DATING & IDENTIFYING

WHITE SEWING MACHINES

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Raymond              1857

A.F. Johnson      US  20.686    June 22  1858

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1858-1861   Brattleboro, Vermont

Samuel Barker         Stephen French

 

1862-1863   Orange, Massachusetts

William L. Grout         Stephen French

 

1863-1866   Orange, Massachusetts

 Stephen French            George Wells  Baker

 

1866-1876  White Mfg. Co.   Cleveland, Ohio

George Wells  Baker

 

From 1876 White Sewing Machine Company

George Wells  Baker  &  D'Arcy Porter

 

1857

?

By 1857 Thomas H. White had invented a small hand-operated sewing machine (on which he obtained a US patent in 1859), starting his own business, with partner William L. Grout and $350 initial capital, making "The New England Sewing Machine", retailing for $10. Seeking a central location near markets and materials. 

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (1931/vol.21)

Detailed 1859 patent illustration of the W. Grout Sewing Machine, number 24,629, showing a side and frontal technical drawing with labeled components, designed by inventor William Grout.
US 24.629 (July 5, 1859)

William Grout of the city and county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts

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This small sewing machine, which has no identifying marks, may have been made in Brattleboro, Vermont by one of the two manufacturers operating there in the period from 1858-1865.

Thomas H. White and Samuel Barker made a machine known as the "Brattleboro" from around 1858 to 1861 and Nettleton & Raymond made the "Common Sense" brand machine in around 1857.

Front view of a vintage White brand hand-cranked sewing machine, featuring elaborate black and gold decorative motifs and a complex gear system.
Side view of the same vintage White brand sewing machine, showcasing its detailed openwork metal frame and ornate gold embellishments.

 

Collectively, all of these machines are known as "New England" style machines. It is possible, too, that it may have been made by one of several Massachusetts-based sewing machine companies.

In 1862, Thomas White left Vermont (Brattleboro) for Orange, Massachusetts, where he joined with William L. Grout for a year as Grout & White, but Grout broke with him and moved to Winchendon (Massachusetts), where he made machines for another year. Three other Orange, Massachusetts, based companies made these New England-style machines:

(Andrew J.) Clark & Barker (William?)(1862-65), Orange, Massachusetts.

Clark (Andrew J.?) (1865-67) Orange, Massachusetts.

Albert F. Johnson (1867) Orange, Massachusetts.

Finally, there were two Winchendon, Massachusetts-based companies making New England machines:

William L. Grout (1863) and J. G. Folsom (1865).

There is no record that these sewing machines were produced after 1867.

www.americancenturies.mass.edu

 

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US  20.686      Albert F.  JOHNSON       June 22  1858

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Barker stopped selling for White and formed another sewing-machine company together with A. J. Clark, called their machine "The Pride of the West" and later the "New England Machine".

In 1860, William Barker and Andrew J. Clark began producing The Pride of the West  and later the New England single thread hand sewing machine in Orange, Massachusetts. Over the next 20 years, the New England machine and the "Home Shuttle" were their two most significant products.

In 1882, the company reformed under the name New Home (a combination of the labels New England and Home Shuttle) and it continued to operate under that name for the better part of a century.

 

www.janome.com

ismacs.net

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Barker, who was White's main seller, decided to leave him and founded his own company, the Gold Medal Sewing Machine to produce a machine named "The Pride of the West" and later "the New England Machine". In 1867, Barker went back when he had started and settled his company in Orange just as his former employer Thomas White had done.

buisson.pagesperso-orange

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1858-1861

Brattleboro  

ca. 1858-1861 Brattleboro, Vermont

Thomas Howard White and Samuel Barker 

In 1858 in Brattleboro, Vermont, Tomas H. White and Samuel Barker, were manufacturing a small single thread family machine called the  Brattleboro.

In 1858 Thomas H. Whitewith a capital of $350 and with William L. Grout, who acted as salesman, as a partner, began manufacturing sewing machines in in a factory at Templeton"The New England" was the name of this machine, the retail price of which was ten dollars and although the partnership with Grout lasted only a year, the business prospered.

In 1861, Stephen French accepted a position with Thomas H. White,  making a single thread "hand" sewing machine.

Brattleboro is a town in Windham County, Vermont.

