To create this page I needed information from the pages created by the Davis VF Yahoo group as an aid for collectors and lots of data from the NeedleBar website.
www.kelsew Davis VF Yahoo group NeedleBar
Having to judge the sewing machines simply looking at the pictures that I find on the web, I might make mistakes. I decided to call every sewing machine type 1 or 2 or 3 based upon only difference that I can find out by observing photos. In order not to confuse anyone, for sewing machines " Low Arm Vertical Feed ", I'll call them " LAVF " 1 or 2 or 3 etc. What could change the type from one machine to the other, will be differences aesthetics or mechanical improvements (a new patent).
DAVIS BY MODELS
1860
Feb. 21 US 27.208
1860
Patent Model
Icons of American Invention American Patent Models
by
Barbara Suit Janssen
*********************************************************
1868
This sewing machine that it supposed to be the first
made by the Davis Company in Watertown , it will be call:
LAVF 1
1868-72
LAVF 1
From The Encyclopedia of Early American Sewing Machines - 3rd Edition
1872
LAVF 2
LAVF 2
1875
LAVF 3
A new and Improved Sewing Machine.
Application filed
December 12, 1874.
LAVF 3
Feb 21 1860
Oct 9 1866
May 28 1867
Sep 29 1868
Sep 10 1872
patents on the slide-plate
1875
LAVF 3
1876
LAVF 4
1876
Improvements in
Sewing Machine Thread Controllers or Take-Ups
1877
LAVF 4
LAVF 4
LAVF 4
LAVF 4
Feb 21 1860
Oct 9 1866
May 28 1867
Sep 29 1868
Sep 10 1872
1879
December
LAVF 5
LAVF 5
1881
US Patent
1881
HIGH ARM
Model 1
LAVF 5
Feb 21 1860
Oct 9 1866
May 28 1867
Sep 29 1868
Sep 10 1872
May 25 1875
Apr 25 1876
LAVF 5
Feb 21 1860
Oct 9 1866
May 28 1867
Sep 29 1868
Sep 10 1872
May 25 1875
Apr 25 1876
1883
US Patent
for
improvements in the feed mechanism
1883
1883
Model 2 VF
Brochure
Model 2 VF
Model 2 VF
US 58.614 (Oct. 9, 1866)
US 176.686 (Apr. 25, 1876)
US 270.540 (Jan. 9, 1883)
Model 2 VF
Model 3 VF
1885
300.000
machines in use
1885-6
DAVIS
Model 4 VF
1886
131.166 (Sep. 10, 1872)
163.639 (May 25, 1875)
176.686 (Apr. 25, 1876)
Oct. 17, 1881
250.053 (Nov. 29, 1881)
Jan. 23-28-29, 1883
May 12, 1885
Bobbin winder on pillar
VERTICAL FEED
Model 5 VF
Bobbin winder on pillar
DAVIS
Model 5 VF
1887
VERTICAL FEED
Model 6 VF
1887
DAVIS
Model 6 VF
1887
****************************************
1888
George P. Huffman purchased the Davis Sewing Machine Company.
DAVIS Model 5 VF
Sep. 10, 1872
May 25, 1875
Apr. 25, 1876
Oct. 17, 1881
Nov. 29, 1881
Jan. 23-28-29, 1883
May 12, 1885
DAVIS
Model 5 VF
DAVIS Model 5 VF
131.166 (Sep. 10, 1872)
163.639 (May 25, 1875)
176.686 (Apr. 25, 1876)
Oct. 17, 1881
250.053 (Nov. 29, 1881)
Jan. 23-28-29, 1883
May 12, 1885
VERTICAL FEED
Model 6 VF
1889
VERTICAL FEED
" A"
(Model 7 VF)
This machine has a new take-up lever and a new adjustable tension device.
DAVIS
" A"
(Model 7 VF)
This machine has a new take-up lever and a new adjustable tension device.
1889 WATERTOWN
********************************************
1890 DAYTON
Jan. 13, 1890
DAYTON
factory
1891
1892
DAVIS
Model 5 VF
From now on, machines have a rounded bed corners.
DAVIS
Model 5 VF
sharp square bed corners.
VERTICAL FEED
Model 6 VF
May 25, 1875
April 25, 1876
Oct 17, 1881
Nov 29, 1881
Jan 23-28-29, 1883
May 12, 1885
1894
VERTICAL FEED
Model 8 VF
This machine has a rounded bed corners and the new take-up lever.
Model 8 VF
This machine has a rounded bed corners and the new take-up lever.
DAVIS
ADVANCE
UNDERFEED
Model 8 UF
DAVIS
Model 8 VF
1900
DAVIS
NEW CENTURY
UNDERFEED
Model 8 UF
DAVIS
Model 8 VF
DAVIS
Model 8 VF
DAVIS
Model 8 VF
DAVIS
MINNESOTA
UNDER FEED
Model "A"
DAVIS
Model UF
DAVIS
MINNESOTA
UNDER FEED
Model "B"
DAVIS
Model UF
DAVIS
Model VF
DAVIS
NEW VICTORY
UNDER FEED
Model L M
DAVIS
KNICKERBOCKER
UNDER FEED
Model N
DAVIS
Model 8 VF
DAVIS
Model VF
VERTICAL FEED
Model VF
VERTICAL FEED
Model VF
VERTICAL FEED
Model VF
DAVIS
Model UF
DAVIS
Model UF
DAVIS
Model 8VF
1914
US Patent
for
Adjustable Tension Device
DAVIS
Model VF
DAVIS
Model VF
DAVIS
Model VF
"M-E"
sources:
http://needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php?title=Davis
http://www.kelsew.info/Domestic/DavisVFmodels.html
Wikipedia
www.thayerrags.com
www.gingerbreadcottageliving.blogspot.co.uk
www.quiltingboard.com
blog.ninapaley.com
mysewingmachineobsession
The Sewing Machine Gazette
The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Invention of the Sewing Machine
by Grace Rogers Cooper