Hi Miller
My reference to the W&W serial numbers was from the Needlebar dating book that they published in 2003, I was part of that group back then. They state the source of the serial numbers was in fact from Grace Rogers Cooper.
They may well have used the original figures and then adjusted them to suit what they believed at the time?? However I do not remember that being discussed.
You may well be correct as your serial # 60,422 is listed as 1861 in that Needlebar book. I will have to get a copy of Coopers original listings for future references.
I have done some measuring of my machines stitch plates.......however I used mm instead of the imperial measurements. I have grown up with metric so don't really understand fractions of imperial.
Serial 12445 #1 wide bed in parlor cabinet stitch plate length 171 mm so that would make it equivalent to your 6 3/4" I believe.
Serial 824890 #1 wide bed hand crank stitch plate length 160 mm
Serial blank #1 wide bed head only stitch plate length 160 mm I had to clean the plate to find the numbers but to my surprise it stated 'No' then nothing.. no numbers at all??????
Serial 174165 #1 wide bed in parlor cabinet stitch plate length 160 mm
Serial 263240 #3 narrow bed in half case treadle stitch plate length 160 mm
So from these serial numbers, body types and length of stitch plates I would say it was a time frame change and not a feature only for the wide bed machines.
Now you have highlighted the serial number discrepancies (thank you) I will have to change all of them to a year earlier.
So my 12445 is not 1859 but 1858?? correct?
Thank Miller this has been enlightening.
Lee
