For the machine with serial number # 24.128 due the poor quality of the picture, it is impossible say if the trademark is positioned on the slide plate to access the shuttle or on the Cloth-plate. For the machine with serial number # 25.194 the trademark (without the word 'LIMITED' on it) is on the Cloth-plate. I think that it used to be a hand crank machine because there is a receipt - faded through the years - which detail a work order for the motor to be fitted that is dated 1984. I am presuming that the machine is older the that possibly? I have tried to find a list of serial numbers (like on the Singer sites) but so far have drawn a blank. Jones sewing machines were sold all over Europe. This is a Norwegian advert circa 1939. The Jones sewing machine company was one of the oldest sewing machine companies in the world and by 1963 they were still updating and expanding their factory with a brand new purpose built administration block. But now cheap imports were hitting trade.
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by Lee King, NSMMA
ISMACS News
Issue 82
Every now and then luck or fate arrives at your door or in this particular case, the phone.
For the sake of privacy, I have promised to keep the identity and in particular the location of where I obtained this rare machine private. If I am ever in Ontario, Canada, I will stop by to see John and thank him in person anyway.
I had been buying sewing machines from a now great friend Mike Anderson in New Hampshire, USA. Mike, more commonly known to the world of eBay as Wolfegangs-Collectibles had passed on my phone number to a person he had met whilst on a trip through Canada. According to Mike, this person had several old sewing machines he had obtained from a deceased estate and wished to sell them. Of course, always being interested in old sewing machines I said I would love to know more about what he had for sale.
It was roughly a week later and very late at night that I received the call that I was not to forget. After brief introductions and pleasantries, it was down to business. What exactly do you want to sell; can you describe the machines for me?
fig 2
The first two machines didn't even bat my eyelids but the description of the third had placed a smile on my face that today still requires plastic surgery.
It took two seconds to understand that this third machine was in fact a Jones Hand as it said so on the needlebar cover! I have a great fondness for the early Jones Hand machines and asked several pertinent questions in order to determine just how early it was. The answers that came back had me scratching my head, I thought at this point the guy did not have the machine and was making the whole thing up, but why go to this length to sell a machine that did not exist?
A question I should have asked right from the start was what is the serial number?
On Jones Hand machines, also known as serpentine or cat back machines, the serial number can be found under the slide plate stamped into the cast housing. A simple question that confirmed either the guy could not see or this machine was something special.
Let me get my glasses, ok, here it is, 485. Are you sure there are no other numbers? 485, that is all there is. At this point plastic surgery is imminent!
Ok, I am interested but I will have to see pictures first before I say yes or no. 30 seconds later I had promised to send the money for this sight unseen machine and the rest is now history. I have on good authority, many thanks ~G.F~, been advised there are only two of these rare Jones Hand machines known to exist in the world today.
One is in a private Japanese collection and of course my own, here in the newly established NSMMA or National Sewing Machine Museum of Australia.
Let us look at some key points with this ~first~ Jones Hand machine.
I think most noticeable is the gadrooning that surrounds the entire base of the machine; this does not appear on any later model but it is replaced by a decal. Secondly is the cotton tension located in the center, at the top of the arm, again this does not appear on any later model. fig 1
This first model Jones Hand did not allow the balance wheel to be free spinning. The balance wheel has a square edge with no indentation for a treadle belt. fig 2 The brass needlebar cover is also unique to this machine in design. fig 3 These are but a few of the differences between this the first model and the more common ones found today.
Now the big question, who made this machine?
Why ask such a silly question?
Well let us compare it to the Kimball & Morton ~Stitch in Time~ serpentine machine of the same era! Yes, that's right a Kimball & Morton serpentine machine, wow!
This Kimball & Morton ~Stitch in Time~ serpentine machine can also be regarded as being rare, not quite at the level of the Jones but, rare nontheless. Put the two together and'..Snap! fig 4
With the exception of a different brass needlebar cover, these two machines are virtually identical. Compare fig 3 and 5.
fig 5
I say virtually because there is an improvement to the casting of the Kimball & Morton needlebar support. The casting has been made thicker for strength as this must have been an initial problem to be adjusted so early in the design.
The introduction of a bar to restrain the shuttle in its carriage has also been added to the Kimball & Morton machine.
The pictured Kimball & Morton ~Stitch in Time~ serpentine has a serial number of 877. How long these serpentine machines were offered for sale by the Kimball & Morton Company is not known. What is known is that the Jones Company continued successfully with the basis of the serpentine design for many years.
So now you know why I ask, who really did make the ~First~ Jones Hand?
