1886 Singer Transitional VS2

     Today I'm sharing with you my 1886 Singer "Transitional" VS2.  I acquired this sewing machine on March 16, 2024.  It was located in Castle Shannon, PA which is about 15 minutes from my house.  I had watched the machine for a while as the own wanted too much money for it.  But after a while I decided to see if they were negotiable and they said they were.  I went to see the machine in person and we struck a deal. 

    This machine's serial number is 7469415 which dates it to 1886.  These early VS2's are known as  "transitional" because they were made after the VS1 but before the later, more common VS2's that we're all familiar with.  The major identifying differences between the transitional VS2's and the later VS2's are:

 1) the cast iron face plate (similar to the VS1) that contains the needle bar, presser foot bar, etc., 

 2) the large rock shaft pivot bolt and nut that is very visible on the top of the arm of the machine, 

 3) the stitch length adjusting knob with a hole in it, and 

 4) the simple older sytle bobbin winder (similar to the VS1).  

    The transitional VS2's were made only from 1886-1887 and then the later, more common VS2's were introduced.  

    I've seen the decals on this machine referenced as "Red/Pink Roses and Daisies".  Overall the decals are in good condition with some wear from normal machine use on the bed.  This machine has decals on the cast iron japanned face plate but one or two have been seen with a nickel plated cast iron faceplace.  It's unknown if Singer was just experimenting at this time with nickel plating the face plate but very few have been seen and the majority of the known machines have a japanned face plate with decal decoration.  

    I haven't done any restoration on this machine/cabinet yet as I have other machines in line before it.  Therefore I'm presenting the machine today in the condition I recieved it.   The first set of pictures were taken immediately after I got home with the machine.  The second set of pictures were taken after I wiped down the machine with SMO. (Nothing else was done to this machine).  

 

 

    The following pictures were taken after wiping the machine down with sewing machine oil.