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Irons Wheeler & Wilson Straight Needle Machine Courtesy of Claire Sherwell In later forms of the Wheeler & Wilson rotating hook its cavity is made much deeper, to accommodate a wider spool containing a large supply of under thread. The brush check is also done away with in the larger machines and an automatic take-up completes one stitch before another is begun.
This model represents the same type of sewing machine, but fitted with a straight needle, instead of curved. The positions of all the parts are the same as in other machines, but with the additions of a needle bar and a link to connect the needle arm to it. This machine is adapted for heavier work than the curved-needle machine of the earlier form, and serves, in a way, as a link to connect the older machines with the new types i.e. 6, 7 & 8 machines. Wheeler & Wilson 5 Cylinder Bed Courtesy of David Stirling From a French curved needle Wheeler & Wilson brochure. Machine priced at 430 Francs.
In the US this machine sold for $95. 'With glass presser, new-style hemmer, and braider. This machine is of the same capacity as the No.
1, but arranged with especial reference to shirt-making or other work where sleeves are to be sewed. It is also adapted for the use of tailors, cloak-maker, shirt makers &c.
The machine is mounted on a polished mahogany or black walnut table.' This is an old style machine with a different bed. Wheeler & Wilson 6 Courtesy of Claire Sherwell 1872-3. In 1882 the 'Wheeler & Wilson No. 6 or 7' was priced at £8 10 0. The rotary hook of the No. Adobe Indesign Cs6 Crack Amtlib.Dll Download there. 6 is the same as No.
7, but lying in the opposite direction. There is therefore a slight difference in the feeding mechanism, due to the feed cam being tuned with the hook towards the operator, while the feed is constructed to act in the opposite direction. For sewing leather and heavy fabrics. The bobbins were designed to take more thread than other machines and the model was invented by James House. By 1878 a feeding device or attachment for ornamental stitching e.g.
Embroidery and flossing and working buttonholes and eyelets was available for this model. Also available with a cylinder bed as illustrated further down. Chrys' illustration is of machines sold by a French dealer in France. 6 is clearly seen on the rear of the pillar. Threading diagrams, front & rear Wheeler & Wilson 8 Courtesy of Claire Sherwell Rotary machine. Glass presser foot.
Takes a straight needle, rather than curved as earlier models did (with the exception of the Straight Needle machine). Produced from the mid-1870s to the late 1880s.
Please note this model is not covered by Mr NeedleBar's dating, which pertains to the earlier models taking curved needles, there are no dating records available for the model 8. It is not true to say that there is a difference between US and UK handcrank mechanisms on W&W 8 machines; there wasn't a W&W factory in the UK. There are a number of changes to manufacture over the production period: A. Needles: The differences and progression from the early Wheeler & Wilson machines using a curved needle, the round needle of the Wheeler & Wilson 8 and the flat sided needle of the 9/D9.
The Wheeler & Wilson 6, 7 & 8 use a Boye 27. The Wheeler & Wilson 9 uses a 127x1 / Boye 18. Early model 9 may also use the round 126x1 or substitute a 16x231/DBx1 and set it down a little. On the left is the earlier 'tension pulley' (upper tension 'volute' spring) from machine #481676. On the right is the later style tension pulley spring from machine # 616121.
A comparison of bobbin housing assemblies from an earlier, curved needle machine, the August 27, 1878 patent (no release showing) and the May 18, 1880 patent with release lever to the lower left. A later version had the release lever to the right, as shown in this album. The diameter of the bobbin is larger than used in later models and the mechanism has a lever to the lower right. This is the Old Style Wheeler & Wilson 8 bobbin case shown below. It bears the patent dates of August 27, 1878 (George Dimond) & May 18, 1880 (Clark Marsh & Daniel Marsh).
