Don't Feed the Dogs

The Davis Sewing Machine has no feed dogs.  The fabric is advanced by the action of the foot and the needle.  I think that is the coolest thing.  I just had to have one of these machines and today I brought one home.

I had a message on my phone Thursday morning from a friend of a friend.  Word of mouth.  "I have a Davis Sewing Machine I would like to sell and I heard that you buy old sewing machines."   Yes I do.

I missed out on one a couple of months ago.  I did not want to miss out on this.  So I schleped up to Richfield this morning (after our attempt to go to Springfield days was thwarted by the calendar; we were a week early.)

I have no idea how old it is.  I think it might be an early one. The bobbin winder is on the treadle, not on the machine.  I am pretty sure this one was made in Watertown, NY.  After all, why else would they stamp Watertown, NY into the front slide?  I know that Davis moved from Watertown, to Dayton Ohio in 1890.  I can't imagine that any machine made in Dayton would bear the Watertown name.  Dayton, Ohio wooed the company out to Ohio and some of the workers went along with the company, lock, stock and barrel.  You can read more about it on the ISMACS site 
http://www.ismacs.net/davis/history_repeats_itself_story_of_the_davis_sewing_machine_company.html

 Everything moves.  The pitman rod is wooden, but in good shape.  The cabinet and coffin top are not so fortunate.  I can restore/repair the coffin top.  The cabinet leaf will need totally new laminate.  I have some needles (three) that came with the machine and a few that came with my Boye Needle Dispenser. 

I found some bobbins as well, buried in the junk in the drawers.  I believe I can get it stitching.  I found a manual on ISMACS for the Davis Vertical Feed New High Arm.  I have a beat up manual in the drawer of this cabinet.  It, unfortunately, does not include the first pages with threading instructions.  For now the machine is sitting in the Dining Room next to the 31-15.  Just one more project.