Question regarding my newly acquired Damascus Grand
 

does anyone know where I can get manufacture date of my Damascus Grand by its serial number. A similar site like Singer has.

There is no National SMCo database. I assume the records are lost. Best bet is to get ahold of Damascus Annie who has a collection of warranty dates. I'm uncertain which sites she is active on these days.

Jon

You can get an idea by the model - and since Wards sold rotary machines with the Damascus Grand for many years, a picture would help to determine that.

I have one of the older style, really like the looks of that machine!

National was headquartered in Belvidere, IL and Free (including New Home) was headquartered just a few miles away in Rockford, IL, both close to Chicago. I did some research on both companies at the local libraries there. The chart I have says the Damascus (it doesn't say Damascus Grand) was manufactured in 1937, and I own a Damascus with a warranty certificate dated 1937 but I'm sure production spanned more than one year. But 1937 is a good starting point. One thing to remember is that all of the American sewing machine manufacturers quit manufacturing sewing machines during WWII and produced war materials. National supplied the machines for Montgomery Ward and there were several models in the line. I read a post by Damascus Anne a few months ago in which she said even with her years of research, she still had a hard time matching pictures people sent her with her research.

"Damascus" was used for the VS machines, and "Grand" for the rotaries.

The older style is more boxy in shape, the newer style is more curved, especially the pillar.

Cathy,

I never knew that. I guess it can be wrong, but the according to the ISMACS Needle List, National made Damascus Grand Vib. and Damascus Grand Rotary. Any idea why? There are others listed too, but my brain is not up to the challenge right now!

Trying, but can't add a PDF here.

On the other hand, see the ISMACS needle list here http://ismacs.net/searchresults.html...list&sa=Search

There are lot of conflicting lists out there - and put out by who knows who. I've seen many that had errors so I don't worry about that. I have several manuals, and seen lots of vintage adds, and the Grand is always the Rotary model (considered higher end).

Hi Maria,

Not Cathy but I haven't spotted a Damascus Grand Vibrating shuttle. If they exist there not as numerous as the Rotary models.

dwhitesmith likely has a Rotary model which uses Eldredge Rotary, Boye 21, or DD needles. A picture never hurts to confirm.

Jon

Now Jon, you don't sound like Cathey at all. I don't think I would have mistaken you for her!

My Damascus VS in not a Grand. I started to include the needle info but was hoping you would jump in. Agree pic would be nice.

This is my Damascus Grand

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

This is an insert that came in the manual showing the updated model

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps9vbvcx7n.jpg

I did spot a "Damascus Rotary". Not sure how that fits in. Pre Damascus Grand???.

The Ismacs list combines about 12 different needle lists so there's lots of good,repeat, and incorrect info and only so much editing is possible. There are still many needle debates going on due to some manufacturer claiming a certain needle will work in a particular model.

To illustrate I have 2 copies of the Singer Interchangeable Needle List. The recommended needle from the Singer list for Eldredge Rotary or Damascus Grand is 127x1, commonly used on Wheeler and Wilson. Singer never made an Eldredge Rotary needle so this is the closest they made. No clue on how well this would work.

Jon

Jon, I think those two are the same length, but isn't the WW a full round shaft?

From my notes, I think that was the only difference between the two. I believe the full round will fit in the National, however the sewest would have to be very careful to get it in correctly since there is not "flat side" to help "center" it.

On an interesting note, the needles for my Long Arm are full round, and the instructions talk about rotating the needle slightly to advance or retard the timing if needed for problem fabrics or thread.

I think the Damascus Rotary is a later version. After the word "Rotary" got popular. I have older black attachment boxes, most say "attachments" but some of the later versions are marked "Rotary", "White Rotary" and "New Home Rotary". Though when I say "later" it's 1920's or so. I think by 1935-1940 the metal boxes had been replaced with cardboard boxes.

I am more interested with the attachments than the machines, but I need machines to go with the attachments!

It's also possible that the two machines the above post were somewhat contemporary, meaning the older version was still available as the treadle model, and the updated version came as the electric model.

Cathy,

Link to the Damascus Rotary. Definitely a different model than yours.

http://fullfreezer.blogspot.com/2012...d-and-omg.html

The 127x1 and Eldredge Rotary are pretty close, both have a flat shank, but the 127x1 is about 1.5mm longer. This might be critical in a Rotary model but fine for a VS.

Very interesting about cocking the needle to one side.

Jon

I'd love to get one of those early Rotaries - From what I've read, that is the earlier version - more often seen as Eldredge Rotary. Seems odd that a move from side tension to front tension would be a later version, but it appears so, and we know the front tension was pretty much standard with National Rotaries from later years.

Also very interesting that the decal set for the later front tension (like mine) is identical to that used on the side tension model - guess they had them left over and didn't want to toss them. Other than the change in the stitch length adjustor, they are very similar. The picture Needlebar has appears to be one earlier than in the link you shared, with the one in the link being more similar in shape to mine.