This chain-stitch sewing machine was made in 1878 and still runs great today. Gave it a little TLC, oiled her up and ran her for a while and she is now back in perfect working order.
Great video on the Willcox and Gibbs chainstitch machine. To keep the thread locked at the end, do the following: After sewing the last stitch, you raise the needle to its high point, and raise the foot. With the material still in place, you pull extra thread down to the needle area and then pull that slack in the thread to the right of the needle so the slack is between the right side of the needle and the material. Cut the thread leaving about an inch or so attached to the material. Then pull the material slightly up and away from you until that one inch piece of thread gets pulled downward through the material, hence locking the chain. Rick
Thank you that was very informative, I myself have one of these machines and it is a hand crank with all the original painted pattern on the cross bar etc
Interesting... I think the W&G chain stitchers are some of the MOST beautiful sewing machines ever made. ("one man's trash is another's treasure!"). Also, if your machine was made in 1878, it probably was mounted on a treadle or had a hand crank. It did not come on the motor stand. Motors for sewing machines were introduced around 1890. You might be able to research when W&G started to sell the motor stand that adapts to the W&G wheel. One can see that in later owners manuals, those portable little motor stands were offered in the "parts for order" pages.
Vaya que sistema mas ingenioso de coser. excelente viedo amigo Ed esta maquina debe permanecer eternamente dando servicio en los hogares de todo el mundo. saludos desde Veracruz, Mex.
The chain stitching on this sewing machine is beautiful. The hooks spinning in motion is a wonderful invention. Are sewing machines with this method in production now?
Very nice video....great explanation! Does your machine have its brass W&G badge on the base at the backside of the machine? Mine does. I see many of them with the brass W&G name badge on the base at the front of the machine.
Have you found a source of needles? The stitch length is so small about 12 stitches per inch. Singer made chain stitch machines 20 a child's machine and 24 an industrial machine with needles and the 114 industrial with a hook.
This illustration gives you an idea what the dimensions are so you can keep an eye out for short, stout needles and measure them to see if they have the right dimensions to work. needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php?title=File:Wandgwrench.jpg From my estimation the whole needle is about 1 and 1/4" long, the top of the eye is about 1 and 3/32" from the top of the shank, the bottom of the eye is about 1/16" from the top of the needle and the top part of the shank from its tip to the bottom of its thickest part is about 17/32". I've got an original Simanco needle in my ~1914 Model 20 machine and its dimensions are very similar. Those needles aren't available anymore and instead most people use the 24x1 (aka DHx1) needle instead. Last I knew they were being made by Organ. If you can find one of those it might be worth trying in your machine. Sometimes not-quite-perfect needles will work if they're set a little lower before tightening the needle clamp or, if they're a little long, filing them a bit shorter at the top of the shank before inserting them. Try asking on a forum like Victorian Sweatshop where there are a lot of Vintage Sewing Machine enthusiasts very happy to share their knowledge. It would surprise me if one of them can tell you exactly which modern needle works just fine in their machine or how they go about modifying a modern one to make it work. :-) p.s. I see that there are some Groz-Beckert needles on Etsy being sold for W&G machines, at least one of the vendors there selling them I know to be good as she's sold me needles for another of my really old Singer machines snd they work well. So whatever needle that one is (it has the numbers 736682 and W&G502 on the packet) it could be well worth a try too. Good luck!
Great video on the Willcox and Gibbs chainstitch machine. To keep the thread locked at the end, do the following: After sewing the last stitch, you raise the needle to its high point, and raise the foot. With the material still in place, you pull extra thread down to the needle area and then pull that slack in the thread to the right of the needle so the slack is between the right side of the needle and the material. Cut the thread leaving about an inch or so attached to the material. Then pull the material slightly up and away from you until that one inch piece of thread gets pulled downward through the material, hence locking the chain. Rick
Thank you that was very informative, I myself have one of these machines and it is a hand crank with all the original painted pattern on the cross bar etc
Interesting... I think the W&G chain stitchers are some of the MOST beautiful sewing machines ever made. ("one man's trash is another's treasure!"). Also, if your machine was made in 1878, it probably was mounted on a treadle or had a hand crank. It did not come on the motor stand. Motors for sewing machines were introduced around 1890. You might be able to research when W&G started to sell the motor stand that adapts to the W&G wheel. One can see that in later owners manuals, those portable little motor stands were offered in the "parts for order" pages.
I have willcox & Gibbs that as a series # A 540393. I'm unable to date it. Any suggestions?
Vaya que sistema mas ingenioso de coser. excelente viedo amigo Ed esta maquina debe permanecer eternamente dando servicio en los hogares de todo el mundo. saludos desde Veracruz, Mex.
Esas maquinas las ocupan para hacer los trajes en el istmo de tehuantepec, son trajes de cadenilla.
Thank you for showing how it actually works.A like and subscribe coming your way.
Great video! Thank you.
This is my Willcox and Gibbs it was restored by Eddie greenwood you find him on eBay highly recommend him
Hey you now have Quilted paper towels!!!!
The chain stitching on this sewing machine is beautiful.
The hooks spinning in motion is a wonderful invention.
Are sewing machines with this method in production now?
Excellent , do know what needle it use I just got one waiting for receive it thank for explaining 😊
Willcox and Gibbs sewing machine manuals PDF download on Etsy and Ebay if you need one!!
Very nice video....great explanation! Does your machine have its brass W&G badge on the base at the backside of the machine? Mine does. I see many of them with the brass W&G name badge on the base at the front of the machine.
Have you found a source of needles? The stitch length is so small about 12 stitches per inch. Singer made chain stitch machines 20 a child's machine and 24 an industrial machine with needles and the 114 industrial with a hook.
Are there any modern needles that fit these machines as I've just bought an 1881 machine and the needle is broken :(
This illustration gives you an idea what the dimensions are so you can keep an eye out for short, stout needles and measure them to see if they have the right dimensions to work.
needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php?title=File:Wandgwrench.jpg
From my estimation the whole needle is about 1 and 1/4" long, the top of the eye is about 1 and 3/32" from the top of the shank, the bottom of the eye is about 1/16" from the top of the needle and the top part of the shank from its tip to the bottom of its thickest part is about 17/32".
I've got an original Simanco needle in my ~1914 Model 20 machine and its dimensions are very similar. Those needles aren't available anymore and instead most people use the 24x1 (aka DHx1) needle instead. Last I knew they were being made by Organ. If you can find one of those it might be worth trying in your machine. Sometimes not-quite-perfect needles will work if they're set a little lower before tightening the needle clamp or, if they're a little long, filing them a bit shorter at the top of the shank before inserting them. Try asking on a forum like Victorian Sweatshop where there are a lot of Vintage Sewing Machine enthusiasts very happy to share their knowledge. It would surprise me if one of them can tell you exactly which modern needle works just fine in their machine or how they go about modifying a modern one to make it work. :-)
p.s. I see that there are some Groz-Beckert needles on Etsy being sold for W&G machines, at least one of the vendors there selling them I know to be good as she's sold me needles for another of my really old Singer machines snd they work well. So whatever needle that one is (it has the numbers 736682 and W&G502 on the packet) it could be well worth a try too. Good luck!