Wheeler And Wilson Sewing Machine Serial Number Lookup

[Louella Kammann]

Theearly Wheeler & Wilson machines used a curved needle on the end of a vibrating lever and a rotary hook which took the loop of thread around a thin 'disc' bobbin of under thread. A. B. Wilson's original form of the early-to-mid 1850s (Figures 1 and 2) soon evolved into a standard treadle machine which remained in production until the end of the firm's existence.

The classification of these 'curved needle' machines seems to have changed over the years. They were sold both as domestic machines and for manufacturing where they were popular for shirt making and similar lightweight tasks. The machines come in three forms of base casting, all with the same important dimensions, needles and bobbins.

Lastly, there is the 'box' base which is a much deeper base to hide the rod operating the needle bar. This form was used from 1878 onwards and became the Singer 1W1 (Fig. 5) after 1905. The brass medallion on the base seems to have first appeared around 1870.

All versions of the machines were available on a plain walnut or mahogany table and cast iron treadle, or a "Half Case" (Figure 9) on a cast iron treadle. In addition there were several styles of "Full Case" options in a variety of woods (Figure 10) for the domestic market. There was also a hand version for the European market. This model is rare and awkward to use, with the clothplate well above the table top.

This system of giving different model numbers to the same machine in different finishes is confusing and makes classification difficult. Coupled with the changes in numbering, labelling is difficult today, 150 years on.

In England, and possibly other countries, Wheeler & Wilson would also supply the machine head and other parts so that a customer could commission their own fancy cabinet for their machine from their local cabinetmaker.

Several very elaborate cabinets, complete with the maker's brass plate, have survived in collections. This habit extended to manufacturers other than Wheeler & Wilson with fancy cabinets for W&W 'curved needle' clones, and also for Howe and Singer 12 clones.

It is remarkable that such an early machine had such a long production life. Fifteen years after Singer launched launched their 'New Family' class 12 machine there was still a domestic market for the curved needle Wheeler & Wilson. The machine takes some getting used to, feeding from left to right, but, if you had used one for years, changing to a more conventional machine might have frightened some. The cup-and-cone bearings for the needle bar require adjustment occasionally but are easy to adjust. With no parts to oil above the clothplate, patches of oil on the completed sewing would be mush less frequent than on rival machines,- a real problem in the early days.

Thank you for posting this!! My sister and I inherited this EXACT sewing machine (same table as yours too) from my great great grandparents. Everything seems workable, except that the belt is broken. I'm planning on using your suggestions for the new belt and teach myself and my daughter on how to sew using this. she kept all of the original pieces as well, just not he instructions. :)

So from what I have found, the D9 and 9 series are from like 1897 to 1905 when Singer bought the company. My Wheeler and Wilson D9 has a serial number of 2826894, but I cannot find a manufacturing year for it. My husband and I think it is from 1902. We were told that hus Great-Grandma bought it new. I also want to say how happy I am that I found your blog as my husband amd I want to restore ours but had no idea how to go about it. If you have any advise, I would greatly appreciate the help.

Ina - that is amazing that you have one of these as a family heirloom. It really is a great machine, despite it's limitations.

For restoration, spend some time perusing the Treadle On webpages and archived emails. Here is a good place to start:

My machine was is decent shape so it wasn't that hard to get it going. Hopefully that is the case for you too. Obviously machines with more damage, rust, or missing parts are going to be tougher to bring up to usable condition. But if you are dedicated you will be able to do it even if you need to find replacement parts.

A young Allen B Wilson constructed his first practical sewing machine in 1850, using a rotary hook mechanism. Itworked very simply and very quietly. Turning the hand crank caused the bobbin to rotate in circles and during eachrevolution a hook picked up the top thread from the needle and twisted it with the thread from the bobbin to producea stitch.

The Wheeler and Wilson Company won several Prize Medals for their machines. These included the Industrial Expositionin Paris in 1861, the International Exhibition in London a year later and the Exposition Universalle in Paris in1868, 1878 and 1889.

There were 2 main variants of the Model 8's. The earlier machines utilised a large flat balance wheel, a gear drivenbobbin winder and a volute tension spring. Later Model 8's changed to a gear driven hand crank, a rubber tyre bobbinwinder and a beehive tension spring.

The Wheeler and Wilson domestic models 8, 9 and 9D used a unique 4 point case locking system, which was patented in1879. Either a key or cranked lever operated 4 metal bars which slide out from the ends of the base to engage withthe end plates of the case cover.

