Domestic Specialty Sewing Machine Attachments

This page shows examples of specialty Domestic sewing machines attachments that were not part of the standard attachment sets. It is a work in progress, so check back for more info.

The chainstitch looper replaces the shuttle and enables the machine to make a chainstitch instead of a lock stitch. Domestic started advertising their machine as two machines in one because it could make a lock stitch and a chain stitch.

I have found three main versions of the Domestic chainstitch looper.

• The first version was introduced in 1891 for the fiddlebase Domestic.
• The second version was for the New Domestic.
• The third version was for the Domestic D.

In order to use a chainstitch looper, you need three things:

1. The looper. These came in a small red tin marked "Shuttle and Looper".
2. The matching shuttle carrier with a hole to accept the looper.**
3. A chain stitch needle plate. More info in the manuals here. Photos of a needleplate are shown below.

** Note: Not all post-1891 fiddlebase machines and New Domestics came with this shuttle carrier. Despite all the "two machines in one" advertising, it was apparently an option. Also, it seems likely that earlier machines could have been retrofitted with the chainstitch shuttle carrier and needle plate.

Here are images of the three loopers.

As you can see, the 1891 and New Domestic versions are similar. The Domestic D version uses a completely different attachment mechanism.

Here are pages from instruction manuals describing how to use the loopers.

1891 looper

New Domestic looper

Domestic D looper

Here are photos of six loopers in my collection. Over the years there were subtle variations within each version, so you may find a looper isn't an exact match with any of these. Note that none of them exactly match the 1891 manual, so I am still looking for that one. If anyone has that looper or any others I don't have represented and can provide photos in a format similar to the ones below, I would greatly appreciate it!

Looper cases closed and open. Larger view

Looper top and bottom views. Larger view

This photo points out the differences between versions. Larger view

Notes:

• 1891 and early New Domestic cases are marked "Shuttle and Looper". They apparently intended for the shuttle to be stored in the red case while the looper was in use. Later New Domestic cases are marked "Domestic Shuttle and Looper" with "Domestic" in a plain font. Domestic D cases are marked "Domestic Shuttle and Looper" with "Domestic" in an Old English type font.
• Loopers A-C are 2.7" long, looper D is 2.5" long, and loopers E and F are 2.6" long.
• I tried loopers A, C, and D in a New Domestic machine. Loopers A and C did not seat properly in the shuttle carrier. Photos here. This indicates that looper C was another 1891 variation, even though it has some design features of the New Domestic version (the way the wire is attached).
• I chose to call Looper E "Domestic D" and Looper F "Domestic D variation" because Looper E matches the manual.
• Loopers A-D are marked patent applied for by E. J. Toof of New Haven, CT. Click for photos. The Domestic D loopers (E and F) do not have any patent markings. I found this patent by E. J. Toof for a looper which was applied for in 1890 and awarded in 1897.

Chainstitch needle plate

You need a chain stitch needle plate to successfully chainstitch. It has a grove in front of the needle hole on the underside. This is described in the manuals here.

These are photos of a Domestic D chainstitch plate.

It may be possible to grind a groove in a regular needle plate if you can't find a chainstitch needle plate.

Buttonhole Worker

The buttonhole worker was introduced in 1891. I found one ad that advertised the Domestic as three machines in one with the addition of this attachment.

Box

Inside lid

Buttonhole worker (incomplete)

This is another version with an "eyelet-end outfit" for use with the buttonhole worker. All photos courtesy of Pam in ME.

Automatic Etching Foot aka Kensington Attachment

The Automatic Etching Foot is for doing "Kensington work" which is an embroidery stitch for filling in an embroidery design. It is a hopping free-motion foot similar to those used today on modern sewing machines.

There are more detailed instructions for using the Kensington attachment in the 1886 Domestic Art Decorations Handbook.

I have never seen one of these in person and would love to get my hands on one. If anyone has one and could share photos, that would be most appreciated.

Embroidering Foot

There were at least two versions of the Domestic two thread embroidering foot.

The early embroiderer is shown in this 1872 manual:

Here is an example of this Domestic embroiderer. Photos courtesy of Scott S.

The later double thread embroidering foot is shown in this Domestic instruction manual from the early 1880s (page 43).

This version is shown here, missing the spool holders.

There are more detailed instructions for using the double thread embroidery attachment in the 1886 Domestic Art Decorations Handbook.

Domestic Embroiderer No 2

This embroidery foot was found in a treadle cabinet drawer. I have never seen it in any ads or manuals. The box is marked DOMESTIC EMBROIDERER No 2. The attachment is marked PAT.OCT.26.1880 "DOMESTIC" S.M.CO. MAKER and E.J.TOOF NEW HAVEN.CONN. This may be the patent, but it is not exactly the same design and it does not list either Domestic or Toof as assignees: US Patent 233767.

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