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Are you a collector of patented machines?  My business, Marcotte Enterprises, Inc. provides engineering consultation services including patent services.  I review patents for their value and I research and document usage of patents.  I came upon this machine in my travels and found value in the patented technology it offers.  While cleaning it up, I found the patent number for it's wonder wheel attachment, and begain researching the origins of automatic stitching patterns.  Obviously, this has become a standard function in sewing machines. 

This machine is a production example of perhaps the first (or early) sewing machine that automatically stitches a predetermined pattern.  The Necchi BU Nova with Wonder Wheel from 1953 (best guess) includes the wonder wheel attachment stamped with US patent number 2,623,487. The inventor, Anthony Marasco, filed this patent entitled "Selectively Automatic, Stitch Varying Device" on March 14, 1950.  The above picture labeled FIG. 11 is from his patent and details the variety of stitch patterns which he envisioned.  The patent describes using a "programmed" disc to adjust the (normally manual) stitch width levers via a rotating cam.  As the machine is operated, the drive mechanism rotates the brown wonder wheel which has a pattern cut into it.  As the wheel  rotates, connecting linkages slide the stitch width levers back and forth to produce the selected stitch pattern as the fabric is advanced.  

The first and second pictures focus on the Wonder Wheel.  The first picture shows the rods connecting the wheel to the stitch postion lever (top rod) and the zig-zag stich width lever (bottom rod).  To accomodate these rods, the stitch width lever was designed with a protruding portion and hole to accomodate the rod, while the poition lever has a drilled hole in the top surface.  Most likely, these holes are unique to models manufactured after some date/serial number and specific to the wonder wheel attachment.  The second picture shows the orange 'tire' that drives the wonder wheel by being pressed against the hand wheel.  The wondor wheel attachment is disengaged by removeing the rods (they pop out) and by lostening a screw under the wonder wheel that acts as a hinge.

Available information for this model is very limited.  It appears that Neechi produced this configuration on machines made between 1952 and 1954 when they began mass-production of the BU Mira w/ WonderWheel.  The BU Nova Wonder Wheels are brown in color whereas the BU Mira models are green, thus making the Nova distinctly dirrerent.  The wonder wheel attachment bears the patent number, which was issued on Dec. 30, 1952.  Thus, this machine was most likely produced in 1953 before the Mira model was ready for production.

Included with the machine is a Necchi Hard Shell Case, 4 wonder wheels, a Necchi foot pedal and various parts.  Note that the foot pedal is not original to this particular machine.

The serial number of the machine is U323235.  The belt and rubber wheels appear to be original.  As is shown in the figure, the machine is fully operational.

I'm also interested in any informative details that readers can provide.  Specifically, I'm looking for the following information.

  1. Dates and model numbers of other machines (singer) begain offering automatic stitch patterns.
  2. Neechi serial numbers of machines having the stitch lever holes, wonder wheels,
  3. How rare/common are these machines?

Please contact me if you have any questions regarding this rare gem.