New Florence Manufacturing Machine — User manual

To Purchasers of the "Florence."





   By reading the following directions earefully, any one car! learn to
use the Florence Sewing Machine. It is simple in construction, and

requires so little change for any kind of work that its operation can

be easily understood.
  Every part is strong and durable; its motions are all positive, not

dependent on the variable and uncertain action of springs; hene? it

is almost impossible for a Florence Machineto get really out of ordes.
  The Machines are warranted in every particular. Purchaser."

will receive prompt attention, if they require assistance, by com-

 manteating with the neareat oftice.

   We intend that every Florence shall give the purchaser entire sat-

 isfaction, sustaining its reputation of being the most reliable Sowing

Machine in use.
   We make machines which carry the work directly across the table

from the operator, us well as those which enrry the work from right

to left. The instructions in thie book are intended to apply to both

kinds.
  FLOKENCE, Mass, 1876.





The New Florence ManufacturingMachine,

            For Heavy and Light Manufacturing-

OF REMARKABLE POWER AND SPEED.

FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE CO.

Manufactory and Offices at Florence, Mass,

       PRINCIPAL AGENCIES.



  NEW TORK, -30 UNION SQUARE, BROADWAT.
  BALTIMORE, MD.,-40 NORTH CHARLES STREET.
  BOSTON, MASS, -470 WASHINGTON STREET, COL. ATON.
  BROOKLYN, N. T.,-411 FULTON STREET.
 CHARLESTON, S. 0,-271 KING STREET.
 CHICAGO, IIT. -06 LAKH STREXT.
 CINCINNATI, 0.,-5 EAST FOURTH STREET.
 CLEVELAND, 0.,-19 PUBLIC SQUARE.
  DETROIT, MICH., 179 WOODWARD AVE.
 GREENSBORO, N. G.,—E. G. CARTLAND.
 HARTFORD, CONN, SI ASYLUM STREET.
 INDIANAPOLIS, IND.,-27 NORTIL PENNETLYANIA ST.
 LOUISVILLE, KY.,-184 FOURTIL STREET.
 MEMPHIS, TENN, - 237 MAIN STREET.
  MILWAUKEE, WIS.,- 380 MILWAVEEE STREET.
  NEW ORLEANS, LA,-01 ST. CHARLES STRENT.
  PHILADELPHIA, PA, 1128 CHESTNUT STREET.
 PITTSBURG, PA,-109 FEDERAL ST, ALLEGHENY CITT.
 ST. LOUIS, MO.,-214 NORTH FIFTH STREKT.
 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., -19 NEW MONTGOMERY ST.
 SELMA, ALA,-COR. ALABAMA AND WASHINGTON STS.
 VICKSBURG, MISS., -97 WASHINGTON STREET.



 HAVANA, CUBA,- CURTIS I CA., CALLE AMISTAD, Corner

     Sau Jose.
 LONDON, ING,- 00 QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E. C.
 LIMA, PERU,-F. A. GUZMAN, 224 CALLE DE LA UNION.
 SANTIAGO and VALPARAISO, CHILE, A. BAIRD & Co.
 SEAFORTH, ONTARIO,-O. C. WILLSON, MARKET SQUARE.

DIRECTIONS.




           1. To Run the Machine.





yERSONSshould whofirsthavelearnhadto operateno experiencethe sandalswithwithSewingthe feet,Machinein the

proper direction; that is, the top of the wheel (25) should turn

over from the arms of the machine. Place the feet with the heels

in the heels of the sandals, and by pressing downward with the toes

and heels alternately, give a steady motion to the machine. It is

best to take out the thread and shuttle till this has been learnod.

FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.



          %. To Wind the Shuttle Thread.





 WITH the right hand, take hold of the pin 26, on the wheel 25
     (see eut, page 8), and turning it over from you, with the left

hand push the belt off from the pulley For (24.

  Take the Spooler in the left hand, as shown in the cut below,





putting the wheel D under the loose belt the concave put under
the wheel against the shaft), and push it to its position on top the
shaft. The belt does not need to be removed from the pulley
under the table.
  Place one of the metal bobbins in the spooler-the long end of
the bobbin into the wheel-place the spool, from which you
wind, on the spool pio, lap the end of the thread a few times
around the bobbin, but do not tie it; commence to wind by

FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.



 working the sandals, as when sewing, being careful to have the

 bobbin turn from you.
  Wind the threwd on the bobbins as evenly as possible, taking
care to wind them smoothly, and not too full. In no place
should the thread be higher than the ends of the bobbins.
  To Remove the Spooler, simply push the belt off the Spooler
wheel on to the pulley F while slowly running the Machine.
  Cotton thread of all sizes can be had already wound on bob-

bins, sultable to go into the shuttle without re-winding, at about

the cost of thread on ordinary spools.
           8. To Thread the Shuttle.





