Fiddlebase
WHEELER & WILSON No. 12 (A-B-C-)
Tailoring, Leather and Boot and Shoe Work
From 1887 To 1905 c.
The Wheeler & Wilson's No. 12 Machine
The Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company have recently received from America a few specimens of a new machine called the No. 12. We have not yet had time to examine this machine sufficiently to give a full technical description and therefore must leave over till our next issue complete details. We might say, however, that this is essentially a new machine. The upper shaft revolves as well as the lower one and by the use of a new device, of which we shall have more to say at another time, the upper thread is carried round the lower thread without meeting with any resistance.
The Wheeler & Wilson Company claim that the No. 12 is the fastest lock-stitch machine in the world, which claim we are not at present able to confirm for the obvious reason we have not tested its speed. Undoubtedly this machine has an excellent tension and the stitch produced is simply faultless. We might add that the needle used is a short one, it has a positive speed and the bobbin holds as much as 100 yards of No. 70 cotton. It can now be seen at the Wheeler & Wilson Company's stand at the (London) American Exhibition, where Mr. Hunting is prepared to demonstrate its merits to visitors.
(September 1887)
Pressure of space prevents our entering so fully into a technical description of this machine as we promise! in our last issue. Quite a number of machines have now been received from the factory and the number of inquiries which have been received from manufacturers bespeaks an interest in the machine which is surprising, considering the numerous machines now on the market. The No. 12 has recently been tested with three-cord cotton and has made as many as 2.800 stitches per minute. As distinct from the No. 10, the take-up is located at the head block. The Wheeler & Wilson Company are making three styles, as follows :
—No. 12 a, for medium work, underclothing, collar and cuff work, &c.
—No. 12 b, for tailoring
—No. 12 c, with either wheel or step feed, for leather work
Provision is made against heating when the machine is run at high speed by arranging that the thread looper shall run in a bushing of raw hide. Another improvement, where steam power is used is, the Wheeler & Wilson new transmitter, which enables a speed of 3.000 stitches per minute to be obtained. This transmitter is self lubricating. The demand already created for this machine is phenomenal.
The Sewing Machine Gazette (October 1887)
The "12", Long Arm, 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 a loose pulley for foot power. For stitching Leather, it is fitted with the usual presser foot, or with rolling presser and with the reversible four motion feed, or wheel feed, as preferred.
The No. 12, Short Arm, is of the same construction and adapted to exactly the same work as the Long Arm "12", but is about two inches shorter, having a length under the arm of ten inches, for use where it is necessary to economize room and where large space under the arm is not required.
W&W, Illustrated Catalogue - year unknown
W&W US PATENTS
US 419.541 Jan 14 1890 Loop taking apparatus for W&W No. 12
***
US 479.739 July 26, 1892 Improvements for W&W No. 12 D
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 479.739 July 26, 1892.
Application filed November 25, 1890 Serial No. 372.574
***
Two New Wheeler & Wilson Inventions
The Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Co., ever on the alert to introduce new and valuable features into their machines, have just introduced an improvement which will be much appreciated by machinists. It is nothing less than a "tension release", so that, by merely raising the presser-foot of their No. 9 machine, the tension on the upper thread is released. For some time past this company have made a zig-zag machine, which produced a single zig-zag row of sewing.
Their latest machine of this class has two needles, so that two rows of zig-zag sewing can be executed at one and the same time. By means of a very simple contrivance the distance between the two rows and the length of the stitches, can be readily altered. The work produced by this machine is very pretty, particularly when each needle is supplied with a different coloured thread.
The shoe and corset manufacturers who have seen this new zig-zag machine are very favourably impressed with its merits. The Wheeler & Wilson Co. report trade as being highly satisfactory in manufacturing machines. Their automatic buttonhole machine has met with unparalleled success and they are much behind in their deliveries, although their factory is working at full pressure.
The Sewing Machine Gazette (September 1889)
WHEELER & WILSON D 12
From 1889
... A British patent has also been taken out for an improvement to this company's No.12 machine, which machine has met with remarkable success in the boot and shoe trade. The improvement consists in the use of one of the most ingenious devices we have ever examined. By its aid the presser foot is caused to vibrate, no matter what be the thickness of the material or whether or not there be seams. By very simple mechanism the vibrator can be thrown out of gear when not required. It is silent in use, owing to it being actuated by a cam in the driving wheel. Another improvement to the No. 12 is to fit it with a seam trimming attachment, by which the material is trimmed at the same time the seam is made, the cutters being adjustable to suit various widths.
Last year (1889) the W&W Company introduced a twin needle machine, which produced two rows of sewing simultaneously. This machine, called the No. 12 B (or 12 D?), has been overhauled and a decided improvement introduced. Formerly there was a difference in the quality of the two rows of stitches, but this is not so with the new machine, the stitches being alike pearly in each row...
The Sewing Machine Gazette (February 1890)
Wheeler and Wilson D12 twin-needle
This machine was built by the Wheeler and Wilson Manufacturing Company in 1890 and was intended for fancy stitching on leather. It has two needles mounted on a single needle bar, their threads carried by a rotating hook around a single bobbin, so that two parallel seems connected by the under thread can be sewn simultaneously. Its variable speed motion was designed to improve the appearance of the stitch.
Some New Wheeler & Wilson Machines
...A twin-needle zigzag machine was also shown to us, it having two needles fixed in the same bar one of which can be removed if required.
(July 1891)
Wheeler & Wilson Special Machines
All the above and several other special machines can be seen at the Wheeler & Wilson Company's head London office, where is now a work room fitted with power, benching, &c., at which they can be tested practically.
On visiting this workroom, we specially observed the company's latest invention, which is a W&W No. 12 fitted with a "walking foot." The object of this appliance is to prevent puckering, one foot being so fitted within another as to travel with the under feed no matter what be the length of stitch. The utility of this appliance must be seen to be appreciated.
(May 1892)
W&W 12
From 1887 To 1905
As reproduction of Historical artifacts, this works may contain errors of spelling and/or missing words and/or missing pages, poor pictures, &c.