trip across town, Janey returned one evening with the machine.

(New National - Front View)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]561389[/ATTACH]

We didn't think to get pictures of it as it was. Janey has already worked a lot to clean it up. The decals are in very nice condition. Here's a picture of the center emblem on the bed.

(New National - Emblem)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]561390[/ATTACH]

The serial number is probably in the worst shape of anything on the machine. It's badly discolored. With several lights on it, I got this picture. It is difficult to make out but we think it is US28558. Based on allocation dates, Janey thinks this machine was made around 1942. There's something curious about a machine with this appearance being made in 1942. It would have had an "old time" appearance, even then. Wouldn't it?

(New National - Serial Number)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]561391[/ATTACH]

It's a hand crank machine with a substantial wheel. It has a turn ratio of three to one, or three needle strokes for every turn of the crank.

The balance wheel has no clutch, but rather has a latch pin that engages with a hole in the large gear that drives the machine. Pulling out the pin and turning it slightly holds the pin in the retracted position.

(New National - Latch)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]561392[/ATTACH]

A thread take up mechanism uses a coil spring wire, with a thread loop pulled through a guide, to apply and keep tension on the thread.

(New National - Take Up)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]561393[/ATTACH]

The base for the machine has nicely made hinges, which Janey spent quite some time polishing. The hinges are set into holes in the cast base.

(New National - Hinge)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]561394[/ATTACH]

A release on the front of the machine allows for the machine to tip backward.

(New National - Bed Release)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]561395[/ATTACH]

A feature I like is the ability to tip the machine back, without it falling over. The base is heavy enough to counter-balance it. The hinges stop the machine from tipping too far back.

(New National - Tipped Back)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]561396[/ATTACH]

Janey may want to continue with the thread. There are some things she's researching and wanting to do, such as add some rubber feet to the bottom of the cast metal base. She's also working on the bobbin winder, trying to make it work a little better. I'm just getting some pictures here of this photogenic machine.

John

Your machine is so pretty, the work Janey has done is wonderful.

That is one very photogenic machine. What a wonderful end for that machine to go to someone who appreciates and will take good care of it. Enjoy!

The number or symbol at the end of the serial number looks awfully dissimilar to the second number (both of which you are calling "8"). Of course it's hard to tell from photos. Could that last item be a "B"?

Steve over at the VSS site might have some insight into the machine's age. Sure looks older than 1942!

Regardless of it's age, that is one beautiful machine!

I have one very similar, and figure it's around 1930-40. Interesting that New Home did make this same model with minor updates for 40-50 years. the older ones do not have US in the model number and have an older style bobbin winder. I've read that the finishing process also changed at some point, and almost all of them with nice decals are later - after the process was changed. One other thing, the newer styles take the shorter needle, and most have a picture of the needle showing the length at the base of the pillar. I believe it's the shorter needle that Free takes, logical because these probably were produced after Free acquired New Home.

Based on other model numbers, I think yours is US285587. All those I've seen like this have US with six digits.

The serial number is US266687. Evidently, John didn't remember that I posted to an existing (old) thread. http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...t62186-16.html

Yes, it has a decal of the needle to be used. John had wanted to mention that, too. As it turns out the "Exact Size" lines shows to the eye and not total length and then a needle with point extending past the eye. According to Needlebar it does take 15x1 needles.

I wish I had seen this one first about what Steve paid http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...k-t231431.html I didn't see an actual serial number, just model U which would have put it between 1923 and 1936. His has a different hand crank than this one.

As mentioned in my post regarding the serial numbers - " To save time explaining you can find the link to the pdf for machines made in Orange, MA or Rockford IL, on this page http://janome.com/en/support/general-support/faqs/ The link is near the bottom of the page where it says "Antique Machines" "

I wasn't able to get a washer on the bobbin winder where I wanted to. I ended up taking a piece of pool noodle stuffed behind the bobbin winder to hold the tire against the hand wheel. I also wrapped the thread completely around the tension screw. That seemed to work okay.

It actually came with a size 110 needle and I was able to make some practice stitches. I even tried one of the hemmers on some nylon fabric. When it caught the edge it made a beautiful hem, but I couldn't guide the fabric correctly and still hand crank. Something I noticed with the hemmer (Greist, maybe as narrow hemmer has Greist on it, but the other hemmers don't have any ID) is that fork part that attaches to the presser bar, the thickness is thinner and I couldn't tighten it so it would kind of wiggle. I changed to a size 90 needle to restitch the front of a oxford shirt placket and that worked a little better but would still miss some stitches. Now I can only get it to catch one stitch and then no more. I have tried changing pressure, reload bobbin, change tendsion screw, double check threading , change fabric and going slow.

Probably more later.

Janey, Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Such a beauty and in such good hands. Well done.

Gorgeous!!

Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful, hope you get it working better. Thanks for sharing.

MFord - After you pointed it out, I agree that the two "8"s don't look anything alike. It almost looks as if one 8 is upside down, opposite of the other. I didn't notice until you mentioned it.

Macybaby - Thank you for your help. It really helps to know the standard format, i.e. six digits.

I'm thinking this machine might have been popular in parts of the world without power. What sort of application do you suppose kept this machine on the market for forty or more years?

John