They say he named his farm Raphine from the Greek, Raphis, 'to sew.' Eventually he became so well known and powerful that Raphine Community was named after him.

His sewing machine went on to be one of the best-selling sewing machines of all time. Mainly with a penknife, chisel, a few farm tools and some wood. When he came across a picture of a Grover & Baker machine in a newspaper he decided to try and copy it. James XXXXX XXXXX Gibbs was a Shenandoah farmer from Rockbridge County, Virginia.

I have a short Youtube clip on the machine as well. Let me tell you what I have learnt about this amazing machine and the men who built it. Sewing machine eye candy at its very best. Today every collector and enthusiast has at least one W&G in their collection. Their beautiful lines and superb stitching make them a collectors dream. Some say the sewing machine represents the finest piece of Victorian precision engineering in the sewing world.

The Willcox & Gibbs chain stitch machines are one of the most collected sewing machines of all time. He has written extensively for trade magazines, radio, television, books and publications world wide. Link to Willcox & Gibbs chain stitch needlesĪlex I Askaroff Alex has spent a lifetime in the sewing industry and is considered one of the foremost experts of pioneering machines and their inventors. Willcox & Gibbs Sewing Machines A brief history by Alex Askaroff Sewing Machine Fault Finder Sewing Machine Tension Problems Renovations New Stories Poetry Crows Nest Publications Index Home Fault Finder Machines for Sale Valuations Books Our Collection Reviews Stories Pictures Links Please check these sights and let me know if your valuation was based on the exact machine. It would appear this stylized W with a G on top of the W may be trademark.We have found photos of this exact machine on two different sites as follows: & with treadle.jpg. The treadle is shaped as two feet side by side with the decorative WG woven into the metal treadle.The decorative WG insignia is emblazoned in both of the uprights holding the wooden deck. There is also a single drawer (with lock) positioned under the wooden deck slightly left of center. My machine is on its original metal base and has its original wooden cover with lock. I am not well versed in computer skills so I cannot attach a photo of the exact machine but can refer you to two sites with photos of my exact machine.''I am surprised at the 'bronze' description.

Willcox gibbs sewing machine parts