The August 27, 1878 date is also when Aurelius Steward's patent for the Wheeler & Wilson 8 machine was issued, improvements on James House's model of 1872, 1873 and 1876. The size of the bobbin is different from the earlier type, D. And the mechanism has the release lever on the left. This bobbin case is of a style used on later Wheeler & Wilson 8 machines AND early Wheeler & Wilson 9 machines. The progression of bobbin cases used by the Wheeler & Wilson 8, the type used by both the 8 and 9 and the two newer Wheeler & Wilson 9 bobbin cases.
OS = Old Style. NS = New Style. Wheeler & Wilson 9 Wheeler & Wilson 9 Instruction Manuals Courtesy of John Courtesy of Mae Lopez Wheeler & Wilson 9 - Threading Diagram Courtesy of Claire Sherwell Place the spool on the spool wire, which tips back for the purpose, pass the thread under the wire, through thread check 1, down IN FRONT and once around the tension pulley 2 [all the way around], thence under thread guide 3, though take-up 4, thread leader 5, and needle bar, thread guide 6, to the needle.
The thread the needle from right to left, all as seen in the cut, and draw two or three inches of thread through the eye of the needle when the take-up is at its highest point. See also Jones Spool Threading - Early & Later in the Jones album •.
1894 patent at top of needle bar, courtesy of Dave Wheeler & Wilson 9 - Early Serial #10452 Courtesy of Fay This machine has a spool pin that lies central in its cover, rather than the more usual angled spool pin at the center of the arm. With the help of Chrys Gunther's trade cards, the date of the spool pin was narrowed down to before 1889. The card below shows a machine with a centrally placed spool pin on the shoulder of the machine, rather than the 'U' shaped spool holder of later machines. The trade card has a copyright date of 1888. Wheeler & Wilson 9 Serial #178102 Courtesy of Claire Sherwell Rotary hook.
Last patent date on the slide plate of March 25, 1890. It has a large domed, bentwood case with leather covered rope handle, which locks with the usual Wheeler & Wilson four sliding protrusions. The bobbin fits in like one from a W&W8. The slide plate doesn't say D-9 anywhere on it. The bobbin winder engages from within the crank. The little lever on top disengages the crank.
Free standing hand crank attachment. The silver colored catch at the front of the machine bed, in the center, is original. The W&W are intertwined on the pillar. The inverted U shaped spool pin used on Wheeler & Wilson 9 machines as well as on so many German machines was invented by Wheeler & Wilson employee, James Fletcher, in 1887 and patented in 1890. The idea was to prevent loose coils of thread from the spool accidentally getting wrapped around a spool pin, so that tension is increased and breaks, as occasionally happens and means the operator has to stop sewing.
This situation particularly occurred when using stiff or glazed thread. Using this type of holder ensured that dropped coils of thread could pass freely without becoming wrapped around a spool pin. This trade card below shows a Wheeler & Wilson 9 with the angled 'U' shaped spool pin.
The card mentions the Paris Expo of 1889 on the rear. Courtesy of Chrys Gunther Wheeler & Wilson 9 and D-9 Comparisons The older version was called the Wheeler & Wilson 9, the newer version introduced in 1895 was the D-9 (later the model became the Singer 9W after Wheeler & Wilson was taken over). There are several differences including the change from free standing hand crank to a more compact one, the size of the bed and slide plates, bed castings, spool pin, take up lever, type of bobbin, thread cutter, serial numbers, even type of needle between the Wheeler & Wilson 9 and the Wheeler & Wilson D 9. See full description of. The (earlier) Wheeler & Wilson 9 hand crank case is larger, it has a rope handle that was covered in leather (as with Wheeler & Wilson 8 machines). This was superseded by a metal handled bentwood case when the model became the D 9. This model was sold with a roll-top accessories box (see below), called a 'revolving shutter box', which fits neatly under the arm of the machine.
Later D 9 hand crank machines have a slim-line case that is significantly smaller than earlier bentwood cases. The Wheeler & Wilson 9 measures 19' across the top of the case and the width of the base is approximately 10'. The bed of the machine itself is approx. 14' long x 6 1/2' wide.
