SteveH

Hey folks I just thought some on here might appreciate the purchase I just made...

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The early adjustable ruffler is the main thing I was interested in here, so I cleaned it first.

Note the arm in the front that is moved in these two pictures. That is the adjustment from one extreme to the other It uses the interaction of the stub on the back of the arm to control how much movement the slide makes.
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From the other side. (I am still not sure what the little arm on this side is for. It does not seem to interact with anything)
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The bottom showing the patent dates... Note how early they begin... This mechanism was designed that early. (earliest is Dec 2 62, the newest is Jan 21 73)
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Here is the business end showing the range of "ruffle" at each extreme setting
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Skyangel

I have a couple of the tuckers like the one in the picture (center right, looks spring loaded) that came in the drawer of my 1886 Singer Improved Family. My ruffler is different, probably since it's later. I also found on of those long bobbins, even though the IF is Singer's first round bobbin machine. I'm just curious about the two needle plates next to the bobbins, since mine came with a couple of extra, too. They look the same, so why would you need multiples?

SteveH

I have no delusions that this is an original "set". these are just a collection of old Singer 12 era stuff, so I think they were just what the seller had. Now to locate an EARLY buttonholer... (remember I have tradebait for those who might have old stuff like this...)

kitsykeel

Hey Steve, how old are you talking about for the buttonholer. I'll post a picture in a little while.

SteveH

the older the better. Prefer 1800's, prefer pre-1885 specifically.

Mom3

"Tradebait" = A quiltingboard.com term coined by SteveH.

Love it!

path49

I'm almost positive there were no buttonhole attachments til the late 1930's. Factories had buttonhole machines prior to that but people who sewed at home had to sew them by hand. This http://www.ebay.com/itm/Singer-Butto...item53f8f13c39 is the earliest Singer buttonholer that I know of. The instruction book with mine is dated 1939.

SteveH

You are correct. the 1930's one is the earliest singer. There are earlier non singer but they are REALLY rare..

That would be fine for my lazyness with buttonholes. I love the non-cam ones. totally adjustable (but no keyhole type)

Mizkaki

I have a cam-less buttonholer with the patent of 1895 on it. This one lead me to research on Needlebar for info on when the first BH attachment was made. They have info on a Peerless BH attachment from 1887.

I doubt the you will find one from pre-1885.

Cathy

SteveH

And here it is. This one is at least in my time range (Pre 1900)

I am going to try this one out soon.
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