New member - Allen B. Wilson relative
Hello all!? I'm so pleased to find this group, and am impressed with the knowledge so many of you have.? I'm a member of the W & W Facebook group, but hadn't known of you all until Googling recently.? One of the FB members is a relative of the business half of W & W: Nathaniel Wheeler.? I'm a great x 3 niece of Allen Benjamin Wilson, the inventor.? Here's some info for you history nuts if you're interested: born in 1823, Allen has no living direct descendants, as both his daughters died childless.? Because he was the only "famous" member of an otherwise ordinary family, I'm fortunate that some neat information and items of his have been passed down over the generations.? One is a photograph of a portrait of him, painted when he was in his 40's, I'm guessing.? The original portrait has been lost, as my cousins got rid of it, not knowing who he was.? They only knew him as "that guy whose eyes followed you around the room".? I took a photo or the portrait when visiting their parents some 30 years ago.? I have succeeded in posting this photo on the Photos page on this site.? (No small feat for technologically challenged person like me!)?
His grandfather Benjamin Willson (yes, double "l") helped found the village of Willet, NY in 1806.? An overachiever, he established a sawmill, gristmill, distillery, inn, general store, and blacksmith shop.? Allen's father, Benjamin, Jr, died in a mill accident when Allen was 3.? Apprenticed to a cabinet maker, he was around 26 when he developed his first sewing machine.? Somewhere along the line he dropped the second "l" in his last name.? By the time this portrait was painted, he was a wealthy man, and had retired from W & W in his late 30's due to ill health (including apparently a "nervous" temperament.) He invented the furnace installed in the basement of his home.? And in 1866 he erected the enormous Wilson House?in North Adams, MA., which housed a hotel, theater and other businesses.??The 1870 Census lists his worth, at age 47, as $150,00 in land and $130,000 in personal assets.? Alas, I didn't inherit any of that money.? By 1898 - 10 years after his death at age 65 - his youngest daughter was in the NYC poorhouse!? According to the newspaper account, Ethel was a "carefully-bred gentlewoman, educated in the finest schools of this country and Europe".? I guess too much high living will get you, if you're not careful!
Living in Waterbury, CT, Allen took photographs of his family, home and property, and the old Willet homestead, which were printed on cards as stereoptic images.? When viewed through a handheld stereoscope, they look 3D.? I've posted some in the album also.??
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Helen DeFoe
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No, thank you, I am truly maxed out for space here. Mind you, if an 1860's to 80's Raymond came along at a ridiculously low price... ?
would you be interested in a1909 model with a nice cabinet
On Thu, Sep 5, 2019, 8:47 PM Aleda Johnson < aledaj55@...> wrote: Hi from Lillooet BC Canada, glad to find the group. I collect mostly pre 1920 machines & am especially fond of handcranks so it was a thrill to add a WW 'Shorty' 9H4 to my collection. A sweet using machine! I also have a D9 treadle head which came as a seized up orphan that had been headed for the scrap bin.? I make a lot of quilts, I do my own quilting, all on treadle or handcrank machines so I am most attracted to 'using' machines & the W&Ws are great to have. As well as doing machine restorations (to function, not repaints), I also do some cabinet & case restorations - that & the sewing keeps me busy & happy.
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would you be interested in a1909 model with a nice cabinet
On Thu, Sep 5, 2019, 8:47 PM Aleda Johnson < aledaj55@...> wrote: Hi from Lillooet BC Canada, glad to find the group. I collect mostly pre 1920 machines & am especially fond of handcranks so it was a thrill to add a WW 'Shorty' 9H4 to my collection. A sweet using machine! I also have a D9 treadle head which came as a seized up orphan that had been headed for the scrap bin.? I make a lot of quilts, I do my own quilting, all on treadle or handcrank machines so I am most attracted to 'using' machines & the W&Ws are great to have. As well as doing machine restorations (to function, not repaints), I also do some cabinet & case restorations - that & the sewing keeps me busy & happy.
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Hi from Lillooet BC Canada, glad to find the group. I collect mostly pre 1920 machines & am especially fond of handcranks so it was a thrill to add a WW 'Shorty' 9H4 to my collection. A sweet using machine! I also have a D9 treadle head which came as a seized up orphan that had been headed for the scrap bin.? I make a lot of quilts, I do my own quilting, all on treadle or handcrank machines so I am most attracted to 'using' machines & the W&Ws are great to have. As well as doing machine restorations (to function, not repaints), I also do some cabinet & case restorations - that & the sewing keeps me busy & happy.
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Hi,
? Off topic but not only are they larger but apparently they are part of the species of long eared hedgehogs.??