The later version of the D-9 case is smaller, measuring 17' across the top of the case and the width of the base is approximately 7 1/4' wide. The case handle is recessed. The bed of the machine is approx. 13 1/2' long and 6 1/2' wide. Note the shorter slide plate. The D-9 hand crank model was available with and without accessories box to the right.
Bobbins: The earlier machines (Wheeler & Wilson 9) take a 'bagel' shaped bobbin in a holder that slides into position, like the later Wheeler & Wilson 8. The D-9 machines use a latch arrangement for holding the bobbin, without a holder. Bobbins are not quite the same for both models; the D-9 has a small hole in the bobbin, whereas the 9 has a small hole in the holder. It appears that the early Wheeler & Wilson 9 machines take a round shank needle ( Boye 27), whereas the later D 9 machines take a flat shanked 127x1 (Boye 18). Courtesy of Claire Sherwell •. #229,218 & 2,878,031 Courtesy of Miller Fulks The take-up lever on the earlier one, at the top, has a roller end much like a re-located Wheeler & Wilson 8, while the later one is self threading.
Shanks of the feet: Dimension-wise they are all identical & the bottom of the notch in the #9 & D-9 is in same location as the hole in the #8, despite slots being on different sides. Sleeve clamp: Earlier machines don't have a sleeve clamp, later ones do.
If anyone sees a machine without a sleeve but two screws; one for clamping the needle & the other for aligning the flat, please send in pictures and details. Sleeve clamp Wheeler & Wilson D-9 Serial #2417125 Courtesy of Claire Sherwell The 'W' on the pillar is composed of two Ws intertwined with an & in the middle. To Place the Bobbin and Thread the Bobbin Case: With the left hand place the bobbin in its case with the thread leading from the top towards you, holding the end with the right hand, guide the thread into the notch and close the latch, then pull the thread from you until it is drawn up under the notch at the end of the tension spring. Or, draw the thread into the notch under the spring before closing the latch. Or, close the latch and draw the thread up around the end of the latch until under the tension spring. This type of bobbin is often referred to as a 'bagel'. Very often the inner ring is made of brass.
Looking through a drawer frame, the wooden brake swivels from the rest on the left down onto the edge of the flywheel to help prevent the wheel turning backwards. When not required it may be rested on the pin to the left. The metal it attaches to is part of the treadle belt guide. Later bed decals Wheeler & Wilson D-9 Short Bed Serial #2770541 Courtesy of Richard Boughton This short bed version of the popular Wheeler & Wilson D-9.
You can see that it has a completely different profile from the larger version. It has 9-2 on the throat plate, which is not a sub-model as the longer bed D-9 machines also have this. These machines were produced late in the production period of the Wheeler & Wilson 9. Machines have the late style of decals (side-by-side WW) on the pillar (if you have one with the earlier style please report it in the NeedleBar Forum). The wooden base has treadle belt holes cut into the base and the bobbin winder may be used on a treadle as well as with the hand crank, as shown. It has a hinged accessories box.
Last patent of August 2nd, 1892. The machine bed measures 10 1/2' x 6 1/2'. The case measures 14' across the top and the base is approx. Treadle belt hole seen on base Wheeler & Wilson D-9 and D-9 Short Bed Comparisons Courtesy of Claire Sherwell The short bed model has a completely different profile from the larger model.
The height from the bed of the machine to the top of the face plate is 8', the same as for the Wheeler & Wilson 9 and D-9. The short bed version is closer to a 3/4 sized machine rather than a half sized model. In comparison, the Wheeler & Wilson 8's bed measures 12' x 6'. The short model's case measures 14' across the top and the width of the base is 7 1/4' wide. Compared with the larger D-9's 17' x 7 1/4'.
The short machine bed measures 10 1/2' x 6 1/2'. The larger D-9 is 13 1/2' x 6 1/2'. Wheeler & Wilson Attachment Boxes and Attachments Courtesy of Claire Sherwell The embossed rectangular Wheeler & Wilson box is more commonly recognised. Wheeler & Wilson's use of comb joints and push button are easy to spot. The plain rectangular box is harder to come.