Templeton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts.

www.gutenberg.org

 

sites.google.com

 

buisson.pagesperso-orange

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (1931/vol.21)

 

1862-1863

New England

1862-1863 Orange, Massachusetts

Thomas Howard White and William L. Grout 

The manufacture of a revolving-Looper double-thread sewing machine, patented by Edwin Clark (US 26.336  December 6, 1859) and manufactured over three thousand by  Lamson, Goodnow, & Yale of Windsor, Vermont, widely advertised and sold for $35 with a foot-power table, was discontinued early in the summer of 1861. The sewing-machine equipment and business was sold to William L. Grout & Thomas Howard White.

1859 patent illustration of the E. Clark Sewing Machine, No. 26,336, featuring a detailed mechanical design with a side-mounted handwheel and distinct architectural frame.

 

In 1862, Thomas White left Vermont and went to Massachusetts. There, in partnership with William L.  Grout, he also began to manufacture New England machines; these were basically the same as the Raymond machines. 

www.gutenberg.org

In 1862, Thomas H. White and Stephen French, who has been his mechanics since 1861, left their Templeton manufacture to settle in Orange, Massachusetts and Mr. Stephen French was given a share of the company.

sites.google.com

New England

1863  Winchendon, Massachusetts

William Grout

In 1863 William L. Grout left the partnership with Thomas H. White and moved to Winchendon, Massachusetts, there continuing to make New England machines for approximately one more year. 

www.gutenberg.org

 

  

1864-65

?

 

 

1866-76

In 1866, just after the Civil War, Thomas H. White moved to Cleveland, Ohio from Orange, Massachusetts with his son and three employees (his best mechanics) and there founded the White Manufacturing Company. It was there that the first prototype of a White machine was built.

In 1866 Stephen French, who has been Thomas H. White mechanics since 1861, refused to go and with John Wilson Wheeler and Andrew J. Clark who had all previously worked with Thomas White went on building sewing machines.

In 1866 Stephen French became the superintendent of the Gold Medal Sewing Machine Company and remained in Orange.

From 1866 to 1876,  White Manufacturing Company new factory built sewing machine heads for W. G. Wilson, until that company purchased the existing patterns, templets, special equipment and established an independent plant in Chicago.

A new model had been perfected in the meantime by George Wells Baker and D'Arcy Porter of the White organization and its manufacture was commenced at once, the company was reorganized under the name of the White  Sewing Machine Company.

1867 patent illustration of the G.W. Baker Sewing Machine No. 70,152, depicting its unique mechanical structure with multiple levers and gears.
1868 patent drawing of D'Arcy Porter's tension device for sewing machines, featuring a detailed side view showing its adjustment mechanisms.
1872 patent illustration of the G.W. Baker Sewing Machine No. 130,005, showing a modern design with a flatbed and side-mounted handwheel.

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WHITE SEWING MACHINE COMPANY 

1876-1879

Vintage sewing machine with serial number 28.241, showcasing a traditional black iron body with a wheel on the side and a flat wooden base, reflecting the design patented by D'Arcy Porter and George W. Baker from 1876 to 1877.
# 28.241

This machine bears the serial number # 28.241 and the following US patents:

 

US 174.703         D'Arcy Porter & George W. Baker          March 14, 1876

                                                                                                  May 2, 1876

US 183.528                          George  W.  Baker               October 24, 1876

                                                                                          January 16, 1877

US 188.537                             D'Arcy  Porter                      March 20, 1877

US  188.767                         George  W.  Baker                  March 27, 1877

 

Machines bears the above US Patents are manufactured between:

March 1877 c. and November 1881 c.

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The White machines of the 1870s may be dated approximately as follows:

 


1 ..........................................................

1876

9.000 ...................................................

1877

27.000 .................................................

1878

45.000 .................................................

1879

63.000 .................................................

 


www.gutenberg.org 

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US 194.067              George W.  Baker &  D'Arcy Porter  August 14, 1877

Improvement in locking Devices for Drive Wheel for Sewing Machines 

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Early White Model A with top tension, manual bobbin winder and boat shuttle.
Early White Model A with top tension, manual bobbin winder and boat shuttle. (Ray Elkins)

 

 

1881

By 1881, the White factory was producing 8.000 sewing machines a month and nearly 900 men were engaged in the various stages of their manufacture.

Automobile quarterly by Princeton Institute for Historic Research.

100.000 machines per annum in 1881

The Sewing Machine Gazette 1881.

 

1881 Retail Price List for White Sewing Machines
1881 RETAIL PRICE LIST
Vintage White 'Peerless' hand-operated sewing machine, showcasing classic ironwork and an ornate base, typical of early White models.
Historic White 'Peerless' A1 Family sewing machine, featuring elegant dual legs and a decorative base, designed for durable home use.
White 'Peerless' No. 3 sewing machine, the Popular Style, characterized by its sophisticated cabinet design and fine craftsmanship.

