The Davis Vertical Feed is a fascinating sewing machine that does not have feed dogs. Fabric is advanced by the needle and presser foot, see
photo at left courtesy of Susan J.
This page was created by the Davis VF Yahoo group as an aid for collectors in identifying their machine models and finding out what versions of shuttles and needles they use.
The following model names were taken from The Encyclopedia of Antique Sewing Machines by Charles Law.
Low Arm Vertical Feed
LAVF Features:
Top disk tension
Short boat shuttle
Takes Davis Long needles (Boye 10)
Bobbin winder on treadle stand
Open right end, flared pillar
Photo courtesy of Jerry in Salem, OR
SN 187424
High Arm Vertical Feed (HAVF)
HAVF Features:
Top disk tension
Boat shuttle
Takes Davis Long needles (Boye 10)
Bobbin winder on treadle stand
Base has sharp square corners
Photo courtesy of Jerry in Salem, OR
SN 325481
New High Arm Vertical Feed (VF1)
VF1 Features:
Top disk tension
Boat shuttle
Takes Davis Long needles (Boye 10)
Bobbin winder on pillar
Early machines have sharp square bed corners.
Photo courtesy of Jerry in Salem, OR
SN 389942
SN 535379
Later machines have rounded bed corners
VF1 Portable (VF1 HC)
(no photo available)
VF2
VF2 Features:
Front disk tension with manual release
Bullet shuttle
Takes Davis Long needles (Boye 10)
Bobbin winder on pillar
Base has rounded corners
Photo courtesy of Jerry in Salem, OR
SN 1063694
VF2 Portable (VF2 HC)
Photo courtesy of Jerry in Salem, OR
SN 791504
New Vertical Feed (NVF)
NVF Features:
Front disk tension with auto release
Bullet shuttle
Takes 15x1 needles
Bobbin winder on pillar
Rounded body shape
Base has rounded corners
Photo courtesy of Jerry in Salem, OR
SN 2787019