vintage german sewing machine
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Milan, Italy
Posts: 188
vintage german sewing machine
Today I bought a very pretty "William" sewing machine. There is some rust but the wheel turns nicely. The decals are in very good condition and from the style I would guess 1910-1920. Sadly there is no manual and I can't work out how to thread him. I've tried Googling but can't find any info. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Many thanks
Pippa
Many thanks
Pippa
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Milan, Italy
Posts: 188
added photos
Here are the photos of my german vintage machine. I have tried to look it up but so far no success. If anyone has any suggestions where I might find any information, especially a manual, it would be great.
Thanks for looking
Pippa
Thanks for looking
Pippa
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millville, NJ
Posts: 1,835
Hi Pippa,
Congrats on your beautiful machine. Yours looks very similar to my Gritzner SM. The badge behind the bobbin winder might offer more hints as to who made it.
To figure out threading and care I consulted a Singer model 12 manual from ISMACS which is somewhat similar. My machine used 12x1 needles, which are sort of scarce.
Good Luck and Enjoy
Jon
Congrats on your beautiful machine. Yours looks very similar to my Gritzner SM. The badge behind the bobbin winder might offer more hints as to who made it.
To figure out threading and care I consulted a Singer model 12 manual from ISMACS which is somewhat similar. My machine used 12x1 needles, which are sort of scarce.
Good Luck and Enjoy
Jon
#8
Hello Pippa - What a beautiful machine! It is a transverse shuttle from about 1900.
The name William is a brand name, probably of the retailers rather than the manufacturer. You need to see what it says on the brass badge behind the bobbin winder. I can read the German for sewing machine when I enlarge the photo, but what does it say at the bottom of the badge, and what is the picture in the middle of it?
You have missed out the tension discs when you have threaded it. Looking at the third photo, after the wire hook at the top right, go down and round the tension discs, then up to the take-up lever at the top left, then down to the last hook just above the needle. If you watch my video "How to Thread a Little Vesta" (see the sticky thread at the beginning of this section for the link) you will see what I mean. Watch until the end when I show the machine at the same angle as yours is on the photo.
As for the bobbin winder, really I would have to have the machine in front of me to show you how to thread it. I know what I would do, but explaining it is another thing.
Have you cleaned and oiled the machine yet? Is the shuttle there, and were there any feet or attachments in the side compartment? Have you got the cover? - of so, post a picture please, because that can help sometimes identifying the machine.
The name William is a brand name, probably of the retailers rather than the manufacturer. You need to see what it says on the brass badge behind the bobbin winder. I can read the German for sewing machine when I enlarge the photo, but what does it say at the bottom of the badge, and what is the picture in the middle of it?
You have missed out the tension discs when you have threaded it. Looking at the third photo, after the wire hook at the top right, go down and round the tension discs, then up to the take-up lever at the top left, then down to the last hook just above the needle. If you watch my video "How to Thread a Little Vesta" (see the sticky thread at the beginning of this section for the link) you will see what I mean. Watch until the end when I show the machine at the same angle as yours is on the photo.
As for the bobbin winder, really I would have to have the machine in front of me to show you how to thread it. I know what I would do, but explaining it is another thing.
Have you cleaned and oiled the machine yet? Is the shuttle there, and were there any feet or attachments in the side compartment? Have you got the cover? - of so, post a picture please, because that can help sometimes identifying the machine.
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