Is there a way of finding out how old a Jones Sewing machine is?
 

I have found a lovely Jones machine in a charity shop. There were 2 actually, one was the Jones machine and the other was a Singer. As I already had an old Singer I thought I would have the Jones instead this time round. It is a lovely machine and is in full working condition though the shop owner could not be sure it was working and gave it to me for a £10. Could I say 'no'? Nope! Had to have it though I knew I shouldn't have, really… :o

I have been looking for information about a Jones sewing machine but have not been able to find out anything. I have tried searching on the web but have not had any joy. I seem to remember a member on QB helping another person with the same query but cannot find the QB post now. Is there anyone out there who can help? :confused:

PS. Please excuse the photos; I was too excited to notice anything else other than the machine!

More pictures…..

I will look at Needlebar for you and see what I can find out, but I have to say that this machine has many of the same features as the Köhler that I'm in the process of cleaning up! My machine is post WW2, made in East Germany.... I find it interesting that so many things are the same! :)

Hi Charlee,

thank you for that. I noticed the similarities between this one and the Singer as well. Though as I am not an expert (more a newbie) they seem to have all been built of really strong and heavy materials! Would be nice to see what your machine looks like when you're done. I always thought that the 'Jones' machines were all German made but was pleasantly surprised that it had 'Made in England' on it. That's one misconception that has been ironed out! :o: Look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

Great laughter here- if you hadn't already told me where you live, the newspaper gives it away!

I've been looking at Needlebar too. I can't find any pictures of one like yours.

Has this machine got a standard flat sided needle? I always steer clear of the earlier Jones machines because they take a round headed needle and aren't worth the bother if you want to use it.

I am truly shocked that you thought they were made in Germany. In fact, I think I need to lie down.

You might enjoy this site http://www.sewalot.com

Hi Muv,

:D :D :D Yes, the papers do give everything away! As mentioned, I am an absolute novice at old machines. By the way, I meant 'America' and not 'Germany' in my previous post! Must have been rather distracted by the mention of 'Germany' in Charlee's message. Reason being, I only ever heard of the Jones machine here on quilting board and assumed (incorrectly) that it was an American brand. Well, now I know better.

The machine came with a broken needle and when I removed it, it was flat on one side. I have replaced the needle with another flat sided needle and tried to sew with it and it sews perfectly. In fact, the machine has been so well maintained. I think that it used to be a hand crank machine because there is a receipt - faded through the years - which detail a work order for the motor to be fitted that is dated 1984. I am presuming that the machine is older the that possibly?

I have tried to find a list of serial numbers (like on the Singer sites) but so far have drawn a blank. Well, I am hoping someone has an idea. I am very curious about this machine….Ummmmm :confused:

Thank you for the link. :)

wow what a great little find! I'd love to have a Jones machine, only because that's my maiden name :)

OMG! Now I've gotta find myself one of these. My maternal grandmother's name was C.B. Jones... I kid you not! Guess I'll be spending my free time trying to find one. Yippee! Thanks for sharing!

Congratulations on a very cute machine! thank you for sharing

MUV, thanks for the link. I loved the stories.

Nice machine. I will be watching to see what someone comes up with. I have two Jones, one is a fiddlehead treadle with coffin top and the other is a hand machine (that's what is imprinted on the bed of the machine.

Thank you. Wish you the best of luck finding a Jones machine.

Glad you like the pics. Best of luck with finding one.

Your welcome and thank you.

Excellent! Are looking to find out the age of your machine too? It has been impossible for me to find any other information apart from the general history of the company. I am hoping someone on QB will shed some light. :)

Yes, it is in extremely good condition. The photos were taken the day I brought the machine home and without any cleaning. So I am well pleased with this buy, but I must stop at the treadle which is on its way….My son has told me I need to stop. Sigh! What a short addictive affair! :D :D :D

That's about all I could find out when I was trying to do some research on it. I wrote to the guy Muv gave a link to and never heard back from him.

