Posted 1 year ago
Grigoriya
(1 item)
Hi, guys! I'm trying to find more info about this sewing machine. The sewing machine is called "Bogina" in bulgarian. No letters, no signs ecsept the ser. number. The only thing that I know is that it's distributed by J. Silberberg of Hamburg, but nothing else. Looked for photos, serial numbers, etc. - nothing. Any info about the model, the year of production and etc. will be appreciated! Thank you!
Hi, Grigoriya. :-)
Unfortunately, I only just now saw your post, and real world demands are crowding me a bit.
I will be looking into it when I get more time, so please bear with me.
The distributor name and the medallion badge on the pillar are both familiar-looking to me.
What I can tell you right off of the top of my head is that your sewing machine is a vibrating shuttle.
Hi, Keramikos! Thanks a lot! I know that it takes time to search for something, so I'll wait a message from you, when you're ready. Thank you for helping me!
OK, I'm back from the real world of 'must do' errands and chores. };-)
I suspect that what you have is a J. Silberberg-badged Gritzner model R.
The J. Silberberg Medallion badge:
http://needlebar.org/main/logos/silberberg/index.html
Scroll down at this site to "Gritzner R":
https://www.naehmaschinenverzeichnis.de/verzeichnis-der-naehmaschinen/gritzner/
It doesn't have the same decal set, and it has that extra finger-like attachment on the bobbin winder (I can't remember the name of that attachment right this minute), but I think it's essentally the same, except that it's treadle-mounted instead of a hand-crank portable.
The contributor thinks that their machine, SN 2457123, was probably produced circa 1913.
Scroll down at this site to "# 2.227.885" for a twin:
https://www.fiddlebase.com/german-machines/gritzner/dating-gritzner/
The late great Enrico didn't identify the model name (he merely classified it as a vibrating shuttle), but estimated that SN 2227885 is pre-1913.
Here is a document that describes a catalog of Gritzner sewing machines, and the various submodels of the R:
*snip*
Vibrating Shuttle machines were available in the form of the Selecta R for family use and the Selecta S a High Arm machine for tailors and manufacturers.
Both machines were produced in the following forms:
No. 1 R or S without cover
No. 2 R or S IV with ornamental bent cover
No. 4 R or S IV for hand and foot with ornamental bent cover
No. 5a R or S on wood base without cover
No. 6 R or S IV on wood base with ornamental bent cover
No. 7 R or S with 4 drawers and ornamental bent cover.
Again reversible feed was an optional extra.
*snip*
http://www.sewmuse.co.uk/Gritzner.pdf
Some history of Gritzner:
https://sewalot.com/gritzner_sewing_machines.htm
Here is a video showing how to thread a Gritzner VS-R:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTy0VJO3AIQ
Oooh, THANK YOU!
So, regarding to your info, my sewing machine model is
GRITZNER SELECTA No6 R IV on wood base with ornamental bent cover
Regarding the twin model # 2227885, my machine is made in 1912, but my serial number regarding the "datingGritzner" site is from 1909. So I'm confused a little bit. How to find precisely the year of manufacturing? There's two ways to think at:
No1. The machine is made 1909, but the distributor has composed her with all the parts and his brand in 1912
OR
No2. The total sewing machine composition is made in the beginning of the year 1912.
What do you think is?
Kera, I found a number under the needle and up to the vibrating shuttle - #119666. For what purpose is used that number? Sorry if I bother you - I'm so excited of having such a piece of history at home! My appollogies again!
Grigoriya, You're welcome. :-)
FYI, the information in that PDF file was put together by the OP of the sewmuse website, David Best.
The thing to know about the fiddlebase dot com website is that it was a work in progress, and unfortunately, the owner/operator Enrico died in 2021. His son is keeping the website alive to honor of his memory. :-(
I wouldn't get too invested in trying to pinpoint an exact age for your vintage sewing machine. Insofar as I know, there is no central database of Gritzner sewing machines.
Even the ages of vintage Singer sewing machines are only estimates, and Singer has what is widely regarded as the most complete documentation of any vintage sewing machine maker.
Per sewing machine expert Alex Askaroff (the owner/operator of sewalot dot com), there is a documented case of a Singer sewing machine that had a serial number allotted in 1939, but wasn't sold to its first owner in 1946.
That's probably because Singer, like many companies, virtually ceased production and sales of their normal products for ordinary civilian customers in order to support the WWII war effort.
Using the information at that German website is probably the closest you'll be able to get:
(Excerpt below translated using Google Translate)
*snip*
With a serial number 2457123 from Gritzner, the machine was manufactured well after 1910, when the 2 million mark was exceeded and Gritzner had risen to become Germany's largest sewing machine manufacturer. With an increasing annual production from 130,000 in 1910 to 150,000 machines in 1914 from the Gritzner factory, the probable production year is 1913.
*snip*
https://www.naehmaschinenverzeichnis.de/verzeichnis-der-naehmaschinen/gritzner/
So, yes, your Gritzner probably rolled off of the assembly line some time in 1911 or 1912.
THAHK YOU! You''re a wonderful person! Congratulations for your knowleges! Be healthy!
Grigoriya, You're quite welcome. :-)
FYI, I am definitely not a vintage sewing machine expert; I'm just an old Internet surfer who's developed something of an obsession with vintage sewing machines.
When it comes to vintage sewing machines, I stand on the shoulders of giants, i. e., the people who put together the websites from which I quote.
In reading back, I notice that I seem to be having a bad proofreading day today. Oh well, it isn't the first time that's ever happened to me. :-(
Enjoy your Gritzner. <3
Hi again, Grigoriya. :-)
In reading back, I realized that I managed to miss one of your comments:
*snip*
Kera, I found a number under the needle and up to the vibrating shuttle - #119666. For what purpose is used that number? Sorry if I bother you - I'm so excited of having such a piece of history at home! My appollogies again!
*snip*
It's not quite clear to me exactly where this number (119666) is located, but it seems like too much coincidence that it shares all of the same digits with the serial number in the little bronze cartouche on the bed in front of the pillar (2119666) save one, so they're probably related.