Between the early 1930s through the 1950s, White was the sole supplier of sewing machines sold by Sears Roebuck & Company. By 1960, White had merged with Husqvarna Viking. You can find the age of White sewing machines using the serial number stamped on each machine or printed on a tag affixed to the machine. Today White sewing machines are one of the most commonly found sewing machine brands in the U.S. A particularly popular model to look out for is the White Family Rotary sewing machine, a piece of technology produced from the late 1890s through until the 1950s. To be considered antique, a sewing machine should be from before 1900. White Sewing Machines. I have a White 'rotary' sewing machine, with serial number 43-215003 A long time ago I found the following information somewhere on the internet and have preserved it here to allow you to share my confusion. I am not a White sewing machine expert, and it has been a while since I have even used that machine. Trying to date a white rotary sn fr 3149635., black,with floral designs made in usa on it. Have seen picties of similar ones so I'm guessing 1920's or 1030's Bernadette, 10 years ago sewing machines co. On line and put in my serial number and found out mine is a 1902 singer model 27, then I clicked on manual and I printed it. White Rotary Sewing Machine White Sewing Machine Company of Canada, Ltd, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Ca, 5M 5-20. Full particulars as to the trouble with the machine, and give us the PLATE NUMBER, Found On Bed Under Bobbin Winder, close To Be give explicit directions how and where to return the machine.

We are missing a cover for the hole on the faceplate of this White Rotary 659-X. When we bought the machine we didn't know if it had all the pieces or not. With some help from ISMACS members we were able to see what the missing part resembles. We were unsure if the missing part would effect sewing ability.

When we buy a vintage or antique machine, we like to get only ones that are complete, look good, and have a fair chance that they can be made to sew quilt patches. This machine was obviously missing a piece, but it was so 'odd-looking' that we had to have it anyway.

A complex disc assembly is in the area which required disassembly to lubricate the needlebar.

We were lacking manuals for this machine so we were unable to determine a proper way to thread it until Scott came to our rescue and sent us a photo of his machine with a line drawing showing proper threading. (see image below). During October 2011, a friend in Colorado sent us a copy of a manual. Thanks for that. Now we need to take the machine down from the shelf and again try to sew with it.

It sews only a straight stitch forward and reverse (not a zig-zag), The feeddog can be raised and lowered and the throat plate is etched for 1/2, 3/4 and 1-inch guide. It is made in Japan.

The drive belt was replaced with a Singer belt but insufficient tension can be obtained with the motor lowered to its maximum travel. We are looking for a shorter belt.

We like the way in which the light is replaced. The light is accessible through the louvered door seen on top of the arm.

The base underside is stamped JUKI 205 and the serial number is 659-8977. The numbers 659 are preprinted on the serial number data plate and we gather this is the model number. We assume the machine was either made by Juki for White, or Juki used a poplar White name. We e-mailed Juki trying to get a manual or any other information.

This machine was purchased for $15.00 at an antique mall in Sweetwater, Tennessee during December 2006.

While the founder's love was truly sewing machines and he pursued many related innovations, his sons became interested in other types of machinery, such as steam-powered automobiles. The early days of the 20th century were explosive with growth for the company. Indeed, White diversified as early as 1903, making roller skates, automatic lathes, kerosene lamps and even cars.

When White's sons couldn't convince their father that the steam automobile was worth keeping in production, Windsor and Walter White spun that product division off from White, forming the White Motor Corporation in 1906.

The White Sewing Machine Co. then turned its attention back to its original product.

In 1909, White Motor Corporation introduced a gasoline-powered automobile.

White rotary sewing machine serial number location

White Sewing Machine Website

White Rotary Sewing Machine Serial Numbers

In 1910, White Motor Corporation produced its first gasoline- powered truck.

In 1916 White bought the Raymond Manufacturing Company based in Canada

Meanwhile, White's sewing machine innovations piled up, including the progenitor to the portable sewing machine, the first furniture-style sewing machine cabinets, the first full rotary mechanism and, in the 1920s, an electric motor.

It was in 1918 that the company dropped the passenger car line and very successfully specialized in producing trucks and buses.

' It was about 1876 that the White Sewing Machine Company manufactured its first sewing machine. The industry was started and was owned by the late Mr. Thomas H. White. Since that year, in a total of four decades, this company has manufactured and sold approximately 4.000.000 sewing machines. There was a very small output in 1876, but the business was continuously and consistently developed by Mr. White and his associates. In recent years they have manufactured and sold approximately 600 machines a day. Practically 80 per cent of this modern production are White rotaries.'

1918 - A History of Cleveland and Its Environs

Naturally, all of these advances made the company's sewing machines even more popular, so in 1923, White Sewing stopped manufacturing its other product lines and focused on sewing machines and accessories.

Like many other sewing-machine manufacturers, White manufactured and labeled many for retailers.

In 1924 after acquiring the Domestic Sewing Machine Company of Buffalo, New York, the company signed a contract with Sears,Roebuck & Co to supply them with private-label machines. The White company continued manufacturing the Domestic-made Franklin sewing machines for Sears Roebuck & Co. Domestic became a fully-owned subsidiary of White. Over the next 12 years, White supplied Sears with about 20 percent of their sewing machine output.

By 1926, White had acquired Theodore Kundtz Furniture Factory, which made White's sewing furniture, King Sewing Machine Co. and, from Sears, the Domestic Sewing Machine Co. (1924). Under the leadership of company president A S Rodgers, the company was reorganised as the White Sewing Machine Corporation. Eventually a subsidiary, which became known as Standard Sewing Equipment Corporation, was formed.

With the Great Depression came renewed interest in home sewing. White continued to innovate, introducing the first sewing machine outside of its traditional black models, which was made of a magnesium alloy and was also much lighter than its forebears.

This product did well enough to warrant the formation of a second subsidiary in 1939, White Sewing Machine Products Limited, in Canada.

During World War II, like many U.S. companies, White turned over its manufacturing for the purpose of producing goods to aid the war effort. Production was high enough to necessitate a move to a bigger plant in 1949. A new administration building was completed in 1951.

The world was a changed place by then, as a strong demand for consumer goods ensued. While White had improved its production methods significantly, and 2,000 machines were rolling forth a day, imported machines from Germany, Italy, and Japan, had begun to swamp the U.S. market, and it was becoming impossible to compete with their prices. In fact, White spent on materials alone what a finished, impo

White Rotary Sewing Machine Serial Numbers