Best regards, Mike
On Wednesday, September 4, 2019, 01:17:55 AM GMT+8, viavillecinque . <viavillecinque@...> wrote:
afghan hedgehog have pointed ears, nearly as a cat?
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afghan hedgehog have pointed ears, nearly as a cat?
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thank you all.? ?I came back home from the sea and soon I can photograph my two 8 for you .? ?they are quite identical but the first sews, the second don't want.? why?? ?however wW? cats hedgehog with little or pointed ears, and obviously W&W.? ?arrivederci
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Re: Wheeler & Wilson two spool Peerless Embroiderer
Mary, You have the neatest gadgets. Thanks for sharing!
Maria
Smoky Mountains of Tennessee
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Re: Wheeler & Wilson two spool Peerless Embroiderer
Mary, I love your attachment videos! Thanks so much for posting! I never knew W&W had an embroidery attachment.
Kelly in PA
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Re: Wheeler & Wilson two spool Pe erless Embroiderer
WW always had the best bits and pieces, didn't they? 'way ahead of everyone else!!
judy in so cal... stroking my no 8 gently...:)
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Re: Wheeler & Wilson two spool Peerless Embroiderer
Hi Mary T; A Big thank you for posting this. I too was unaware of this Peerless attachment being made to fit the W&W #9 machines. This should fit either the #9, D-9 or a Singer 9W. Do post pictures of it in our photo section.
Miller/TN
On Monday, September 2, 2019, 10:20:32 AM CDT, Michael Kendall via Groups.Io <michael.kendall@...> wrote:
Hi Mary T,
? Thanks for sharing that awesome attachment pictures and videos.? Sure would love to have a couple of those cool gadgets.??
Best regards,
Mike
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Re: Wheeler & Wilson two spool Peerless Embroiderer
Hi Mary T,
? Thanks for sharing that awesome attachment pictures and videos.? Sure would love to have a couple of those cool gadgets.??
Best regards,
Mike
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Re: Wheeler & Wilson two spool Peerless Embroiderer
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Wheeler & Wilson two spool Peerless Embroiderer
Hi..here is a goodie that I didn¡¯t even knew existed. ?? Of course, the Singer ones are always about. Very, very cool attachment. ? Some photos and videos: ?
Mary T
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A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy?
enough people to make it worth the effort.
Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)?
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Welcome, Christiana; I love all my W&W machines. So far as I know all the #8 machines had a bobbin case. Most of them had a very plain case without a built-in tension spring. Bobbin thread tension was applied outside the case.?
The earlier curved needle machines did not have a bobbin case. On most of those the bobbin holder was not hinged, the screw was simply loosened & the holder slid back to drop the bobbin. Late curved needle machines & all #8 & #9 machines had the hinged holder which W&W referred to as the bobbin drop. The D-9 model, introduced in 1895 had a built-in bobbin case with latch finger to secure the bobbin. This case did not need to be removed to change bobbins. there are pictures of all the bobbin cases used on the W&W family machines in our photo album here;
Miller/TN
On Wednesday, August 21, 2019, 08:12:06 PM CDT, sustainability@... <sustainability@...> wrote:
welcome, Christiana!!
judy in southern california, usa
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How To Remove Eye Bags & Lip Lines Fast (Watch)
Fit Mom Daily
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welcome, Christiana!!
judy in southern california, usa
____________________________________________________________
How To Remove Eye Bags & Lip Lines Fast (Watch)
Fit Mom Daily
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Hi Christiana,
? Welcome!
? My wife says Ciao!? We lived in Sicily for four years and have very fond memories of both Sicily and the wonderful Italians we were friends with.
? We also have a no. 8 hand crank and a no. 9 hand crank.? Both great machines.? The no. 9 is more advanced/newer of course but still a machine of the 2nd industrial revolution made in the 1800's :)
? We also have many animals.? Our cat Starbucks has his own seat at our table.? Yesterday for lunch Starbucks was complaining and being naughty sitting in the wrong chair close to use while eating which we don't like.? Then we figured it out and saw "his" chair was pushed into the table.? We moved the chair away from the table and Starbucks was fine after that...happy cat.
? When I was in Afghanistan I saw a Afghan hedgehog and had to google it.? Apparently the Afghan hedgehog is the largest of the species in the world but still a small animal.? The farmers do not like them because they love to eat the melons from the crops.
? This is a friendly group.? Miller the owner is a machinist and very helpful.
