What the heck is a "sewing machine ruffler"? - SOLVED

[BuckleBoy]

What the heck is a "sewing machine ruffler"? - SOLVED

Hello All,


I found this item recently. I *think* it's a "sewing machine ruffler" but I'll confess that I don't have a clue as to what that is or what it does. (I didn't learn how to sew :P) Anyhow, here is the piece:





The front says "Johnston Ruffler Co. Ottumwa Iowa, and the back is a listing of several patent dates in the 1870's and '80's.

I'm just interested in what the heck this piece would've done and where it was attached to a sewing machine--if it was attached.

Regards,


Buckleboy

 

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[jeff of pa]

Re: What the heck is a "sewing machine ruffler"?

My guess The name says it all if that is what it is,
it would be for doing what you see at the bottom of this dress

 

[River Rat]

Re: What the heck is a "sewing machine ruffler"?

The T-Net gals are going to teach you how to "ruffle".

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Re: What the heck is a "sewing machine ruffler"?

Any woman worth her salt knows what that is...where did you find it...usually they were kept all together in a wooden box with other sewing items....thats a cool find ....must be more parts around it somewhere...seems odd that you would find that alone....

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: What the heck is a "sewing machine ruffler"?

Any woman worth her salt knows what that is...where did you find it...usually they were kept all together in a wooden box with other sewing items....thats a cool find ....must be more parts around it somewhere...seems odd that you would find that alone....

I found one, and my buddy found another that was exactly the same in terms of the company that made these items. So...it was something to attach to the foot of a sewing machine? We found one flattened thimble at the site, but no other sewing-related items. Interesting...


-Buckles

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Re: What the heck is a "sewing machine ruffler"?

American No. 7 - Attachments (b)
Courtesy of Barb. From the late 1880s or early 1890s. The latest date on the attachments is May 5, 1883. One of them is even stamped "AMERICAN 7". The Johnston Ruffler is stamped "JOHNSTON RUFFLER CO OTTUMWA, LA" The machine's slide plate has the following patent dates:
NOV 26,1872
MAY 27,1873
MAR 30,1880
FEB 15,1881
MAY 21,1881
DEC 20,1881
APR 18,1882
REISSUED
MAY 2,1882

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: What the heck is a "sewing machine ruffler"?

Awesome! Thanks Gypsy! When I first found it, I was worried that it would be a Counter For Counting Fifteen Things dilemma--till I saw that there was a company name on it. What a wierd thing to end up in the ground--and for two of them to be found in one hunt. 16 years of hunting I haven't seen one--but now I've got my Ruffler Quota. So at this point I can rest easy for another decade, right? No more of those darn Rufflers jumping out of the ground at me for a while?

-Buckles

 

[Noodle]

Re: What the heck is a "sewing machine ruffler"?

There were/are different types of "ruffles" to be made over the past decades. Some were loose and some were tight and very uniform. The older sewing machines had the tighter units. If you look at the top picture, you'll see the little grooves where the "ruffles" instructions were inset. If you ever go to an antique shop or a museum and look at the waist lines in the dresses, you'll see tight, uniform pleats inset into the waist. These are from the apparatuses that you found. The "newer" gatherers used larger stitches that required that you "pull" the loose threads through to gather up the fabric. When those were finally "set" into a dress, they were not as uniform. Better quality in using your mechanism. Interesting. Hang onto that. -Noodle

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Re: What the heck is a "sewing machine ruffler"?

At auctions those sewing ,machine gadgets always get a nice price...I saw one on the internet tonight that went for 20.00

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: What the heck is a "sewing machine ruffler"?

At auctions those sewing ,machine gadgets always get a nice price...I saw one on the internet tonight that went for 20.00

Maybe I should put the dug one on Ebay LOL.

Thanks for the information. I am always amazed by the wierd interesting stuff underground.


-Buckles