White Sewing Machine
Encyclopedia
The White Sewing Machine was the first sewing machine
from the White Sewing Machine Company
. It used a vibrating shuttle
bobbin driver
design; for that reason, and to differentiate it from the later White models that used a rotary hook
design instead, it came to be known as the "White Vibrating Shuttle" or "White VS". In 1879 it cost USD50 to USD125 (USD1097 to USD2744 adjusted) depending on which table or cabinet it was to be mounted in.
There was also a 3/4ths sized version called the "White Peerless".
as a bobbin driver
.
machines. In 1886 the shuttle was changed to a bullet shape, with a thin rod in the interior upon which the bobbin rotates. The change was probably prompted by the bullet shuttle used in the new Singer Vibrating Shuttle
machine, invented the year before, itself a derivative of the White machine. Still later, the shuttle was refined again for the Peerless machines.
clone produced later), 'Mason D', 'Minnesota E', and 'Queen'.
, who invented the vibrating shuttle 26 years earlier.
At the time of its development, the machine was the White Sewing Machine Company's flagship product -- so much so that it was simply named the "White Sewing Machine". Only later was it called the "White Vibrating Shuttle", when a rotary hook
model named the White Family Rotary
was added to the product line.
Sewing machine
A sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric, cards and other material together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing companies...
from the White Sewing Machine Company
White Sewing Machine Company
White Sewing Machine Company was a sewing machine company founded in 1858 in Templeton, Massachusetts by Thomas H. White and based in Cleveland, Ohio since 1866. Founded as the White Manufacturing Company it took the White Sewing Machine Company name when it was incorporated in 1876.The company...
. It used a vibrating shuttle
Vibrating shuttle
A vibrating shuttle is a bobbin driver design used in home lockstitch sewing machines during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century...
bobbin driver
Bobbin drivers
Throughout history, lockstitch sewing machines have used a variety of methods to drive their bobbins so as to create the lockstitch.-"Rotating shuttle":...
design; for that reason, and to differentiate it from the later White models that used a rotary hook
Rotary hook
The rotary hook is a bobbin driver design used in lockstitch sewing machines of the 19th and 20th century and beyond. It triumphed over competing designs because it can run at higher speeds with less vibration.-Operation:...
design instead, it came to be known as the "White Vibrating Shuttle" or "White VS". In 1879 it cost USD50 to USD125 (USD1097 to USD2744 adjusted) depending on which table or cabinet it was to be mounted in.
There was also a 3/4ths sized version called the "White Peerless".
Vibrating Shuttle
The White VS was the first production sewing machine to make use of a vibrating shuttleVibrating shuttle
A vibrating shuttle is a bobbin driver design used in home lockstitch sewing machines during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century...
as a bobbin driver
Bobbin drivers
Throughout history, lockstitch sewing machines have used a variety of methods to drive their bobbins so as to create the lockstitch.-"Rotating shuttle":...
.
Versions
The White VS evolved over time through these versions:| Year | Model | Shuttle | Picture | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1876-1882 | VS I | boat | ? | round tension control on upper arm |
| 1882-1886 | VS IIa | boat | ? | round tension nut on lower head without dial |
| 1886-1889 | VS IIa | bullet | ? | round tension nut on lower head without dial |
| 1889-1892 | VS IIb | bullet | ? | round tension nut on lower head without dial |
| 1893-1928 | VS III | bullet | round tension control on upper head with dial |
Portable Versions
White developed a 3/4ths sized version for the sake of portability, exactly as Singer was developing the 3/4ths sized model VS-3/28/128. It was called the 'Peerless' and its evolution tracked that of its full-sized parent:| Version | Based on | Picture | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peerless | VS I | ? | tensioner mounted on upper arm like the VS I |
| White Peerless | VS IIa or IIb | ? | tensioner mounted on lower head like the VS IIa and IIb |
| New White Peerless | VS III | three variants produced -- A, B, and C -- differing in case and hand-crank | |
| Gem | ? | ? | very small, and very different from the VS and Peerless |
Shuttle changes
The first versions of the White Sewing Machine used a 'boat' shuttle that was comparable to those used in contemporary transverse shuttleBobbin drivers
Throughout history, lockstitch sewing machines have used a variety of methods to drive their bobbins so as to create the lockstitch.-"Rotating shuttle":...
machines. In 1886 the shuttle was changed to a bullet shape, with a thin rod in the interior upon which the bobbin rotates. The change was probably prompted by the bullet shuttle used in the new Singer Vibrating Shuttle
Singer Model 27 and 127
The Singer Model 27/127 is a model series of lockstitch sewing machines produced by the Singer Manufacturing Company around the end of the 19th century. They were Singer's first sewing machines to make use of "vibrating shuttle" technology. Millions were produced...
machine, invented the year before, itself a derivative of the White machine. Still later, the shuttle was refined again for the Peerless machines.
| Version | Shuttle | Part number |
|---|---|---|
| VS I, VS IIa | 85 (body), 94 (bobbin) | |
| VS IIa | ? | |
| VS IIb | 282 (body), 321 (bobbin) | |
| VS III | original shuttle used 1893-1900 | 349 (assembly), 321 (bobbin) |
| ? | ||
| 1554 (assembly), 321 (bobbin) |
Badged variants
White produced VS machines under several different badges, in addition to the Peerless. These included 'Franklin' (same name as a Singer model 27Singer Model 27 and 127
The Singer Model 27/127 is a model series of lockstitch sewing machines produced by the Singer Manufacturing Company around the end of the 19th century. They were Singer's first sewing machines to make use of "vibrating shuttle" technology. Millions were produced...
clone produced later), 'Mason D', 'Minnesota E', and 'Queen'.
History
D'Arcy Porter and George W. Baker designed the machine and are named as inventors on most of the six original US patents, dated 1876-1877, that cover it. Company literature would later look back adoringly on them, calling them "two of [White's] best mechanics" who had "perfected a new type of sewing machine, far superior to anything then on the market". The use of the word 'perfected' is a hat-tip to Allen B. WilsonAllen B. Wilson
Allen Benjamin Wilson was an American inventor famous for designing, building and patenting some of the first successful sewing machines. He invented both the vibrating and the rotating shuttle designs which, in turns, dominated all home lockstitch sewing machines...
, who invented the vibrating shuttle 26 years earlier.
At the time of its development, the machine was the White Sewing Machine Company's flagship product -- so much so that it was simply named the "White Sewing Machine". Only later was it called the "White Vibrating Shuttle", when a rotary hook
Rotary hook
The rotary hook is a bobbin driver design used in lockstitch sewing machines of the 19th and 20th century and beyond. It triumphed over competing designs because it can run at higher speeds with less vibration.-Operation:...
model named the White Family Rotary
White Family Rotary
The White Family Rotary or White FR was the first sewing machine produced by the White Sewing Machine Company using a rotary hook bobbin driver. It joined the successful White Vibrating Shuttle on White's expanding product line and eventually eclipsed it...
was added to the product line.