Antique White 'Peerless' cabinet sewing machine, encased in a detailed wooden cabinet with ornamental carvings for added elegance.
The Ladies' Companion model by White 'Peerless', displaying a distinctive open cabinet design with integrated storage and intricate metal framework.

 

 

GB Patent 5.166  November 26, 1881

 H. J. Haddan. A communication from D'Arcy Porter and T. H. White, both of Cleveland, United States, for improvements in sewing machines.

Consists in a mechanical movement which converts the rotary motion of the main horizontal driving shaft into a vibration motion for operating the shuttle bar and by the interposition of other mechanism at the same time communicates rotary motion to the feed shaft.  

 

 

1882

The business grew from an original production of twenty-five machines a month to no fewer than 2.000 a week in 1882.  

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (1931 vol. 21)

 

 

1883

 

 

US PATENTS

 

US 124.360 (?)  March 5, 1872

No US Patent for WSMC or Assignor to WSMC

James A.  House (W&W)

 

US 174.703   March 14, 1876  

D'Arcy Porter & George W. Baker

 

May 2, 1876

October 24, 1876

January 16, 1877

 

US 188.537   March 20, 1877

D'Arcy Porter

 

US 188.767   March 27, 1877

George W.  Baker

  

November 26, 1881

 

US 310.081  December 30, 1884

D'Arcy  Porter  

 

 

December 4, 1888

 

 

May 21, 1889

  

 

March 11, 1890

  

 

March 11, 1890

  

 

March 11, 1890


around 1893
around 1893
from  March. 1890 c.  onwards
from March. 1890 c. onwards

 

 

1884

1884 vintage advertisement showing portraits of presidential candidates Grover Cleveland and James G. Blaine with a slogan, 'Take Your Choice But Buy The WHITE Improved,' promoting White Sewing Machines with a claim of 500,000 machines now in use.
500.000 WHITE SEWING MACHINES NOW IN USE - 1884

 

 

1887

WHITE GEM - 1887 c.
WHITE GEM - 1887 c.

 

 

1889

# 649.035  - Author: Luke Meier (between 1886 and 1889)
# 649.035 - Author: Luke Meier (between 1886 and 1889)

 

 

1893

GB 19.629                                  G.  Sawyer                   October i8th, 1893

A communication from the White Sewing Machine Company, of Cleveland, Ohio.

Relates to improved means or appliances for regulating and determining the tension of the thread from the head of a sewing machine, the tension being removable by the pressure foot left lever, in order that the thread may be readily drawn from the reel when a piece of work is completed, the tension not being otherwise affected, such as when the presser rises while seams or extra thickness of fabric are passing under it.  

 

Sewing Machines present at the 1893 London Exhibition

 

 

serial number on needle-plate # 149.110 (?)
serial number on needle-plate # 149.110 (?)

Plates on the above sewing machine may have been exchanged.

The patent dates on the bobbin winder are:

March 5, 1872

US 174.703                  March 14, 1876

May 2, 1876

January 16, 1877

March 20, 1877

US 188.767                March 27, 1877

 

The patent dates on the bobbin winder are:

May 14, 1872

US 174.703            March 14, 1876

July 11, 1882

# 927.984 - about 1893 (?)
# 927.984 - about 1893 (?)

 

 

1902

Vintage 1902 advertisement for White Sewing Machines featuring an illustration of a sewing machine, emphasizing over 500,000 machines in daily use. The ad boasts of White's gold medals from international expositions in Paris, London, and Chicago.
July 1902

 

 

1914 ?

# FR 2.356.533
# FR 2.356.533
# FR  2.485.551
# FR 2.485.551
# FR 2.938.569
# FR 2.938.569
#  FR 3.000.712
# FR 3.000.712
# FR 3.361.764
# FR 3.361.764

 

 

?

WSMC  # 927.984
WSMC # 927.984

WSMC FR 249.711 - FAMILY ROTARY
WSMC FR 249.711 - FAMILY ROTARY

WSMC FR 2.938.569 - WHITE ROTARY
WSMC FR 2.938.569 - WHITE ROTARY

 

 

WHITE

Rotary

With the Great Depression came renewed interest in home sewing. White continued to innovate, introducing the first sewing machine outside of its traditional black models, which was made of a magnesium alloy and was also much lighter than its forebears.

