Fiddlebase
FRISTER & ROSSMANN
Vibrating Shuttle (VS)
Sewing Machines from 1900 to 1925
Part 1
In 1886 Singer introduce their first Vibrating Shuttle machine
Later made in two different size call models 27 & 28 and eventually becoming the 127 & 128 models, designed purely for the home use.
Frister & Rossmann had to wait 14 years to market their model and perhaps it is not excluded that their first VS model was already on the German market before 1900. Jones & Co. had his first VS sewing machine in 1893.
"For each visual change of the machines, mechanical improvements or new decorations, I assigned a progressive number (VS1, VS1-1, VS2, VS2-1, etc.). Where possible, explanations of these changes will also be provided."
1900 "Kidney" Rear Access Plate
1901 Improved Bobbin Winder
1903 TRADE-MARK BERLIN
1907 "Round" Rear Inspection Plate
1908 A new style attachments compartment was adopted
1908 Improved Reverse Feed Mechanism
1912 New Take-up Cam Cover
1917 Serial number underneath
Unknown date for Shuttle Carrier with eject
Unknown date for Automatic Release Tension Control
The "Daisies Stems" decals
VS 1
The decals I call "Daisies Stems" appear to have been in use for a long time, from 1900 until 1925, as the photo below seems to demonstrate.
VS 1 "Daisies Stems"
(1900-1901)
"kidney style" back inspection plate
a "screw" in the the front inspection plate
The large screw for the take-up, in the centre of the front inspection plate, a feature largely misattributed to Jones & Co., was first seen on the German Gritzner VS machines, probably from around 1899 to 1906 about. The Jones & Co. only adopted this feature in 1903 circa.
VS 1-1 "Daisies Stems"
(1901)
Improved Bobbin Winder (black painted)
"Kidney" Rear Access Plate
a "screw" in the the front inspection plate
VS 1-2 "Daisies Stems"
hypothetically
(1901-1907)
VS 1-3 "Daisies Stems"
(1907-1909)
possibly between 1.200.000 and 1.320.000
"Round" Rear Inspection Plate
Old Take-up Cam Cover with needles size chart
VS 1-4 "Daisies Stems"
hypothetically
(1909-1912)
possibly between 1.320.000 and 1.400.000
"Round" Rear Inspection Plate
Old Take-up Cam Cover with needles size chart
VS 1-5 "Daisies Stems"
(1912-1917)
Improved Reverse Feed Mechanism
"Round" Rear Inspection Plate
New Take-up Cam Cover with needles size chart
The "Carnations" decals
VS 2
from 1901 to 1908
VS 2 "Carnations"
(1901-1903)
New decals without central bed decal
"kidney style" back inspection plate
VS 2-1 "Carnations"
(1903-1907)
"kidney style" back inspection plate
The central bed decal read:
TRADE MARK - BERLIN
VS 2-2 "Carnations"
(1907-1908)
old style attachments compartment "round" back inspection plate The central bed decal read: TRADE MARK - BERLIN
VS 2-3 "Carnations"
(1908-1908)
old style attachments compartment
Black bobbin winder
"round" back inspection plate
The central bed decal read:
TRADE MARK - BERLIN
VS 2-4 "Carnations"
(1908-1908)
new style attachments compartment
"round" back inspection plate
The central bed decal read:
TRADE MARK - BERLIN
The "Daisies" decals
VS 3
VS 3 "Daisies"
(1908-1909)
Old Reverse Feed mechanism
The new central bed decal read:
TRADE MARK - BERLIN
VS 3-1 "Daisies"
(1909-1911)
Improved Reverse Feed mechanism
The central bed decal read:
TRADE MARK - BERLIN
VS 3-2 "Daisies"
(1911-1912)
Improved Reverse Feed mechanism
The new central bed decal (rotated 90') read: TRADE MARK - BERLIN
VS 3-3 "Daisies"
(1912)
Improved Reverse Feed mechanism
Old cover (left side) inspection plate
The new central bed decal (rotated 90') read:
TRADE MARK - (without BERLIN)
on top of the arm:
FRISTER & ROSSMANN - BERLIN
VS 3-4 "Daisies"
(1912-1915)
Improved Reverse Feed mechanism
New cover (left front side) inspection plate
The central bed decal read: TRADE MARK - (without BERLIN)
on top of the arm: FRISTER & ROSSMANN - BERLIN
VS 3-5 "Daisies"
(1915-1917)
Improved Reverse Feed mechanism
New cover (left front side) inspection plate
The central bed decal read: TRADE MARK - (without BERLIN)
NOT BADGED
The "Egyptian" decals
VS 4
Definition of Egyptian: pertaining to Pharaonic Egypt
Unlike the Greek sphinx, which was a woman, the Egyptian sphinx is typically shown as a man. In addition, the Egyptian sphinx was viewed as benevolent but having a ferocious strength similar to the malevolent Greek version. Both were thought of as guardians and often flank the entrances to temples. In European decorative art, the sphinx enjoyed a major revival during the Renaissance. Later, the sphinx image, initially very similar to the original Ancient Egyptian concept, was exported into many other cultures, albeit they're often interpreted quite differently due to translations of descriptions of the originals and through the evolution of the concept in relation to other cultural traditions.