  ARE the shuttle in the left band and raise the latch (B), by in-
    serting the point of the amall wire screw-driver under the edge
of it, and the latch will then staud outside the shuttle as shown in
the above eut. Place the long end of the bobbin in the heel of the
shuttle, and it will then drop into its place (A); then pass the
thread through the hole in the bottom of the abuttle, close the
latch and pass the thread back through the same bole, taking care to

have it come outside the latch (B). Raise the latch from the bobbin

again, pass the thread through the hole in the edge of it, and through

the bole in the top of the shuttle. Close the lateh and leave two or

three inches of thread outside the shuttle. The annexed cut shows

the appearance of the shuttle when threaded ready for use.

FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.

        4. To Place the Shuttle in the Machine,



 HAVEthe racethe needlebetweenraisedthe twoto thelugshighestof thepoint;shuttleputcarrierthe shuttle(29), withinto
  the point from you, and press it down until the cap latch (10), on the
  top of the race, springs over it.

    To remove the shuttle from the machine, press buck the cap latch

  with right band, and with the forefinger of left hand raise the point
  of the shuttle.



               5. To Set the Needle.





 the end of the shank is even with the top of the clamp, the rounded
 side of shank itting into the little rounded groove in the side of the
 needle arm. Tighten the nut sufficiently to hold the needlesecurely
 in its place. The screw-driver can be used to tighten it-if it eun
 not be made tight enough with the fingers.
  When using silk, or very course thread, the ncedle may be set a
 trifle lower than when using fine thread.
   In adjusting the needle, see that it passes down its full length as
 true as possible, and does not rub on either side ot the hole in the
 presser-loot or needle-bridge. If it does not pass down in the center
 of the hole, take hold of the shank, as near the top as possible, and
 bend it.
  Use none butgenuine Needles furnished by the Company,
 needles not made by the Company's gauges will throw the machine
 out of time, and it cannot do good work.
  Allgenuine Florence needles are stamped with the word
" FLORENCE " on the sbank, which has been adopted as a trade
mark by the Florence Sewing Machine Co.

FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.


              To Thread the Needle.




LACEevethe(G) spooldireetlyon overthe thespooltensionpin,wheel,pass windthe itthreadaroundthroughthe tensionthe

  wheel twice (or enough to prevent its slipping), over from gow;

bring it toward you over the take-up wheel (25), under the guide

back of the needle arm, up over the two guldes on the needlearm,
down in front of the clamp (019), and through the eye of the needle
toward the presser.

           7. Thread, Silk and Needles.


EWING-SILK or Cotton should be adapted to needles ag
  follows:
           SILK.       COTTON.
     With 000      No. 90 and finer,    Use No. 1 Needle.
         44             4 60 to 80        Use No. 2 Needle.
                                         Use No. 3 Needle.           000         16 го 50
       * A or B          24 to 40        Use No. 4 Needle.
        4 C or D       « 18 to 20        Use No. 5 Needle.


  Upper and lower thread should be the same size.

  Do not use thread too coarse for the needle. It is not necessary to

use so coarse thrend on a machine as for the same work if sewed by
hand; the greater number of stitches taken by the sewing machine

adds proportionately to the strength of the seam.

  Do not use poor thread, silk or needles, Any good thread or sill

will work well, but you cannot make a smooth, even stitch with
poor, rough or uneven thread. Soft finished cotton is the beat.
The silk sold by our agents, labelled « Florence," is of the best
quality, and especially adapted for use on machines, and eosts no
more than inferior qualities, sold by others.
  Persons can order of the nearest agency, inclosing the cash, and
depend on their orders being filled, promptly and faithfully, by

mail or express.

FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.


                   S. To Sew.



  HAVEdrawaboutup threethe shuttleinchesthreadof threadby holdingdrawnlightlythroughthetheendneedle,of the

 upper thread and making one revolution of the machiue; then, by
  pulling on the upper thread, the under one will come up with it.
 Both threads should be in position between the presser foot and
 plate betore beginning to sew.Place the tabrie under the presser-
  foot, turn the nut (13), on top of the presser-foot, so that the presser-
 toot will drop upon the fabric.
  TO REMOVE THE WORK FROM THE MACHINE-Lift the nut
 (18). and turn it so as to hold up the presser-foot. Slack the thread
 on the needle arm by pulling from the tension wheel, so that the
 work can be taken from under the presser-foot without strain on
 the needle or breaking the thread.