Best regards, Mike
On Thursday, August 22, 2019, 07:46:58 AM GMT+8, viavillecinque . <viavillecinque@...> wrote:
good morning and thank you for welcoming me
my name is Cristiana, I'm italian. I'm a ceramist.? But a day I discovered old sewing machines, and I was fascinated from their mechanism.? ?To repair one is a long work, sometimes, but when the machine starts walking well again it is as a feast!
I own 4 wheeler&wilson:? ?two, identical, number eight, old type? ?(last week I had forgot this particular, I searched frenetically a bobbin case never existed.? ? but very cheap and simple). these are two handcrank, without? possibility of treadle, I don't see a location for belt.? one of these works quite well, the other.... mistery
I have two 9, now I can't read the number, an handcrank and a treadle one
after I have an old style one, only head, very nice, and I have a Pollackveryvery nice, with her treadle. I think it is a sort of clone of a ww, but the foot is not of glass? I must make a belt for that
Ok, I love cats and little animals,little hedgehogs for example, and mice too, but they are terrible at home!? ?I live in the country from many years.
as soon as possible I go to post my photo
thank you also for a very quick answer to my request.? ?arrivederci? ? cristiana
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good morning and thank you for welcoming me
my name is Cristiana, I'm italian. I'm a ceramist.? But a day I discovered old sewing machines, and I was fascinated from their mechanism.? ?To repair one is a long work, sometimes, but when the machine starts walking well again it is as a feast!
I own 4 wheeler&wilson:? ?two, identical, number eight, old type? ?(last week I had forgot this particular, I searched frenetically a bobbin case never existed.? ? but very cheap and simple). these are two handcrank, without? possibility of treadle, I don't see a location for belt.? one of these works quite well, the other.... mistery
I have two 9, now I can't read the number, an handcrank and a treadle one
after I have an old style one, only head, very nice, and I have a Pollackveryvery nice, with her treadle. I think it is a sort of clone of a ww, but the foot is not of glass? I must make a belt for that
Ok, I love cats and little animals,little hedgehogs for example, and mice too, but they are terrible at home!? ?I live in the country from many years.
as soon as possible I go to post my photo
thank you also for a very quick answer to my request.? ?arrivederci? ? cristiana
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Re: update from new member with 3 W & W's
Lillian;
Most W&W #8 machines had the bobbin winder mounted on the irons for use. Here is a picture of one from our photo album;
The winder is pulled down against spring tension so the tire will run on the flat of the bandwheel. You simply guide the thread on by hand. Hand crank models & a few very late ones had the winder moved up on the machine bed. but this is how the vast majority of the #8s were set up. I feel sure this is what yours would have had originally.
On my #8, I use a DBx1 needle. It is a round shank needle which is 5mm (0.197") shorter than the original. It has to be pulled down in the clamp as well as having the eye aligned but then sews like a Champ. The original #8 needle was the 6n1 & then the 126x1 which were also round shank & had to have the eye aligned but were self-setting for length.
Several years ago my Wife & I were at our local Joans store & they had the Simplicity Deluxe Sidewinder on a fantastic sale, about the same price as the regular one. We bought one of them & have used it a lot. It has more power than the regular one & has interchangeable spindles to accommodate different bobbins. I have even wound a small regular sized spool on it instead of a bobbin. It is strictly a 1101 volt though, while I believe the smaller one can be run from a battery if desired.
Miller/TN?
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Re: update from new member with 3 W & W's
I have had issues over the years with poorly wound bobbins even when using the bobbin winder on the machine, I have a Singer 115 which is sort of a descendent of the Wheeler and Wilson 9. And it has no tension control for the bobbin winding
and I have to route the thread around several things to get the tension high enough to not make loops when the bobbin winder guide arm reverses direction. So in my opinion yes. I will hand wind bobbins sometimes but I use an electric drill with tape around
a bit to hold the bobbin tight and then guide the thread on evenly. The sidewinder is better than that by far.
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I have the "donor" #8 working and used it to make a hanging nest (based on a Nancy's Notions idea) to hold the instruction book and other bits. ?It sewed okay except for skipping a stitch here and there - not in a regular pattern and only occasionally.
?At New England TOGA it was suggested that I should change the needle.?
But neither # 8 had a bobbin winder, so I had wound the bobbin by hand. ?The bobbin is so skinny that it was hard to wind and I wondered if inconsistent winding could be the problem. ?I got out my Sidewinder and filled the bobbin while being careful not to
over-fill. ?Practice stitches look perfect. I have not changed the needle yet but maybe I don't need to do that.
I don't need to try to add a winder to the machine - maybe it never had one - but might my hand winding have been the issue? I do like my Sidewinder.
Lillian, near Cape Cod
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Maria Goetz
Mary T
Ken Jansen