 

 

WHITE

Rotary No 15 

 

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QUICK  DATING

1 .........................................................

1876

9.000 ..................................................

   + 18.000                                     1877

27.000 ................................................

   + 18.000                                     1878

45.000 ................................................

   + 18.000                                     1879

63.000 ................................................

   + 27.000   (?)                              1880

90.000 ................................................

   + 96.000                                      1881            (8.000 per month)

186.000 ...............................................

   +100.000                                     1882             (2.000 per week)

286.000 ...............................................

   + 84.000   (?)                               1883           Improved VS White

370.000 ...............................................

   + 60.000                                      1884     500.000  Sewing Machines in use

430.000 ...............................................

1885

490.000 ...............................................

1886

550.000 ...............................................

1887

610.000 ...............................................

1888

670.000 ...............................................

1889

730.000 ...............................................

1890

790.000 ...............................................

1891

850.000 ...............................................

1892

910.000 ...............................................

                 (1.000 per week) ?!         1893              (1.000 per day) 1893

970.000 ...............................................

1894

1.030.000 ............................................

1895

1.090.000 ............................................

1896

1.150.000 ............................................

1897

1.210.000 ............................................

1898

1.270.000 ............................................

1899

1.330.000 ............................................

1900

1.400.000 ............................................

1901

1.470.000 ............................................

1.500.00 July                                  1902             (Advertisement)

1.550.000 ............................................

1.389.763 (?)

1903

1.407.808 (?)

                  ............................................

1904

                  ............................................

1905

                  ............................................

1906

                  ............................................

1907

                  ............................................

1908

                  ............................................

1909

                  ............................................

1910

                  ............................................

1911

                  ............................................

1912

                  ............................................

2.276.398 Sept.                              1913

2.300.000 ............................................

1914

                  ............................................

1915

                  ............................................

1916

                  ............................................

2.657.168                                        1917

                  ............................................

1918

 4.000.000 ............................................

 

 

 

Approx.

... to be continued ...

 

From Treadleon.net

 

White Numbers/Years

The White company (still in business) has some serial number records and will date machines. Their record and numbering system is/was not as organized as Singers, so there are some problems. However, we are assembling a record of known dates to provide a rough comparison ability.

The following White numbers were verified through the company. You will note that there are irregularities in the stated sequences. Neither we nor the company have any explanation for this. Hopefully, you can use the list for a quick check on the age of your White. If you call the Husqvarna/Viking/White company at 1 800 446-2333, they will date your machhine for you.

VS - the White VS was introduced in 1876. Books credit it through the 1880's but White records show it continuing into the 1900's. VS I has round tension on upper arm. VS II came out in the 1880's. The tension was by means of a nut on the machine head, but had no dial. VS III came out in the 1890's and had the tension dial, similar to the FR models.

 

1.163.248 (this number is from the 1800's. White records start in 1900)

1.368.882 .......... 1903

1.759.040 .......... 1915

1.800.124 .......... 1919

 

Family Rotary - The Family Rotary, or FR, came out in the 1890's, and in various models continued well into the 1930's. FR serial numbers were used on badge machines as well as those labeled "White".

FR 140.336 pre-1900

FR 127.544 ... 1906

(Note: It has been reported that #s 105.200 - 194.000 are all 1906. This conflicts with the report on #140.336, above, but such conflicts are common.)

 

   FR 238.519 .......... 1908

   FR 256.000 .......... 1909

   FR 329.999 .......... 1910

   FR 233.914 .......... 1914

   FR 2.294.605 .......... 1913

   FR 2.230.955 .......... 1913

   FR 2.339.124 .......... 1914

3 FR 2.339.124 .......... 1914

(per White, the "3" in front of the FR has no significance as to date)

 

FR 2.567.602 .......... 1917

FR 2.636.433 .......... 1917

FR 2.611.632 .......... 1917

FR 2.637.707 .......... 1917

FR 2.793.214 .......... 1918

FR 2.865.473 .......... 1920

FR 7.155.341 .......... 1921          FLORENCE ROTARY

FR 7.156.168 .......... 1921          FLORENCE ROTARY

FR 7.157.866 .......... 1921          FLORENCE ROTARY

FR 75.156.168 .......... 1921         DOMESTIC ROTARY

FR 29.533.555 .......... 1922

FR 3.009.969 .......... 1923

FR 3.020.193 .......... 1923

FR 3.020.912 .......... 1923

 

 

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