….My son has told me I need to stop. Sigh! What a short addictive affair!

:D:D:D...just smile and pat him on the shoulder, and say... yyyess, dear! And repeat the next time... :D

:D :D :D Excellent!! Love it!. Will let you know how I get on….:D :D Thank you! :thumbup:

On a more serious note, I'll keep trying to find out more about the machine if I can. If anything comes up, I'll let you know. Best wishes.

Lovely machine bizzielizzie
I have also just rescued an old treadle Jones sewing machine from being put on the scrap heap!
I just cannot find out how old it is!
I do know it was made in England manchester, and the serial number is 17836, model "medium CS"

Can anyone help?

Jones serial numbers
 

Nicely done website.

Jon

I was so happy when I found this. I purchased the same machine about 7 years ago, and at the time did a bit of research but came up with nothing. The machine I have is set into a table so was very easy to fold it away and use as a table.
Was having a clear out the other day and I came across the table and remembered the treasure hidden inside. so got it all out again and looked for hours on line for anything but all very vague so didn't really get far and then I came across a picture on a random Google search of your machine. Well after so much frustration and not one other photo of the exact machine I was over the moon.[ATTACH=CONFIG]530663[/ATTACH]
Very grateful for all the links shared as they helped but just so glad I've found at least one other machine like it :)
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They are darling machines! Love the pics and chat about this brand.

Nice looking machine. Sorry I can't help you find info on it.

I saw a fiddle base treadle one on ebay uk, but because I live in america, I didn't get it because the shipping would have been 4 times what they wanted for the machine. I read that the fiddle base Jones is from the 1870's. I have looked all over online, ismacs, needlebar and many other sites to try to find out how old my Jones is. I got a hand crank recently and she's a beauty. I know that Queen Victoria died in 1901 and then her son Edward the 7th became king and his wife was Alexandria. that's when they added her name to the decal as a marketing tool "a machine fit for a queen". mine is a Family CS, but doesn't say Queen Alexandria on it, so I can only guess that it was made before 1901. I could be wrong for all I know. I'd been wanting a Jones ever since I first saw one back about 25 years ago. a very beat up one here in america will run you about $500. I got my Jones hand crank for only £59!!!! that's $73 here. a friend picked it up for me over there and she mailed it to me. we found the cheapest shipping we could get and that was only $113. I can't believe it only took 2 days to get here from her house in England to my house on the west coast of the states. so, I got my pretty Jones for only $186. the decals are in mint condition, too!

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that's pretty!

nice! Jones are beautiful machines.

Croyden! My daughter married a Brit from Widnes and they lived in that area for 8 years before moving to America. I am so happy to have her near me now, but I would love it if they had a home in both places so I could go back over and visit. I just loved it there! Such a beautiful country.

Congrats on the Jones machine. If I found it I'd try to convert it back to a hand crank.

I'm a fan of the Jones machines. I have a Family TS hand crank, from somewhere in the 1880s I believe.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Sewing/Ma...SCN0284-XL.jpg

I love those fiddle base Jones. I saw a treadle one for sale on ebay uk, but I couldn't afford the shipping. so I bought a Jones hand crank. I wish I knew how old it is. I am dying to get a transverse shuttle machine. I have 2 cylindrical shuttle machines (Jones hand crank and Princess treadle) and 1 rotary (White).

Note that the machine is a Jones model B. The CB means central bobbin, which is the type of machine. My CB is a treadle.

I just found this thread and so happy that i did! I just bough an absolutely beautiful Jones machine with the serial number 190059 and I have not been able to date it...but I love it anyway! Not a wear mark on her and all decals are clear and intact. I found it at a thrift store for $40.00!
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Sorry about the sideways pictures...I tried to rotate them and couldn't find a way to do that!

Lovely. I'd have given $40 for that one any day.

Have you tried googling make and serial #? That's what I always do...usually works.

I have a similar machine which is a hand crank. I think it is from about 1933.