Originally Posted by miriam

That is a ROAD TRIP starter for somebody....

Originally Posted by jljack

I have one of those lovely cabinets. I'll look underneath and let you know, but it'll be tonite.

Originally Posted by pfroggg

I think it's 'American Buttonhole, Overseaming and Sewing Machine Co.' (American BHO and Sewing Machine Co), established in 1867 in Philadelphia, which manufactured sewing machines till around 1896. I'm not sure about the model number (would be nice if they'd taken a picture of the front!), but there's a sketch of a similar-looking machine on the Smithsonian site (dated 1874). If 15995 is the serial number, this machine *may* date to 1870.

http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollect...ges/image3.htm

Here's a nice description (from somewhere around 1870-74):

http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollect...ges/image1.htm

pat

Originally Posted by BoJangles

Thank you Pat and Cathy! Very interesting! So my little Damascus was made anywhere between the 1920's to the 1940's? If book 1 estimates the dates between 1920's to 1930's, then book 2 says 1930's to 1940's, I am going to go with Book 1 since according to the owner his grandmother made doll clothes with the machine in the 1920's after getting the machine as a gift. If you guys see in Book 2 that for sure my machine was made later than the 1920's, I want to know! This is fun!

Originally Posted by vintagemotif

LOL my coffee just went all over that keyboard.... I read "according to Thomas" and immediately thought are we quoting the scriptures now, and we even have book I & II.

Ok, I should stay quiet and drink my coffee.

Originally Posted by jljack

Thanks, Monica....I have both machines and I have not checked the wick. That's at the bobbin case, yes?

Originally Posted by ThayerRags

Originally Posted by chris_quilts

Janice; Thanks. DH unscrewed the made up hole cover but we saved the board to possibly make an extension to help 201 stay in plce when upright in cabinet.
Chris

Originally Posted by vintagemotif

Janice, Yes it is. I own two Singer 66-1 that most likely need the wick added. I cleaned up the bobbin area on those machines two years ago when I first started collecting, but never got into that area of the bobbin race. To be honest, I didn't even know what a race was at the time of cleaning or that the machine needs a wick.

I figured others here most likely didn't know either; so, we all learn together!!

Originally Posted by J Miller

Got a question for you. What is the little felt wick for, and how bad is it to the machine if it's not there? I too have a couple with that part missing.

Joe