Chain Stitch Sewing Machines: Willcox & Gibbs Manuals and Catalogs

The Smithsonian website has quite a few Willcox & Gibbs manuals and catalogs that you can view and print online for FREE. Right now.

Catalogs & Brochures to help identify your Willcox & Gibbs Sewing machine

1870 Catalog for adjustable (glass) tension models http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade-Literature/Sewing-Machines/SIL/0039/
Adjustable (glass) tension parts list http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade-Literature/Sewing-Machines/NMAHTEX/0222/
1876 brochure for automatic tension model http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade-Literature/Sewing-Machines/NMAHTEX/0471/
The American hand crank has cog wheel type gear no belt. Pic is here:
http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade-Literature/Sewing-Machines/NMAHTEX/0470/imagepages/image35.htm
The glass tension manual has a nice pic of what the UK version of the hand crank looks like :http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade-Literature/Sewing-Machines/NMAHTEX/0475/imagepages/image6.htm it works off a very short leather treadle belt. Pics explain it easier than words! There were some cosmetic design changes to the UK hand crank over the years, but they all used the leather belt.

Some of the cabinets for treadles:

Lynn said...: Wow what a great resource you have created Rebbecca! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and advice.

Lynn in Newmarket, Ontario; July 14, 2009 at 8:12 AM
santantoniodeldeserto said...: in all agree with Lynn! I found this blog a two weeks ago, in the night, when internet is lucky.
I have been very happy, finding answer for all my question, and more, even to questions for me yet unknown, , and all the old manuals, beautiful, and little bat to embroider, and many suggestion about needles, threads, stitch regulation.
a great work, and very clear, too, and elegant pages.
many greetings. cristiana; March 30, 2012 at 12:11 PM

Thursday, March 6, 2008