This is a 'Florence ' Sewing machine.

Manufactured in Florence, Massachusetts in 1869.

By The Florence Sewing Machine Co, Florence Mass. 1858-1885

(Just as a time reference, The Civil war ended, & Lincoln was shot in 1865)

Details: This Sewing Machine is a wonderful early Florence (which we know by the fact that the needle bar is behind the presser foot, & they switched positions in 1870).

On this machine, needle bar position really doesn't matter, since this is the first machine that sewed in reverse, & does so with the simple turn of a knob, right on the front of the machine. That one knob adjusts the feed dogs for stitch length from long to short, then short to long in reverse, or if you position it in the middle, it just doesn't feed at all (I presume for embroidery, but not sure.)

I've never seen such a cool device, & it's a marvel to see how cleverly it changes (watch with the sewing plate off.)

This machine sold on Ebay in March of 2020.

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NOTE: If you own a Florence machine, I've included some helpful info at the bottom of this page. Threading, adjustments, etc.

This machine came to me in serious need of some love, so it was a lot of work, but a joy to bring it back to a thing of beauty. I loved the transformation. This machine is pretty much in tact & original, underneath her new paint job - even down to the original Needle, which has Florence Stamped right on it. (How cool is that? : )

Measurements (approximate):

* 16" Wide Base (Includes the tension wheel at the end).

* 7.5" Deep at the Base (Max width, which includes the offset).

* 7" Tall (with needle bar in the up position).

* Sewing Plate is 6" across.

Florence Tips & Helpful info to have:

Threading Boat Shuttle: Bobbin has a longer & a shorter end pin. The longer end of the bobbin goes into the back of the boat shuttle, then drop the shorter end into the slot at the front (the pointy end). Thread feeds up & over the Bobbin Cover (see the pics, & get some tweezers), then back through the cover hole, & out the hole centered on the Side of the boat. (See the above pic, to see how it goes)

Insert Boat Shuttle into machine, with pointy end facing the drive wheel of the machine. First pull back the finger slot on the metal plate partially covering the shuttle space. It will spring back into position, once the shuttle drops into the slot. (View pics above, to see how it goes)

Threading The Machine: It's pretty straightforward. Thread spool sits at the very end, behind the leather drive wheel. (Originally, there was a pin located in the table, to mount the thread, but without the table, you'll just have to hold it some other way.)

From there, draw thread through the tiny thread guide slot above the crinkly tension wheels, then wrap once around those tensioners. Pull thread through the top slot in the giant wheel, then follow the thread guides, until you pass through the thread guides on the needle bar, & down to the needle. Enter the needle from the side closest to the presser foot, & pull through. (I find a flexible "Needle Threader" is a godsend on doing that. A Needle Threader s just a loop of fine wire, that fits through the needle hole, & expands to something big once through, so you can put the thread in easily, then it collapses on the way back out, as you pull it & the thread through. Super easy, & what a nightmare without one.)

Adjust Stitch Length & Direction: Simply turn the knob located at the front side of the sewing surface. First Loosen the set screw from below the knob, then turn the knob to the length &/or Direction desired, or to have no feed at all. (Re-tighten set screw, if concerned about movement. ) Turn knob clockwise to sew forward, counterclockwise for reverse. Widest turns = longest stitches, & centered = no feed.

Remove Sewing Plate: Pull out the knob, located towards the back side of the sewing plate. It will release the lid on that end, & gently pull up & back to pull out the small pin holding the front quarter of the sewing plate. (It's just a hole on the machine, with a pin attached to the underside of the sewing plate, that fits into it.)

It can be tricky to get it on or off, so just keep trying. It will come off. : )

Sew: Turn the belt drive clockwise - all the time. Forward & reverse both want the belt to drive clockwise.