Layers of Meaning

Vibrating Shuttle Bobbin

Thanks to all the wonderful folks at the Quiltart email list, I know what the heck this thing is! It is a 'vibrating shuttle' bobbin from an old treadle machine. An article, 'Singer's Missing Link, the Legendary Vibrating Shuttle #1' by D.A. Brumleve, has a solid explanation and good images of the shuttle and bobbin.

Lois, of nightstitcher.com, gave this explanation of the bobbin: "'Eldredge' machines were made by the Eldredge company in Illinois, and later by National, after Eldredge merged with another company, with "National" as the new name for the combination. Your shuttle is known as a "vibrating" shuttle, named after the front-to-back arcing motion of the shuttle. Most of the references I've found for vibrating shuttle Eldredge machines suggest a date of 1890 to 1920 (or so). In that time period, the VS configuration was very common: it was used, for example by the Singer model 27, White VS, and many others. Shuttles for different machines were, however, usually not interchangeable, even though similar in basic configuration. The bobbins (usually called "long bobbins") are a bit more interchangeable: one brand's bobbins might fit into another brand's shuttle and sew ok, however they might not work properly in another brand's bobbin winder."

I am always amazed by the amount of knowledge that the internet has put at our fingertips and the kindess of those who are happy to share their wisdom. Thanks all!