Top Clamp Attachments
 

I just picked up a mostly complete set of Greist top clamp attachments at a thrift store today. The slot where they attach to the presser bar is only 1/8" wide. Any idea which machines they might fit? I don't think I currently own any machines that use them but at $2 I wasn't going to walk away either.
I've already kicked myself for that on other attachments I didn't have machines for.
Thanks,
Rodney

I spent the day compiling stats

Free - older style (like older VS machines)
Gap .127, height (exterior) .50, gap to needle hole, .425, needle hole offset to right

New Royal
gap .127. height .523, gap to needle hole .475 with toe open - right offset - this set is also called "universal" since it has an larger, open ended needle "hole".

Free/New Home (newer style)
gap .127, height .70, gap to needle hole .50, center

The big different in these is the gap to needle hole measure, though it can be difficult to measure on the foot. I measured this on the machine - from the front of the clamp to the needle.


I'm sorting and getting things figured out and then will offer the rest for the cost of shipping. I counted, I've got over 60 sets of top clamp attachments, though I expect I'll be keeping well over half of them.

These are what I've got that are all different
Free - older style
Free /New Home - newer style (VS and Rotary)
New Royal
White (VS and Rotary)
National -older style
National - newer style (VS and Rotary)
Davis
Eldredge (pre National)
Foley & Williams
Standard (VS and Rotary)
New Home (pre Free)(VS and Rotary)
Household

And - I have at least two sets that don't quite fit any of these machines.

Side clamp are so, so much easier to deal with!

When my mother gave me her Singer 15-91, she gave me all the attachments she had. So when I got home with it (she was in Seattle area and I live south of San Diego) I was spending a day re-learning the machine, the button hole maker, the zig zag maker, and all the little pieces - but one box of items just didn't work -no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get them attached. Called my mother to find out how what I was doing wrong. She said it was something her mother bought and she had no idea how to use them. My grandmother never sewed anything except maybe mend a seam or hem. So when I looked closer at the attachments, and there on each one was a "W". I may have 7 sewing machines, but none of them are a "White" and not of them can use the attachments. So even though it is against my up-bringing, the box of attachments went off to a thrift store.

Thanks Macybaby!
I suspect these attachments are for a VS type machine but are somewhat newer because the ruffler and zipper foot have plastic screws. I may have one VS machine that takes top clamps. It's buried in storage right now and I've only seen it once in about the last 5 years so I don't currently remember the brand or the foot style. I'm going with the idea that these may fit. If they don't I'll have to find the correct machine for them. :)
Rodney
Rodney

If they have plastic screws, I'm going to place my money on that they are the newer style Free/New Home type. And that would be with the four slot ruffler also. If they are VS - they will have a long plate for shirring, and I also bet they are not VS - but rotary, so they'll have

BTW - did they come in a cardboard box instead of a metal tin?

Most of what I have are older than the vintage where Greist started putting them in cardboard boxes.

Also - many of the sets from the time plastic screws were used do not include the tucker as a standard item.

I think near the end of the top clamp era, Free/New Home and White may have been the only two left.

Thanks for taking the time to measure Cathy. A handy tool you have given us.

When I get a bit more time, I'll do up the whole list with pictures. It's rather amazing at all the different sets out there. There weren't that many companies that made them. I guess they just liked to change things every year or so to keep it looking "new and different".

I've got several really strange attachment type feet - I'd consider them a precursor to the Top clamp in that the attachment point slips on the round presser bar like the top clamp part does (the part the top clamp feet fit into).

I'll be going through my "not top clamp or side clamp" feet next, and this includes the bed mounting sets. Then I'll go through my Non-Singer side clamp sets.

oh - and Rodney - if you have an adjustable zipper foot, you have one of the last of the Top Clamp group.

Give me a little bit and I'll get you a picture. I don't know enough to know if everything belongs in the box or not.
Rodney

Here they are.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]466699[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]466700[/ATTACH]

The first picture is everything I got. There is what looks like an edger that attaches to the bed of the machine on the right side in the first pic. There's also what looks like a combination edger/braider right below it.
The second picture I'm trying to show two feet that look like gathering feet but one is longer than the other.
From the front of the gap to the needle hole measures pretty close to .5 inches. I think that would make them for the newer style Free/ New Home machines.
Rodney

EDIT: I forgot to add. What a mess to sort through with all the different styles of attachment and spacing on the needle holes. My hat's off to you Macybaby for being able to put together your collection and information on these feet. Especially given the quality of pictures and info you get from your typical Ebay sellers.

I have a Kenmore buttonholer that has a narrow slot like that. I thought it would fit my 117.959 but it did not. Anyone know what it would fit?

Are you sure it's the narrow slot? I don't think Kenmore sold any other top clamp machines other than those made by White and White has the wider slot, closer to 3/16" instead of 1/8".

Unless you just mean it has the top clamp attachment, then I can assure you the Kenmore fits the White (and Domestic made by White) machines.

This is a later set, one that would not have included the Tucker or Underbraider. And for sure this fits Free/New Home, the shirr plate is the easiest way to tell.

The last two, the one is the Quilting foot, and would be used with the quilting guide taht fits into a hole in the presser bar. The second is the Gather foot. You sew on one layer of fabric and it will pull it into a ruffler behind the foot. It's not the same as the Ruffler which will do a uniform pleat, this is like what you get when you loosen the top tension and then pull the lower thread to gather the fabric. The main difference is this foot allows a "lock" so if you use it, you won't be able to adjust it as the thread won't slide like when you loosen the tension.

