New Florence Parlor Treadle

Here are some shots of the really lovely Florence parlor treadle I got yesterday. Last patent date on the plate is 1912. The jplate says it was made by the A. G. Mason Co. in Cleveland, Ohio. As best I can research, there was an early Florence Machine Co., which made a machine copied after the early Wheelr and Wilson. It went bankrupt prior to 1880. Some time later, a Florence Machine Co. was either restarted or founded by A. G. Mason, building a machine either identical to or based on the early White VS. This company continued to make White based machines and moved to Cleveland in the early 1900's. In 1916 they were taken over by Domestic, which then merged with White in the early 1920's. The last patent date on mine is 1912 and there is no indication of a Domestic tie. However, there is a fitted bobbin holder in one of the door compartments which is identical to that found on many White treadles, so I am going to figure it as "post 1920". Here are the pictures:

 

Front view, closed. The "button" on the front is a spring loaded latching device. Veneer condition is very good.

 

Kind of unique opening system. The fact that the side is not simply hinged at the front makes the leg opening much roomier, almost like sitting at a regular treadle. Has the usual "fitted" bobbin holder in one ofthe two door compartments

 

Fully opened...

 

Close up of head. Decals are really good.

 

If you are familiar with White Family Rotaries, you will immediately see something different here... no big metal plate to the left of the machhine bed. it has been replaced with a little wooden lift-out piece that provides the same accsess to the bobbin case.

Here is the back of the machine. Note the very fancy decal on the back of the post. This is actually a large plate that swivels out of the way to allow access to the mechanism for lubricating.

There you have it. A beautiful machine. The referal came by way of the secretary at Ann's church. A friend of hers had the machine, which she had obtained from the original owner. Both called it "Florence", for obvious reasons, so I guess that's what she will remain.

 

Dick