Wheeler & Wilson- help please
 

I saw an antique Wheeler & Wilson today at a yard sale for $60. I know very little about antique machines. This would be my first treadle. The wheel turns easily and the needle moves up and down. Most of the gold paint is worn off. What is left of the paint is very faint. The chrome is in pretty good shape. The metal bobbin cover plate thingy reads
WHEELER&WILSON M'F'G Co
BRIDGEPORT CONN.
D-9
PATENTED
MAY 1st 83 JUL 17th 88
OCT.23rd 83 MAR.25th90
DEC.2nd84 AUG.2nd92
AUG.18th85
No 2417381

I have lots of questions about this machine. For starters, is it easy to get needles for this machine? Where do can you buy the needles? Is it worth $60? I was able to take a couple of pictures but I cant get the photos off of my phone except in the form of email. I'm not computer savvy to say the least. Any help would be great.

It's a nice model. Did it have a glass presser foot? Needles 127x1 is easily found (fleabay and other places), but I'm not sure of the selection of sizes and types available. If there's any extra feet or accessories with the machine, it's a bagain. There are quite a bit of info availabe on the web. There are or used to be a few owners who use their W&W, and there are old threads with usefull information; particularly on needles compatible with the 127x1 system. I think some have it set to work with 15x1 needles too, but I'm not sure how it affects the machine after the adjustment. The price is not unreasonable at all, and almost all hundred pluss year old machines have worn decals. The bobbin case is not loose like on mode 15s or vibrating shuttle machines (can be missing) it tends to be there, still working. If it's missing parts, be prepared for a bit of search and hunting on the web, and places where they specialize in this. If it's complete and only missing a few extra feet it's much easier to get it going, and a bargain at $60

At $60.00, I would be on it, like a chicken on a June bug!!! It has great historical value even if it doesn't sew!!

A bargain indeed. I have never seen discussion of use of a 15x1 needle, but replacements are available. On the other hand, bobbin are harder to find and not cheap.I have bought machines, just for the bobbins. Very smooth machine. Mine all have regular feet, not glass insert.

Haven't been able to get back to the yard sale today. It's storming outside. I cant really tell from the photo that I took but I don't think it has a glass foot. When the storms slow down I may try to stop by and see if they sold it already. Thanks for the help.

Did you get it?

I probably would have snapped it up to play with :)

No. I was not able to get back to the yard sale. So I don't know if they sold it or not. It's sort of driving me crazy.

If you are still interested in it perhaps drop by the house and ask if it sold - Hey - "no harm in askng" - if still available it may be a lower price.

I know almost nothing about antique machines. The one thing I do know, however, is that shuttles cost $60.00 or so. I would make sure it has one or know you have to buy one.
bk