Family Rotary - The Family Rotary, or FR, came out in the 1890's, and in various models continued well into the 1930's. FR serial numbers were used on badge machines as. Although Elias Howe had patented the lock stitch sewing machine in 1846 initially there was little interest in this new invention. Gradually though a small number of firms started to produce primative sewing machines and later the American courts decided many of the machines produced infringed Elias Howe's Patent. By 1857 Thomas H. White had invented a small hand-operated sewing machine (on which he obtained a US patent in 1859), starting his own business, with partner William L. Grout and $350 initial capital, making 'The New England Sewing Machine', retailing for $10. Seeking a central location near markets and materials. I have a White Rotary Sewing machine, manufactured in June of 1911 (Ser # XXXXX 409139). At some point it was converted to electric (date unknown). It is mounted in a wood cabinet. Machine Model Identification Nomenclature Model Number Years Produced SEWING MACHINES Franklin Rotary 1 Franklin Rotary 117.911 1938 Franklin Rotary 1.
WHITE ROTARY SEWING MACHINE SERIAL NUMBERS. MACHINE SERIAL NUMBERS
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- 1Domestic Sewing Machines
- 1.1Domestic
- 1.1.4Domestic High Arm Fiddlebase
- 1.2Domestic - Made in Japan
- 1.1Domestic
Domestic Sewing Machines
Domestic
Mack's Patent High Arm
This is William Mack's May 19, 1863 patent with his revolutionary design for a vibrating shuttle machine with high arm. The patent covered the 'throw' of the shuttle, construction of shuttle and shuttle race and the means of driving the feed wheel. Looking at the under view the design is quite different from later Mack versions. It has a curved shuttle race. The shuttle was 2' long and 1/2' in diameter.
Comparison of under views of successive patents.
Shuttles & Bobbins
May be useful for dating, but note that old style machines can be fitted with the latest style shuttles adapted for old carriers; or with the latest shuttles of the regular make, and a carrier to suit.
For new style carrier the shuttles have a nick in the point; for old carrier they are without the nick. In other respects they are alike.
The manufacture of springs for shuttles continued after the manufacture of cylinders had ceased.
Three kinds of bobbins were made. The old style is used in No. 1 shuttle. All other shuttles use the new bobbin. They differ at ends of spindles.
Early shuttle styles, Old & Latest Improved, as at 1880
Shuttle styles 5 to 8 from 1885 thru 1900
Old style by 1880 (bottom) compared with Style 8 [courtesy of Kelly Pakes]
Three styles of bobbin
Domestic High Arm Fiddlebase
Serial #203633
Courtesy of Kelly Pakes
To use the tucker: 'With the large japanned thumb-screw up through the hole in the table-extension, attach the 'Domestic' tucker, the creasing-edge at the left of the needle, and slightly before it.' Neo geo rom last blade 2.
Domestic Tucker
Courtesy of Claire Sherwell
Domestic High Arm Fiddlebase
Serial #1558824
Courtesy of Kelly Pakes
The machine has a high serial number (on slide plate) indicating late manufacture and the design of the machine with its curious take-up arrangement appears to be based on the Canadian George A Annett's patent of 1888. Although his patent covered a rotary machine, it has a similar 'wide thread support or guide'. No name is given to the shape or style of take-up mechanism, which resembles a tennis racket. Free youtube to mp3 converter downloader for mac.
Domestic High Arm Fiddlebase Cabinets
No. 2 Family. Courtesy of Claire Sherwell
No. 3 Family. Courtesy of Claire Sherwell
No. 4 Family. Courtesy of Claire Sherwell
Early Domestic High Arm
Serial #48692
Courtesy of Kelly Pakes
Last patent date of 1871.
Simple tension leaf
Domestic High Arm (Mother of Pearl)
Serial 74118
Courtesy of Scott
This Mother of Pearl machine with Fancy Legged treadle would have been one of Domestic's top of the range models. The style of top tension mounting is more elaborate, but it has the same simple leaf tension as earlier models. It also has an early shuttle with removable 'shuttle end piece'.
