Here is a picture of the wood insert - the cover plate on yours looks the same as on this one. The notes say this is from 1916 and the number is later than yours, so that makes 1912 could be correct. Looks like the same decal pattern as yours has too.

http://needlebar.org/cm/displayimage..._display_media

According to http://www.treadleon.net/WhiteSM/whites.html the FR came out in 1890 and continued into the 1930s. That site also lists serial numbers. I don't know if you can still get dating from 800-446-2333 but it might be worth a try. If so you might want to try a couple of times as according to https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...e-t133924.html they have been known to give the wrong date. I'm wondering if that is what happened on the needlebar reference.

Sew-classic does have the belt at http://shop.sew-classic.com/Belt-Tre...ter-P60013.htm and for installing check out http://www.shop.sew-classic.com/medi...STRUCTIONS.pdf and http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...eadlebelt.html

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

My White Family Rotary is also my favorite machine. It is smooth, quiet, and strong. You may find when you rotate the hand wheel (always clockwise, or away from you in a family rotary, unlike singer and others) that there is a point where it feels like it is binding or even stops. I could not get mine smooth until I took off the faceplate and oiled the needle bar mechanism. It looks intimidating but really is not hard. Also, when tightening the screws on the pillar side that hold in the faceplate, if I tightened down all the way it would bind again. Just a SLIGHT loosening was all mine needed. Here is a great link from treadleon about removing the faceplate.
http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...aceplaste.html
This is the machine that started my addiction. It was so satisfying to get it beautiful and smooth that I started looking for more!
I would also recommend starting by removing the needle and slide plates to get full access to the feed dogs and bobbin area. My WFR had more thread and link jammed in those areas than any machine since (and they all have had some). It is a wonder the machine could turn at all!

Thanks SO much!! I was just wondering about the binding or stopping when I turned the wheel! I was busy giving the machine an oil this morning, trying to get the wheel to turn smoothly. It now runs pretty smooth, considering I haven't taken anything apart yet. I will take off the faceplate and oil it nicely. Thanks for the link on how to remove it; I'll book mark it for sure.

I was wondering what this knob on the wheel does? Occasionally while I was turning the wheel (away from me) it would slip into place or something (?) and then the wheel turned VERY freely but the needle would not move. I'm guessing it has something to do with winding up the bobbin, but I don't know why it would do it on its own, without me "telling" it to. It would then take several times spinning the wheel to make it engage and control the needle and feed dogs again. Any ideas?

Thank you all so much for your advice, everyone! I'm feeling some confidence that I can bring this girl back to life:)

Thanks for the pictures, Macybaby and OurWorkBench. I'll see if I can find the wooden piece that goes by the needle plate. The guy who gave it to me also gave me three bins of random craft stuff, so maybe it's in there.

I'm glad to hear that others treasure their White Rotarys. I was originally told it was a Singer before I had seen it, so I spent the weekend learning everything I could about every treadle Singer made! I was disappointed to find something else, but after seeing what you all think of it, I'm pleased.

The last patent date on the needle plate is September 12, 1905. I know that the exact year doesn't matter, but I guess I love old things and was wondering if this means anything?

Thanks for all this infomation! I'll try calling the White Company and see if they will tell me. I read somewhere online yesterday that they will no longer give out that information.... But no harm in trying I guess.

I just called them; nope, they can no longer give out that information sadly. What a shame, more history being forgotten.

NZ quilter,

You have indeed found the reason for that arm. It is designed to let you spin bobbins without turning all the hardware in the machine. But, it should be up to you when you use it. I'd clean around the grove with a toothbrush. I suspect a bit of debris is not letting it slip down and click (?) into place. I'd tell you more but my FR's are across town.


Leon in E Kansas.

I was afraid of that regarding 800-446-2333. Thank you so much for letting us know. I think there were at least couple of different mechanisms for releasing the hand wheel to wind the bobbin. You might want to check out http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...itewheels.html and one John did for White 11 which he posted about at https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...h-t265423.html Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

I found my wooden insert for the needle plate:) Yay!

Just in case you want another one, there is one on KC marketplace on facebook today for $25.00 Pretty rough, but it has a cabinet that will help lift the machine up.