The chunkier, squarer box is rarely encountered. It was supplied with and fits easily under the arm of Wheeler & Wilson 9 machines. Although it has the same comb jointed corners and push button it is not commonly found nor recognised. The larger box with roll top, a 'revolving shutter box' dates from 1895, as witnessed by Wheeler & Wilson's own advertising. One example shown accompanied a machine with a last patent date of 1892. The rosewood Wheeler & Wilson needle case with copper top is another item not commonly found.
The needle case and index was invented by Calvin D Wheeler in 1859. His patent was re-issued in 1860. 183989, courtesy of BarbaraB Wheeler & Wilson 10 Wheeler & Wilson D10 Courtesy of Claire Sherwell An automatic cutter button-hole sewing machine complete with power transmitter.
A special hook guide and hook-guide cap are used to give sufficient clearance below the throat plate for the button-hole cutting blade. A special hook and hook-driver are made for the D.10 button-hole machine; the regular hooks and driver should not be used. The special hook is used for both whip and purl stitch; for purl stitch use the bobbin case having the long stop; to the upper thread give a heavy tension and a very light tension to the bobbin thread.
For whip-stitch, use the special bobbin case with short stop and extra slots for threading. The tensions should be the same as for regular sewing. Steam power machines can be fitted with either foot or hand clamp, foot power machines with hand clamp only.
The tension release is not applied to foot power machines. Wheeler & Wilson 12 Wheeler & Wilson 12 Serial #L12 3 1 Courtesy of Margie. This industrial has the late style decals from Wheeler & Wilson. The D-12 is a Tailoring and leather sewing machine for general clothing, overalls etc and for general leather stitching, boot and shoe work etc. It is fitted with tight pulley for steam power or loose pulley for foot power.
For stitching leather the D-12 is fitted with the usual presser-foot, or with roller foot, and with the four motion feed which may be reversed so that the goods move from or towards you, or wheel feed, as preferred, and has knee presser-lifter. The D-12 is the same as the No. 15 in size, and is used on the same stand and fits in the same table top as the No. 15, without change.
Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machines A young Allen B Wilson constructed his first practical sewing machine in 1850, using a rotary hook mechanism. It worked very simply and very quietly. Turning the hand crank caused the bobbin to rotate in circles and during each revolution a hook picked up the top thread from the needle and twisted it with the thread from the bobbin to produce a stitch.
During an exhibition in New York, Wilson was introduced to the older Nathaniel Wheeler, who was at the time manager of the firm Warren, Wheeler and Woodruff of Watertown, Connecticut. They formed a partnership under the name of The Wheeler, Wilson Company to manufacture Wilson’s sewing machines. In 1853 the name was changed to the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company and a few years later it moved to a new factory in Bridgeport, Connecticut. (Photo courtesy of Lynn Kenan) To start with production was slow, however by the early years of the 1860’s it had increased from 20,000 to 30,000 and then 50,000 machines, peaking a decade later at over 128,000 per year. The company produced several models targeting specialist industrial work. As the Wheeler and Wilson Company launched new models, they issued them with numbers rather than names, clearly visible on the pillar. When the company changed from manufacturing machines with curved needles to new straight needle models they re-numbered the models.
However some of the numbers were repeated i.e. The old machine model known as No.
5 became the new No.2. Wheeler & Wilson D9 - Stitch Plate A London office was opened in 1859, at 13 Finsbury Place, followed a few years later by offices and showrooms in Regents Street. The Head Office was at Queen Victoria Street, London E.C. And by the 1880’s there were 26 other branches scattered around Britain. At the end of the century the UK Head Office was at 11 to 21 Paul Street, Finsbury, London. With the decline in machine productions numbers, the Wheeler and Wilson Company was taken over by the Singer Manufacturing Company in 1905. Singer continued to manufacture the No.9 model, badging it as a Singer until after 1912.