Domestic High Arm
Serial #74513
Courtesy of John
This is the early Domestic with a more rectangular bed than later models and a simple bobbin winder. The serial number is located on the front slide plate and the stitch length regulator is a knob to the rear of the pillar. This particular machine has a broken top leaf tension and the treadle top is new.
Domestic A
This hand crank version was more popularly sold in Europe than in the USA and was set up as both a treadle and handcrank combination. This early Domestic used a distinctive stitch length regulator.
Courtesy of Claire Sherwell
Courtesy of Daveofsuffolk
Hand crank handle folded in
Stitch length regulator
Adjusting screw below the head.
In base, unsure whether original
Faceplate, courtesy of Kelly Pakes
Domestic B
Courtesy of Claire Sherwell
Manufactured after the mid 1880s. This hand machine was originally marketed as the improved 'Reliable'. The word Reliable is on the inside of the pillar. The stitch length control is to the rear of the pillar, pointed needle bar, simple bobbin winder.
Machine Nos. 12 to 15, of which this model is one, had a machine head 'smaller than those of our Large Family Machine, being about the size of the Singer, but they are good machines in all respects'.
Serial #149164
Courtesy of John Snell
Rounded needle bar. Automatic bobbin winder (the company's description). Serial number on the slide plate.
Domestic D
Serial #204604
Courtesy of Kelly Pakes
This model incorporates Stephen A Davis' tension device, the patent filing date of March 29, 1909 on the slide plate refers, but it was not granted until January 9, 1912. Last patent noted on slide plate is dated October 24, 1910, but there is a 'patent pending' by the name Domestic D.
Stephen Davis had been associated with the owners of Domestic since the 1870s. Serial number stamped on rim of machine bed under slide plate.
'Franklin'
Machines badged with the name 'Franklin' were supplied to Sears, Roebuck for sale, first appearing the in fall of 1911. An example from that date featured in Charles Law's book has manual tension release. The 'Sit Right' cabinet was introduced in the Spring 1916 catalog. The model has Scarab beetles in the decals in the same vein as Singer's Lotus decals and undoubtedly the model competed with Singer's models 27 and 127. The stitch length is adjusted by a screw and the bobbin winder is low. The treadle belt threads around the outside of the balance wheel.
Singer's 127 with automatic tension release and automatic shuttle eject was introduced in 1912 (shuttle eject was patented by Singer on October 10, 1911, having been applied for in 1910).
Courtesy of Deb
Courtesy of TinaK #60009
Courtesy of TinaK #391536
Courtesy of TinaK #391536
Serial 469723
Courtesy of Bob
This machine has an automatic tension, with shuttle eject, yet a low bobbin winder, so it has comparable features of the Singer 27 and of the newly introduced Singer 127 (see Singer's Vibrating Shuttle Machines).
It has a plain cabinet, so is likely to date to the mid 1920s. It may have been after White's take over of the company.
Dating A White Treadle Machine
'Franklin' Attachments
Courtesy of Kelly Pakes
Griest attachments for use with Franklin machines. They are low shank attachments and the hemmers attach to the bed.
Domestic - Made in Japan
Domestic Model 164
Courtesy of Dan
Serial #13788, J-C 34
Light grey with white top and white hinged face plate. This is an oscillating hook machine, sewing straight stitch with reverse, taking a low straight shank foot and a 'one o’clock' bobbin case. It has a three position feed dog.
This machine was made in Japan, under the ownership of White who took over Domestic in 1924.
Other markings: U9L22 under rear edge of bed plate (middle), HF under bed plate on pillar end. The shuttle is stamped with the usual J-G 4 and the bobbin case has the usual J-H 3.
A small metal tag screwed onto pillar underneath the motor mount reads –
Designed, Engineered, and Guaranteed by
Domestic Sewing Machines
Cleveland, Ohio Toronto, Canada
Made in Japan
White Rotary Sewing Machine Serial Number Fr
There is a round sticker on the inside face of the pillar that reads - 'Approved for Electrical Safety, City of Los Angeles, Dept. of Building & Safety' and has the number KK039390 across the middle.