Serial number 667611: 1872 Wheeler and Wilson #4 sewing machine. Please note; THIS AUCTION IS THE SEWING MACHINE HEAD ONLY - not the cabinet it is pictured in because I can only ship the head. If the purchaser would like both the head with cabinet, as photographed, the cabinet can be picked up from my home for no additional cost to the machine purchaser. I am prepared to sell the head alone as I cannot ship the complete machine with cabinet. I live in Blaine, 2 hrs north of Seattle WA close to the Canadian border. Purchaser must pick up the cabinet by Sept 1st, 2024.
Supposedly, according to the B&W photo from a Singer contest in 1948, this machine was purchased by Ulysses S Grant for his brother. Text from photo follows -
This Sewing Machine, purchased by Ulysses S Grant 76 years ago when in the Hide and Tannery business in Galena, Illinois. Has been entered in the Old Machine Contest by the present owner Mrs. Mark W White of Tujunga. Calif. who represents the Fourth Generation to have the machine in her possession.
Singer sewing Machine Co.
I have no proof other than this statement that this is correct other than Grant won election in 1872. Previously in 1860 he worked as a clerk in his brothers' leather goods store in Galena, Ill.
This machine comes with the attachments pictured including 4 clear glass feet, 4 bobbins, 2 brushes and a needle threader, together with the original B&W photo. It is unclear if this is the original machine from this cabinet as there is another footprint on the desk depicted in the accompanying photos. The machine rotates freely and there are remnants of the leather belt on the cabinet floor. The front doors of the cabinet show white areas. I cannot tell if this is deterioration or the remains of a design on the wood.
Free shipping of head within US and Canada only.