Ebay sellers rarely know what they have, and I've seen a lot of "sets" that are a collection from several machines.

hey now THIS is a collection of feet...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/lot-of-21-po...-/271418125740

Looks like they're selling them by the pound, not the foot.
Rodney

top clamp attachment
 

Rodney,
I just bought an older machine and it came with a set of the top clamp greist attachments like you've shown here, also without a way to attach them. Did you ever find a way to attach them?

Becky


[QUOTE=Rodney;6620907]Here they are.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]466699[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]466700[/ATTACH]

Does your machine take side clamp feet? If so, then there is no way to attach these. It's not uncommon for feet to get paired up with a machine they don't belong to. There is a wide variety of top clamp feet too, and for the most part they are not interchangeable.

Side clamp presser bars have a flat side, and the top clamp attachment fits on a round presser bar.



http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psd7f8f9c4.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps56b84f71.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps3c3a2ffa.jpg

I believe Free/Westinghouse is threaded, but I'd have to go look to be sure. I know one of them is.

That adjustable zipper foot is the best thing ever made. If something were to ever happen to mine, I would lose my mind. These newer ones are garbage.

What is a VS machine?

This information about what to call the way feet attach is exactly what I was looking for!

VS is Vibrating Shuttle - it has a long shuttle/hook that moves back and forth instead of a round shuttle/hook that moves in circles (either all the way around (full rotary) or back and forth (oscillating, like a Singer 15).

VS machines come in two basic types - those that go back and forth, and those that go side to side. Typically the side to side are older machines, often with "boat" shuttles instead "bullet" shuttles.

As to Feet - often the feet between a Mfg VS and Rotary machines are interchangeable, but not always. However bed mount items (like the shirr plate and underbraider) are often unique as most of those for the VS machines are hooked to a plate that slides in place of the front throat plate.

Wow! I have a LOT to learn. I'll have to pile up my 'random' feet/attachments and see what's what.

Possibly more than you realize LOL!! Start by taking measurements, you want three measurements plus one "eyeball",

width of top gap (basically 1/4" or 3/16") then the height, and then the distance from the front gap to the needle hole (this is most often 1/2" or 5/8") and then look closely to see if the needle hole is centered in front of the gap, or offset to the left or right, and if it's a large offset or a slight offset.

BTW - there are sets that don't have a closed needle hole in the hemmers/binder. I refer to them as "open toed" feet, have no idea if they have an official name.

Oh, yes, you're right - so much more to learn that I don't even know where to start - I need pictures!

you need pictures - I need HELPPP!!! If you were closer, I'd invite you over and you'd learn a lot, probalby go home with a lot too.

there was a time I had my stuff somewhat organized -

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps3387a84d.jpg

But then I kept acquiring faster than I had time to catelogue.

About half of what is on the shelves in the middle is done

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psa5c37397.jpg

but not the rest . . . over half of these are top clamp, and most are different from each other in some way, and some are partials I need to combine to make a complete set.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps42924551.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps2b5eabf5.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps26d62633.jpg

And the most recent stuff that's not been even moved upstairs yet (and I have three black metal boxes with "stuff" inside in transit)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psc1b5531a.jpg


And with the snow and cold, not much progress has been made on my Machine Shed for a while. Should be warming up enough to get out there this weekend.

BTW -most of my Singer stuff is elsewhere

man, does that look familiar...

Ah, I wish I could come! You have a real treasure trove. And I've never been to South Dakota. What a good plan to have a machine shed - I've just taken over the house.

Cathy I am so impressed by your collection. If you ever need something picked up in central Minnesota just let me know.
This early winter weather has slowed my travels a bit.

Thanks HelenAnn

Most of my siblings still live on the north side of the Twin Cities (White Bear Lake/Hugo) and that is where I grew up. DH and I like to drive up through Mankato on our way, but the winter weather usually keeps us much closer to home.

Next summer when my Machine Shed is all set up and things are more organized, you are more than welcome to come visit and see all my "stuff" in person. Of course, that goes for anyone traveling through. Eventually I want to set up a traveling collection and go to some of the TOGA events. Both DH and I enjoy the machines, so it's something fun we plan on doing together.

wanted to add - anyone wanting to come see the vintage collection - if they are interested, they can also have a turn on the HQ long arm. Since it's a 12' frame, the vast majority of time there is about 3' of free space on the end to play with.

I never thought I'd say this, but now I almost want to visit South Dakota. Cathy, you have an incredible collection and generous soul.

Buttonholer for Kenmore 117-959
 

I have my mother's Kenmore 117-959 machine with the Kenmore Buttonholer attachment; neither of us used it. Decades later in trying to revive this machine I thought she had bought or been sold one that was not correct for her machine. The instruction booklet is woefully lacking & confusing.

You have to completely remove the round presser foot screw clamp adapter to be able to attach the buttonholer. The booklet does not make that clear. It is held on by a small screw to the right. There were 4 different needle bars apparently. The 117-959 has the Round bar. With the clamping screw removed, you slide the buttonholer from the back & it goes around the bar, with an arm going onto the needle bar.

The Kenmore Buttonholer works on that machine. I believe as Macybaby said it will work on all Kenmore machines of that era IF you know how to deal with the presser bar clamping system.

I know I am replying to an Old post. I am hoping this information will help someone who picks up one of these wonderful machines, &/or Buttonholers. So glad for sites like this where information can be shared & kept for future reference.