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Substitute needles for the Minnesota and Davis, as well as others, machines

Substitute needles for the Minnesota and Davis, as well as others, machines

Old 05-31-2012, 10:06 AM
  #11  
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[QUOTE=J Miller;5256022]Jon,

Do you have enough info on the Minnesota ~B~'s to determine the year of manufacture? I know mine is ancient, but I'd really like to narrow down the year at least.

I can't find a serial number on it anywhere. The only marking under the front slide plate is the letter "D".

......................................

Hi Joe,

Minnesota B's were made roughly from 1902-1909. Even with a serial number I don't think I could narrow it down much more than that. Serial number was on your front plate which is lost to history.

Jon
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Old 05-31-2012, 10:15 AM
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Jon,

Thanks. 1902-1909 helps narrow it down. Someone replaced the missing front plate with a piece of plated brass sheet many decades ago. So long that the plating on the home made slide plate is worn through.

Joe
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Old 05-31-2012, 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by chris_quilts View Post
Jon; DH bought me a Davis Vertical Feed with the serial # of 573250. The plate info says Dayton, OH, USA, and another plate says "Manufactured for Bruce Sewing Machine Company, SPringfiled, IL". There are no dates on the slide plates but plenty of which size needle for which size thread etc and it was a treadle that someone converted to an e-machine. It came a big ole honking needle - not a 15X1 size needle. I assumed the needle was the elusive and almost unobtainable Boye #10 or #20. How would I verify that? I would love to sew with her but wanted more than one needle before I began a project.
Chris
Chris,
Here is a scan of a Davis Long ( Boye #10) needle besides a rule and a 15x1. You can see the big difference in the length of the two.
ISMACS has several sections on needles, specs, and such that is worth the time to study.

Joe
Attached Thumbnails davis-long-vs-15x1007.jpg  
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Old 05-31-2012, 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by chris_quilts View Post
Jon; DH bought me a Davis Vertical Feed with the serial # of 573250. The plate info says Dayton, OH, USA, and another plate says "Manufactured for Bruce Sewing Machine Company, SPringfiled, IL". There are no dates on the slide plates but plenty of which size needle for which size thread etc and it was a treadle that someone converted to an e-machine. It came a big ole honking needle - not a 15X1 size needle. I assumed the needle was the elusive and almost unobtainable Boye #10 or #20. How would I verify that? I would love to sew with her but wanted more than one needle before I began a project.
Chris

Hi Chris

I've only seen "Bruce Manufacturing" on the newer Vertical Feeds (NVF). The SN 573250 is for a VF1 made around 1893 which uses the Boye 10 / MTX190. The NVF uses a 15x1. Does your Davis have a big tension disk on top the the arm (VF1)? The big honkering needle is a Davis long. I'd verify you have a VF1 before buying any needles as small chance the slide plate with serial could be off another machine. I'd be real interested to see a picture.

The Boye 10 is not rare just expensive at around 10-12 dollars a tube for 3 needles plus shipping. The MTx190's are around $5 for 10 shipping included. However, the MTx190 are round instead of flat so they have to be aligned and not as easy to use as the Boye 10's and take a few extra seconds to install.

Jon
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Old 05-31-2012, 10:58 AM
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To add a bit to what Jon just posted, you also need to make sure you have clearance room for the MTx190 needle in the needle plate and anything under it. The MTx190s being round will sit a wee bit to the left of where the Davis Long would sit.
In my Minnesota ~B~ I bought one size at a time trying each to make sure. I can use the MTx190s up to size 18. I doubt I could go any larger though.

Joe
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Old 05-31-2012, 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by jlhmnj View Post
Hi Chris

I've only seen "Bruce Manufacturing" on the newer Vertical Feeds (NVF). The SN 573250 is for a VF1 made around 1893 which uses the Boye 10 / MTX190. The NVF uses a 15x1. Does your Davis have a big tension disk on top the the arm (VF1)? The big honkering needle is a Davis long. I'd verify you have a VF1 before buying any needles as small chance the slide plate with serial could be off another machine. I'd be real interested to see a picture.

The Boye 10 is not rare just expensive at around 10-12 dollars a tube for 3 needles plus shipping. The MTx190's are around $5 for 10 shipping included. However, the MTx190 are round instead of flat so they have to be aligned and not as easy to use as the Boye 10's and take a few extra seconds to install. Jon
Jon; Picture as son as DDs get home and find camera. Machine just says Davis and the bobbin winder is low on the arm but machine takes a long(er)shuttle for the bobbin thread. I will have to dig out needle and measure it. You have me curious now.
Edit: The needle is approx 1 3/4" long but lady who sold it to me said it was not a common needle. Curiouser and curiouser.
Chris

Last edited by chris_quilts; 05-31-2012 at 04:22 PM.
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Old 05-31-2012, 05:06 PM
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Am hopefully adding pics of the Davis and its bobbin winder.
Attached Thumbnails davis-machine.jpg   davis-bobbin-winder.jpg  
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Old 05-31-2012, 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by chris_quilts View Post
Am hopefully adding pics of the Davis and its bobbin winder.
Ha! An NVF with an older Davis needle plate. Will use 15x1's and Davis long bobbins.

Jon
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Old 05-31-2012, 06:46 PM
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I need 20x1 needles for my Leader. I have some 16s, but I prefer a smaller needle. I haven't searched yet as the treadle isn't easy to operate. One thing at a time.
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Old 05-31-2012, 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by chris_quilts View Post
Jon; Picture as son as DDs get home and find camera. Machine just says Davis and the bobbin winder is low on the arm but machine takes a long(er)shuttle for the bobbin thread. I will have to dig out needle and measure it. You have me curious now.
Edit: The needle is approx 1 3/4" long but lady who sold it to me said it was not a common needle. Curiouser and curiouser.
Chris
I can see why the wrong needle would be in the machine if the owner used the serial number on the slide plate to order with.
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