VS 4 "Egyptian"
(1908)
Black bobbin winder
Improved Reverse Feed mechanism
Old Take-up Cam Cover with needle size chart
VS 4-1 "Egyptian"
(1908-1912)
Unpainted bobbin winder
Improved Reverse Feed mechanism
Old Take-up Cam Cover with needle size chart
VS 4-2 "Egyptian"
(1912-1915)
New Take-up Cam Cover
Improved Reverse Feed mechanism
VS 4-3 "Egyptian"
(1915)
(Was the new style attachments
compartment never stopped?)
Improved Reverse Feed mechanism
New Take-up Cam Cover
VS 4-4 "Egyptian"
(1815-1917)
Black bobbin winder
Not Badged
Improved reverse feed mechanism
New cover "take-up" inspection plate
VS 4-5 "Egyptian"
(1915-1917)
central bed decal rotated 90'
Not Badged
Improved reverse feed mechanism
New cover "take-up" inspection plate
VS 4-6 "Egyptian"
(1917-1920)
Serial number underneath
Not Badged
Improved reverse feed mechanism
New cover "take-up" inspection plate
VS 4-7 "Egyptian"
(1920)
Badged : O. Quitmann 18 City Road
Serial number underneath
Improved reverse feed mechanism
New cover "take-up" inspection plate
VS E "Egyptian"
(1920-1925)
Letter E on the arm
Serial number: underneath
Badged: O. Quitmann 18 City Road
MODEL "E"
This particular sewing machine is a continuation of the old model probably with improvements to relaunch the company. Unfortunately things turned out differently. It is interesting to know that with the acquisition of Frister & Rossmann by Gritzner in 1925, this model will continue to be on the shelves although with minor changes.
LESS COMMON DECALS
VS 5 "Goldmania" decals
(1910)
New decals
Improved reverse feed mechanism
(1912 New Take-up Cam Cover)
VS 6 "Lilies" decals
(1915-1916)
1912 New Take-up Cam Cover
1916 Serial number underneath
1907-1925 "Red Lilies" on TS machines
NOT BADGED
VS 7
(1915-1916)
1912 New Take-up Cam Cover
1916 Serial number underneath
1907-1925 "Red Lilies" on TS machines
NOT BADGED
VS8 "Dots & Turquoise" decals
(1919-1921)
BADGED: BERLIN
1925
The old serial numbers end with 1.700.000 circa and a new numbering will start from 3.660.000 circa
In this year the history of the Frister & Rossmann company ended. It was taken over by the Gritzner company from Karlsruhe, Durlach, which later merged with the Kayser company from Kaiserslautern.
made under GRITZNER
In 1925 Gritzner took over one of the few other major German sewing machine manufacturers Frister & Rossmann before merging with Pfalzische Nahamaschinen & Fahrradfabrik formerly Gebr Kayser. The company survived the Second World War and continued to develop new machines before being sold to Pfaff in 1957.