Antique sewing machine base

[Old tool guy]

I have a friend who flips houses (the right way*) and his latest buy included this antique seeing machine base. The old couple who lived there were about 80 and borderline invalid, finally moved to an assisted living place. House was built in the mid 1980’s and was largely intact … original plumbing fixtures, wallpaper, carpet had been replaced but many years ago. They weren’t hoarders, but they didn’t throw much away. The outside looked much much better than the inside.


This treadle stand was one of the artifacts left behind. The original top had been replaced with a crude piece of mdf, the sewing machine was nowhere in the house. The tile contractor has been using it as a stand for the wet saw, so it’s filthy. I have looked casually but don’t see any brand name, I was hoping to find a logo cast into the treadle. Other than the dirt, it looks to be in very good condition, the treadle and flywheel move freely. All 4 steel wheels, not casters, are still attached. Any ideas on brand?
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* When I said he flips the right way, he has a gc license, full insurance, makes all code corrections, upgrades electrical and plumbing, roofing, insulation … he doesn’t cut corners. Wife is a RE agent, they buy the right house and sell for a reasonable profit.

 

[PCustoms]

I've got 3.

From what I remember in my limited research, the "name brand" ones had the name.

My short one is a white, I don't think the others are branded.

 

[PCustoms]

Here's the singer

 

[PCustoms]

Here's the 3rd one, I think it might be the same as yours.

No brand. Was hoping I could see the name of the sewing machine itself, it was in gold leaf. The paint wiped right off

 

[four.cycle]

It's lovely.
I have an old Singer base that's been "fixed" (hand-made wooden "push rod" thingie between the treadle and the wheel) but the oak top that was made for it needs a wee bit of work.
It's not Singer, and it's not White.
Who does that leave?

 

[jcbrew]

Looks like a Davis Machine base.

 

[four.cycle]

1905 Sears Burdick sewing machine ad pp 110

The "New Home" brand models had a kinda-sorta similar design on the end pieces, but they had a panel with their name on the sides (like the "Sears" panel on the treadle in this old catalog illustration.) Of the 1,846 listings on ebay, this one looks the closest.

In 1905, the average salary for wage-earning men in the United States was $11.16, while women earned an average of $6.17 per week.

 

[PCustoms]

Looks like a Davis Machine base.

Seems darn close.

I'll try to get a better pic of mine, all stripped down

 

[Old tool guy]

Seems darn close.

I'll try to get a better pic of mine, all stripped down

That does look very similar. Was Davis a brand of sewing machines? Or a generic base?

 

[PCustoms]

That does look very similar. Was Davis a brand of sewing machines? Or a generic base?

I googled it based on @jcbrew post, it was a brand of machines.

I vaguely remember when I found mine (in a collapsing shed) that it looked fancy, but the name didn't ring any bells. I was hoping to find something valuable to offset cleanup costs, so I tore the rotten wood off and saved the base.

The white cost me $10, I thought the height was super odd so i bought it. Later on I found the singer for $40, waiting for the right pieces of wood to make end tables.

 

[four.cycle]

I'm thinkin' @jcbrew and @PCustoms nailed it:

Pardon Our Interruption...

Pardon Our Interruption...

maybe you should change the thread title to "Show Us Your Vintage Sewing Machine Base!" ??

Davis sewing machines at International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society

who knew?!?!?

 

[jcbrew]

That does look very similar. Was Davis a brand of sewing machines? Or a generic base?

From Google
The Davis Sewing Machine company has a fascinating history. According to the International Sewing Machine Collectors Society, it began in Watertown, New York when investors back Job Davis to begin manufacturing his sewing machine design in 1868. The company became a strong local employer, and when it moved west to Dayton, Ohio in 1889, many local workers moved with it. Many of the early Davis machines were beautifully made and wonderfully ornate, but later models suffered from shoddy construction and were prone to mechanical problems. In the 1890s, as bicycles became popular, the company shifted production and began producing bikes under the name Huffman Manufacturing. The "Huffy" bicycles quickly became better sellers than the sewing machines, and the company pivoted to produce bikes instead. By 1924, the company was no long producing Davis sewing machines.

 

[isb cornbinder]

My little repurposing project. The top is from a vintage portable dishwasher.

 

[Old tool guy]

Nice. The paint looks worn but i can’t imagine it’s original.

 

[bmwrd0]

I always wanted to pick one of these up and use it to run a watchmakers vise. But I am pushed for room as it is, and I don't think the wife would go for it in the house.

 

[rlitman]

I always wanted to pick one of these up and use it to run a watchmakers vise. But I am pushed for room as it is, and I don't think the wife would go for it in the house.

I have both sewing treadle bases, and a real watchmaker's lathe treadle. They're VERY different. The lathe requires a heavy flywheel, and I would expect the same treadle to work well with my treadle powered scroll saws too, if I ever tried to get it running (I locked it up with zip ties for child safety, and it's currently a lamp base anyway). Sewing machine treadles have lightweight flywheels to allow the seamstress to stop the machine on a single stitch, which means they don't work well with other treadle powered tools.