Sewing machine manuals. New Home Sewing Machine Company Manuals. New Home Sewing Machine Manuals; New Home NLB; Part 1 Pages 1-13 (6Mb) Part 2 Pages 14-25 (5Mb) Part 3 Pages 26-36 (4Mb) New Home NH; New Home round bobbin rotary, model NH, Instruction book (24pp) New Home Attachments; New Home Attachments (650 KB) 'Illustrated Directions for using our latest. Janome or aka New Home Model 632 C Zig-Zag sewing machine instructions Manual (Good Quality)(40 pages & A Trouble Shooter; to help you keep your machine running), the Sewing machine is NOT included in this sale. This manual measures approximately 15 cm (5 7/8') x 21 cm (8 1/4').

1New Home Sewing Machine Model Identifications

by Claire Sherwell

New Home. Picture: Claire Sherwell

There are over 160 pictures of New Home sewing machines in the NeedleBar Picture Library. While this page is being developed please refer to pictures and information from there: New Home Sewing Machines, the Johnson, Clark & Co Album and the Gold Medal Album.

Early Models

Early Factory. Picture: Claire Sherwell

Stephen French's 1868 Patent

Early company history may be found in the NeedleBar New Home topic in the Makers Forum

For information about early models (Original model, Dolly Varden, Home Companion, Improved Home Shuttle) see the Home Shuttle Survey

The Gold Medal Company manufactured machines for Johnson Clark & Co., the predecessor to the New Home Company of Orange, Mass. Previously the company grew out of partnerships of Thomas H White/William L Grout, then White/Barker, then Clark/Barker.

Improved Home Shuttle. Picture: Wil Moschetti

Improved Home Shuttle. Picture: Fran Holly

Improved Home Shuttle

The Improved Home Shuttle treadle on the left has a last patent date of July 28, 1868 belonging to its inventor, Stephen French. It was witnessed by A J Clark of Johnson Clark who became New Home's President, and John W Wheeler, who was to become the Treasurer and Secretary of New Home.

Prices: No. 1 - Intended to be used as a Hand Machine. It is also adapted for use on Table and Treadle, which will be furnished at any time for $12. It is capable of doing all that can be done on any Family Sewing Machine. $25.

No. 2 - Machine mounted on an Ornamental Iron Stand, with Black Walnut Top, Oil finish. Where a large amount of sewing is required, it is preferable to run the Machine with the Treadle. $37.

No. 3 - The same as No. 2, with the addition of a Cover to protect the Machine from dust when not in use. It is a very desirable style. $42.

No. 4 - Highly Ornamented and has four drawers and drop leaf. $52.

No. 5 - Machine with a full Cabinet Case, Black Walnut, Oil Finished or Polished, as ordered. The Machine and Case are finished in the Highest Style of the Art. $80.

The improved model was designed for family and light manufacturing purposes, sewing the lightest muslins to the heaviest cloth. 'The only practical low-priced lock stitch sewing machine ever invented.' It was guaranteed for five years.

Each machine was supplied with a shuttle, three extra bobbins, a hemmer and feller, braider, screwdriver, five needles, gauge, directions (English, German, French or Spanish) and clamp.

Home Companion. Picture: Ludger Halbur

Home Companion

Lockstitch machine. If the machine has R.K. stamped onto it, the initials are thought to be the British importer and distributor Rennick, Kelmsley & Co.

Gold Medal Chainstitch. Picture: Etipax

Gold Medal

A chainstitch machine.

Gold Medal Chainstitch, Octagonal. Picture: Kay Smith

Gold Medal

This Gold Medal was also produced with a rectangular stitchplate. Now a true collectible, but at the time it was manufactured to fulfill a low cost machine for people unable to afford better quality machines such as Singer and Wheeler & Wilson.

The Beginnings of the New Home Line

New Home Factory in Orange, Mass., c1882. Picture: Claire Sherwell

New Home Factory with Early Car. Picture: Chrys Gunther

An Account from 1882

Orange is beautifully situated among the hills of Franklin Co., Mass., on the Vermont and Massachusetts Rail Road, about ten miles from the Connecticut River. It is a thrifty and prosperous village of about 4,000 inhabitants, lying on both sides of Miller's River.

The Poosac Tunnel Line runs directly through the village, offering special advantages for transportation. Very low rates of freight can be obtained to all points.

Quite a variety of manufacturing is carried on in Orange. The most important industry is the New Home Sewing Machine Works, the history of which dates back to 1860.

Their shops are very extensive, containing nearly 200,000 square feet of flooring. An iron bridge spanning the river connects them with the foundry, which is 300 feet in length, and smelts between 15 and 20 tons daily. In view of the large increase of trade, a new furnace has been added capable of fusing 25 tons of iron at one heat, and making the foundry the best equipped in this part of the State. In 1879 a large fire swept away the buildings in which the cabinet work was made, but they have been replaced by larger and better ones. The Company have in the past year more than doubled their manufacturing capacity and are now turning out over 350 machines per day, giving employment to 600 men.

Pictures of the present day New Home Factory.

Home Sewing Machine. Picture: Claire Sherwell

Home Sewing Machine

Vibrating shuttle, round tension on top of arm instead of the later top tension. Made by Johnson, Clark before the name change to New Home Sewing Machine Company.

New Home Old Style (pre-model A). Photo: Miller

Key features of New Home Old Style (pre-model A)

New Home Old Style

Made by Johnson, Clark before name change to New Home Sewing Machine Co. Known simply as The Light Running New Home. The designation of Model A came later.

Key features: Vibrating shuttle using boat shuttle, square corners to bed, top tension without release lever, round needle and presser foot bars, simple 'spooler' instead of automatic bobbin winder, stitch regulator on bed without surround, different styles of presser lifter, note style of take up and shape of rear inspection plate. Socket feet attached by simple screw to rear.

Interchangeable Needles: 20x1 - Boye 4 - Schmetz 35:11 - Free BB - Brewer G - Torrington R - European 712

Early Instruction Manual or Instruction Manual

New Home New Style (pre-model A). Photo: Andy B

Key features of New Home New Style (pre-model A)

New Home New Style

Made by Johnson, Clark before name change to New Home Sewing Machine Co. Known simply as The Light Running New Home.

Key features: Vibrating shuttle using cylinder shuttle, square corners to bed, top tension without release lever, flat needle bar, simple 'spooler' or later automatic bobbin winder, introduction of new presser foot lifter, feet attached by simple screw to rear, stitch length regulator on bed, note two styles of take up and shape of rear inspection plate. Lily of the Valley or Meadow Weeds decals with 'New Home' bed decal.

Interchangeable Needles: 20x1 - Boye 4 - Schmetz 35:11 - Free BB - Brewer G - Torrington R - European 712

Late 19th/20th Century New Home Machines

The vast majority of New Home machines have the serial number on a Slide Plate.

Earlier models are often referred to by the 'class' name eg New National, which became the model U, then US.

After the Free Sewing Machine Company took over New Home some models were sold under both the New Home and Free names (as well as other badged names). New Home machines started to use letters in front of their serial numbers in about 1930. The letters represent the model type. This applied to all models, including those with a

New Home 632 Sewing Machine Manual