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(STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
- 1Jones Sewing Machine Company Ltd. (Badged Machines)
- 1.1Jones Hand RS Machines
- 1.2Jones Family CS Machines
- 1.3Jones Medium CS Machines
- 1.4Jones Spool Rotary Machines
- 1.5Jones D53 Machines
- 1.6Jones D65 OS Machines
Jones Sewing Machine Company Ltd. (Badged Machines)
Guide Bridge, Lancashire, England
Jones Hand RS Machines
'The Bedford'
circa 1895
Jones Hand badged to The Bedford
'Colliers No. 2'
Serial Number 2655
Note the manual to the rear showing a Jones Hand with tension adjustment on the arm of the machine.
See also Collier's Octagonal and History of J. Collier
Jones Family CS Machines
'The Avenue'
Courtesy of Daveofsuffolk
Vintage Hand Crank Sewing Machine
'The British Queen'
Serial Number #125276,
Courtesy of Stephanie Hutchins
'Cestrian'
Serial Number 260785
Badged to R. Jones of Chester
'Colliers No. 4'
Serial Number 12685
This is a relatively rare early model with decorated faceplate, badged and sold by the London company of J. Collier with their Swift & Sure motto.
Collier's also sold machines made by companies such as Frister & Rossmann and later, Gritzner. History of J. Collier
'Cock's Royal Leader'
Courtesy of the late Eleanor Beck.
By F. J. Cock of Birmingham and Coventry.
The company also sold machines from other manufacturers. Their merchant's sign, Signum Mercatoris, included the cockerel.
F. J. Cock sold machines made by many different companies such as Jones, Haid & Neu, Hengstenberg, Stoewer etc.
They had branches in Birmingham and Coventry, England.
Treadle Sewing Machine
'Empress'
Serial Number 472468, c1932
Courtesy of DaveofSuffolk.
The machine has a plain pillar. Later models had the 'Guide Bridge' on the pillar.
472468
Serial Number B537978.
This is a relatively early electric model by Jones.
The case is made of compressed paper or cardboard, designed to look like (faux) leather.
The case was patented in 1937.
The Empress is a budget model family CS machine sold at the end of the manufacture of Jones CS models.
B537978
'CSCS'
Serial Number 16335. Made in 1895
This machine bears the early Jones Rose on the bed of the machine and feathery decals.
It is most likely that this machine was badged for the Co-Operative Society's Chelmsford Star branch (CSCS).
Founded in 1867. It was called 'Star' because it hoped to become a star in the town and seems to have been an important part of the organisation.
The Chelmsford Star branch (CSCS) was one of the 1000+ Co-Ops who would have bought via the CWS, which was the bulk buying/wholesale arm of the co-operative movement.
It was originally called the Co-operative Wholesale Industrial & Provident Society, formed in 1863.
Generally/more usually/later, the Federation/CWS Jones machines had pretty coloured flowers on them and were presumably sold countrywide. Hence, for a branch to have ordered sewing machines from Jones with their own logo they would have had to be pretty large and successful, which the Chelmsford branch was.
'Federation'
A Family sized machine is known as 3/4 sized (whereas a Medium machine is full sized). CS stands for Cylinder Shuttle. Shuttles are not interchangeable with Singer machines due to the different curvature of the arc through which the shuttle swings. Dating information on this and all other Jones models is available from Alan Quinn in the NB Forum.
This style of decal was accompanied by the intertwined CWS decal in the centre of the bed instead of the Federation with gold background.
The decal does not have the teardrops.
Serial Number B5566816
Courtesy of Patrice
From Jones advertising: 'This table was devised to economise space and is therefore suitable for small rooms. Supplied in Oak or Walnut... If desired, a Motor can be added thus converting it to an All Electric Machine.' Machines badged with the name Federation, were sold to the Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) for distribution and sale by the various Co-Ops round the country.'
Thomas Gaffer
Serial Number 429146
Victor
Courtesy of Bernadette Dewhurst-Phillips
Sold in Australia.
Jones Medium CS Machines
'Federation'
Serial Number 93749
Courtesy of Gary Nelson
A Medium sized machine, badged as a 'Federation' for the Co-operative Wholsale Society Ltd.
Please note that Medium machines do not take the same sized needle as the Family sized machines.
Serial Number 145181
Courtesy of Granne13
New Hand Crank Sewing Machine
The treadle plate and belt guard are made of wood, while the treadle irons are coloured brown.
Jones Spool Rotary Machines
'Federation'
The 'Spool' was Jones' top-of-the-line full rotary machine, using the same priciple as the Wheeler & Wilson 9.
Serial Number 225157
Courtesy of John Snell.
Thomas Gaffer
Sewing Machine Hand Crank Kit
Serial Number 207897
Courtesy of Mike W.
Black shoulder stripe.
Thomas Gaffer, 23/25 St Andrew Street, Norwich.
Jones D53 Machines
Jones Hand Crank Sewing Machine Serial Numbers G Series
'Federation'
Serial Number SA022960
Badged as Federation for the CWS (Co-operative Wholesale Society).
Takes a flat shank 15x1 needle, sews forwards and reverse.