FRISTER & ROSSMANN
(F.B.)
Fiddle Base Sewing Machines
from 1870 to 1888
"Größte Auswahl von Singer, Grover & Baker, Howe, Zylinder-Maschinen, Wilcox & Gibs, Lincoln und allen Arten hand-Nähmaschinen. La Silencieuse 12 Thlr."
translated:
Largest selection of Singer, Grover & Baker, Howe, cylinder machines, Willcox & Gibbs, Lincoln and all types of hand sewing machines.
FB 1 from # 15.000 circa (1870)
Therefore according to the above advertisement and the table that allows you to approximately date your Frister & Rossmann sewing machine, the manufacturing of "FB model", a copy of Singer Family 12, could have started since 1870. The company may have started selling this model as treadle machine in Germany.
The below website say to have a F&R with serial number
70.252 # 4.325 (4.252 ? )
FB 2 from # 70.000 circa (1873)
Assuming that this model was an improvement over the first model produced. This machine was sold by "sole agent" Hermann Loog at 128 London Wall, London.
Without shuttle ejector button
old style bobbin winder
A black painted fly-wheel
105.000 sewing machines probably made at the end of the year 1875
FB 3 from # 210.000 (1880)
Without shuttle ejector button
old style bobbin winder
A black painted fly-wheel
April 13, 1881 240.000 sewing machine were made
F&R introduces this new special device for automatically disengaging the bobbin when it is reeled, and comprises a special arrangement of "Carter's valve " and guide frame for facilitating the introduction of the thread. In a short time a new version was made.
August 6, 1881 250.000 sewing machine were made
F&R for the occasion made some expensive special sewing machines.
FB 4 from # 224.600 (1880) to # 280.370 (1882)
Without shuttle ejector button
FB 5 from 313.732 (1883) to 505.874 (1886)
With shuttle ejector button
FB 6 from 464.880 (1885 c.) to 561.260 (1888 c.)
With shuttle ejector button
Hermann Loog was in charge up to the end of December 1886 . On January 1887, Samuel Loewe was the new company's agent, based in 127 London Wall. Last serial number badged 128 london wall is 540.177 and the first serial number badged 49 fore street is 539.711 . F&R may have stopped sending machines to Hermann Loog at 128 London Wall at one point but for sure they did not stop the production in Berlin ! How many of those machines in stock at 128 London Wall , badged or not badged went they back to F&R ?
550.000 sewing machines probably made at the end of the year 1886
FB 7 from 561.276 (1888) to 569.923 (1888)
With shuttle ejector button
white porcelain knob
F&R 569.923 # 317.923 is the last Fiddlebase sewing machine recorded. The difference is the luxury white porcelain knob.
If anyone has any F&R fiddlebase model with higher serial number, I would be happy to add it to my archive and the website.
FB 507.348 # 270.348
The above treadle was maybe one of those made for the special occasion of a total production of 500.000 sewing machines .
In England you could find mostly handcrank sewing machine with the treadle purchased separatly.
I dont know how many different decals were made for the german customers or exported but not to England.
F&R BADGES
1886
F&R 534.695 # 289.695 128 LONDON WALL .................................... last one
not records in between
F&R 539.711 # 293.711 49 FORE STREET ...................................... first one
1887
F&R 540.000
128 LONDON WALL and 49 FORE STREET
(possibly both addresses)
F&R 560.000
1888
F&R 561.276 # 310.276 49 FORE STREET ....................................... last one
not records in between
F&R 562.421 # 311.421 LOEWE 49 FORE STREET ............................ first one
Between 1887 and 1888, two badges were used on the English market. The first badge resemble the 128 London Wall and the second similar to those made for the German market.