       0. To Regulate and Adjust the Tension.


 ¿ HEshowntensionat 6.is adjustedIf the underly thethreadnut onisthenotenddrawnof theuptensioninto thestu
 fabric sufficiently, turn the mut so as to press the spring tighter
 against the tension wheel; if drawn through the eloth too far, les-

 sen the tension by turning the nut in the opposite direction. The

 tension of the lower thread seldom requires to be changed. It can

 be done by turning the little screw in the top of the shuttle.
      10. To Change the Lengthof the Stitch.


   O LUNGTURN the stitch, when the fabrie is moving from the

    needle toward the presser-arm, loosen the small screw (07),

and turn the pointer of the feed adjuster downward a little at a

time until right, then serew up (57), until it stops.

  To sHoRTes the stitch, turn the pointer of 056 upward until

it suits, then set screw (ST), to hold it there.

  The length of the stitch will be indiented, very nearly, by the

distance the pointer is from the center mark.

   The length of the stitch should be proportioned to thesize of the
thread, needle, and kind of material; too short a stitch for the
thread will not look as well.

FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.

         11. To Remove the Cloth Plate.



  AISE the presser-foot and needle; pull out the thumb piece,

     (18), raise the cloth plate a little and draw it away from the hole

on opposite side of bowl.

  To replace the same: place the cloth plate on the bowl of the

machine, being careful to enter the point of the projecting spring in

the hole in the side of the bowl.

  Bring the hole in the center of the plate over the bridge, pull

back the thumb piece (73), and press down the plate to its place.




            13. To Oil the Machine.




   OR EMOVE the cloth plateand put a few drops of oil in each of

 the places marked with an x, via: holes over each end of back

shaft (24); eccentrie on sbatt next the belt, also on the stem

just under the eccentrie; sliding box at back of needle arm; wrist

pin at (28); fulerums upon which the needle arm vibrates; hole

In the center of bed plate directly under the needle arm ful-

crum, all on outside of machine. On inside of machine: holes in

bottom of shuttle race where marked x; hook (49), (where feed

bar rests in lifting) ; also at joints of stem under 40; at feed joints,

(two places, under 62); also on forked arm below and end of

connecting rod that drives the shuttle. Keep the race clean by
wiping thoroughly.

  Under the table, oil the ends of shaft and both ends of the pit-

man connecting the shaft and sandals, and a drop occasionally

where the sandals turn on the rod.

  A drop of oil should be put, every two or three weeks, in top of

the presser-foot, under the thumb nut (13).
                                 2

FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.

   After oiling, run the machine repidly a minute, then wipe off the
 supertiuous oil, taking care that every part is clean before beginning
 to sew. If the machine runs hard at any time while in use, some

 part needs oil. If it runs hard after it has stood idle a few days, use

 a little kerosene oil or benzine, and run rapidly in the usual way,

 wipe eleun, then oil with the best machine oil.

   Put a little oil on each end of the revolving sbaft of bobbin wind-

 er, and on the bearings of the friction wheel. Be careful not to get
 oil on the rubber wheel.


            18. To Reverse the Feed.


 SAVING the stitch the required length, and the screw (51), set,
   " turn the pointerof the feed udjuster (050), downeard and the
 fabrie will move from the needle toward the presser-arm. Turn
 the pointer upward to have the fabrie move from the pressser-arm
 toward the needle.
  IT Always turn 050 as far as it will go either way to reverse,
 but in changing the length of stitch turn it a little at a time.
   In ordinary sewing it is best that the work should move from
 the needle toward the presser-arm.
  The hemmer, braider, and other attachments are made to work
only when the feed is that way, and it is best for all operators
to learn to use the macbine so in preference to the reverse.




         14. To Fasten the Ends of Seams.





taking out the work. The commencement of a seam can be fasten-

ed in the same way.

FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.           11

                  15. To Braid.





PASsgroovethe braidon top;throughfastenthetheholeinbraldertheto braiderthe presser(82),footrestingwith serow,in the

in the same manner as the hemmer la secured, as shown in the cut.

Have the machine feed the fabric as direeted in In-tuction 18.

To do good work the braid should fit the groove in top of braider.
Adjust the braider to the presser-foot so that the needle will pass
through the middle of the braid.

            16. To Stitch on the Edge.


STITCHINGsame piece (82),on thethatcdseis usedof hemfor braiding,—-reversed—or fold can be do so sowhatthat thethe
needle will pass through the notch instead of through the hole.
Guide the fabrie against the long straight side ot the notch.The
attachment can be adjusted to the foot so that the needle will stitch
the desired distance from the edge. See instructions for hemming.