With the decline in machine productions numbers, the Wheeler and Wilson Company was taken over by the SingerManufacturing Company in 1905. Singer continued to manufacture the No.9 model, badging it as a Singer until after1912.

Wheeler & Wilson was an American company which produced sewing machines. The company was started as a partnership between Allen B. Wilson and Nathaniel Wheeler after Wheeler agreed to help Wilson mass-produce a sewing machine he designed.[1] The two launched their enterprise in the early 1850s, and quickly gained widespread acclamation for their machines' designs.[1] Both Wheeler and Wilson died in the late 19th century, resulting in the company's sale to the Singer Corporation.[1] Shortly after, the Singer Corporation phased out Wheeler & Wilson's designs.[1] The company sold a total of nearly 2,000,000 sewing machines during its existence.[1]

Throughout the late 1840s, Allen B. Wilson traveled throughout the United States as a journeyman, and conceived the idea for a sewing machine in 1847, unaware that it had already been invented.[2][3] By 1848, Wilson moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and began creating drawings for a sewing machine, before eventually beginning construction one on February 8, 1849.[2][3] By April 1, 1849, Wilson completed his prototype, which he sold for $200.[3] Using this money, Wilson acquired a patent for his sewing machine on November 12, 1850, which differed from existing models in that with each movement it inserted two stitches instead of one.[2][3]

Nathaniel Wheeler, who had previously met Wilson while on a business trip in 1849, met with Wilson again in August 1851.[1] Wheeler contracted Wilson to produce 500 sewing machines for Wheeler's existing business in Watertown, Connecticut: Warren, Wheeler & Woodruff.[1][4] During this time, Wilson filed a patent for his machines' rotating hook and its four-motion feed.[2] In October 1853, Wheeler and Wilson used $160,000 to officially relaunch their enterprise as the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Co.[1][4] Wheeler incorporated the company with Alanson Warren, who served as its first president, and George P. Woodruff, who served as the company's first secretary and treasurer.[5] The other general offices of the company were held for many years by Isaac Holden as vice-president, William H. Perry as general superintendent, secretary and treasurer, and Frederick Hurd as secretary and treasurer.[5] Wheeler served as the company's General Manager, and became the company's President in 1855 following Warren's resignation.[4][5]

The company began producing these sewing machines in Watertown, producing 3,000 units before relocating to Bridgeport to take advantage of the city's superior transportation links, communication links, and a larger facility size.[1][3][4][6] Here, the firm occupied a facility which formerly belonged to the Jerome Clock Company.[4]

By 1859, the company had the most sewing machine sales in the United States.[2] The company's capital stock was increased in July, 1859, to $400,000, and June 29, 1864, the company was granted a special charter by the Connecticut state government, and the capital stock was further increased to $1.000,000.[5] During this time, the company's sales grew exponentially, from just over 21,000 units in 1859, to nearly 130,000 twelve years later.[2] Allen Wilson died in Woodmont, Connecticut on April 29, 1888.[1][3] Nathaniel Wheeler continued to serve as the company's General Manager and President until his death.[5] Wheeler died in Bridgeport on December 31, 1893.[1][4] After Nathaniel Wheeler's death, his son, Samuel Wheeler, succeeded to the presidency. His official associates were George M. Eames, vice-president, and Newton H. Hoyt. secretary and treasurer.[5]

By 1905, Wheeler & Wilson were employing about 2,000 hands at their facility in Bridgeport.[5] Singer Corporation took over the Wheeler and Wilson Manufacturing Company in 1905.[1][6] After the acquisition, Singer continued to promote Wheeler and Wilson machines for a number of years,[1] and continued producing their No. 9 model sewing machine under its own brand name until at least 1913.[6]

The company won a number of Prize Medals, including at the 1861 Industrial Exposition in Paris,[1][6] the 1862 International Exhibition of London,[1][6] the Exposition Universelle, Paris 1868, the 1878 Exposition Universelle,[6] and 1889 Exposition Universelle.[6]

According to advertisements run by the company, other awards they received include the Gold Medal of Honour of the American Institute of New York, in September 1873, the Gold Medal at Maryland Institute in October, and a Silver Medal (the highest premium for "Stitching Leather") at the Georgia State Fair in November 1873.[8][9]

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