19          FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.

                   17. To Hem.





                         1079





                                                       006





    tHE Hemmer (60), is attached to the under side of the presser-foot

    by the set serew (SI); the head coming up through the opening

 in the presser-foot is tightened with screw driver, to secure it in its

place; it should be parallel with the feed, as shown in cut.

  Place the fabric under the hemmer, turning the corner or edge

over into the hemmer the width of the opening, with the finger;

press the cloth against the back side of the hemmer and draw it

along nearly to the needle. By following this direction you will

always make a neat corner when commencing.

FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.         18



   To Make a Narrow Hem. -Place the plate gauge (76), as shown

 in the cut, close against the side of the hermer, and fasten securely

 by turning down thumb screw (TT). This will keep the hem narrow

and of uniform width.

   To Make a Wide Hem.-Fold and crease the cloth to the desired

 width, pass the edge of the cloth into the hemmer, sume as for a

 marrow hem, and guide with the hand, so that the front edge will

be turned under; the needle should go through the corner ot

 the fold at the first stitch. The plate gauge (10), should be set so

as to just touch the cloth when it is folded.

   If the needle atrikes off the edge of the hem, loosen the screw (81),

and move the hemmer so the needle will stitch where destred, or

 spring the needle a trifle with the fingera.

  If your hemmer will not turn under the edge of the cloth, the

 little tongues have perliaps become sprung the wrong side of each

 other. There are three tongues,— the small straight one should be

between the other two; if wrong, spring them back to place.

                  18. To Fell.


 If IRST sew the edges of the cloth together about one-fourta of an

  loch from the edge, and trim one of the edges off close to the

seam, the same as to fell by hand, then with the hermer turn and

stitch the projecting edge name as in hemming; use the gauge (70),

to keep the edge of the fabric in the hemmer. Let the gauge be

under the fabric, against the tirst seam, and not too close to the
hemmer. Do not leave the projecting edge too wide.

                 19. To Gather.


HE THEstraightlizatenon thetheupperuppersidetensionof thesofibrie,as toinbringwhichthecaseupperthethrendwork

will gather as it is sewed, or let the tension of the upper thread be
quite loose, so that the under thread will lie straight on the under
side, and gather by drawing up the work on the under thread.

  In either method, the stitch should be longer than for ordinary

RewIng.

14        FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.


  TO GATHER AND SEW ON AT THE SAME TIME. Fasten to

 the foot the small square attachment; lengthen the stitch, to make
 fullness; place the edges of the two pieces of cloth together, the
 plece to be gathered on the under side. With the right hand hold
 the upper piece so that it will not feed as fast as the lower one.
 On some fabrics the tension should be tighter than for plain seats.

                  20. To Quilt.





  ET the gauge (70), as shown In cut, the distance from the needle
    desired between the rows of stitching; stitch one row with the
gauge in that way, then raise the gauge from the cloth plate, high
enough to admit the work under it; keep the row of stitching last
made directly under the gauge while you stitch the next one.

FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.          15

                  21. To Cord,





                                  019





THEaboveCordereut. is fastened to the presser foot as shown in the
  Thread the cord through the eyes and the tube on end of arm ;
fold the fabrie over the end of tube as shown.
  The Corder can be adjusted in the foot so as to cause the needle
to strike as near the cord as desired.
  Cording can be done by folding the fabrie over the cord and
placing it under the grooves in corder without using the tube to
lay the cord in.

16        FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE.




    IMPORTANT REMARKS.




 IT Is an advantage to rub white soap over the places where seams
   are to be, on all barsh, sticky or starchy fabrica. The needle
will then enter easier and make smoother work.
   If the feed does not work well, seo if lint or dirt has become mat-
ted under the feed bar, preventing it from dropping away from the

labric as it goes backward.

   If the feed should not move in elther direction, the feed adjuster

 (056), is on the centre; move the pointer away from the ceutre mark

and it will feed.

  DET Il " the machine will not take a stitch," you have got the

thread under the take-up wheel, instend of over it ; commence back

 at the spool and thrend the machine right.

   The point of the needle may be blunt, or the eye sharp or rough,

 in either case substitute a now needle. If threaded right, and the

 directions are followed, the machine will never drop a stitch or
break the thread, unless there is a knot.
   Unless you are sewing, do not run the machine with the shuttle
 threaded up and in its place. If you do this, loose thread from
 the shuttle may clog it, and cause it to stick last in the shuttle
 race, and thus stop the machine. It this ever happens, grasp the
 pulley (24), with the left hand, and the take-up wheel (25), by its

 projecting screw, with the right hand, and turn from you until the

 shuttle has moved to the end of the race under the latch (40) ;

then take out the shuttle and remove the thread from the race.