Willcox & Gibbs Calendar
A perpetual calendar produced for Willcox & Gibbs in Great Britain by The London Stamping Co Ld, 116 & 118 Clerkenwell Rd, L.C. It was probably manufactured after 1889 when Aluminium became commercially viable to produce.
It is made up of two disks 4.5cm across separated by felt and a third disk which is about 1.7cm across these are held together by a brass rivet.
The small disk has the day of the week represented by its letter.
The top disk has a slot to the edge and fine concentric dotted lines with numbers indicating the date. It also has Patent Pending No. 17288.
The base disk has the months around the outside which become visible through the slot in the top disk and has the company details on the reverse. All the detail is raised.
It is simple to use first you set the month by rotating the bottom disk until the correct month becomes visible in the slot. Then you rotate the small disk until the correct first day of the month letter aligns with the slot.
I've set this one for October, Monday was the 1st of the month in 2018 and for example it shows the last Friday in October 2018 will be the 26th.
I believe it was produced as a promotional item but how useful it would have been I'm not sure nonetheless it's an interesting item and if anyone else has any further information about it please get in touch.
Willcox & Gibbs Accessory Box
Well made wooden accessory box which has a slide lid. It was a chance find as it was sadly separated from the original machine but came full of Wilcox & Gibbs accessories.
Willcox & Gibbs Accessory Tin
This accessory tin is in reasonable condition and has wood grain finish with brass effect corner reinforcements and the company name in gold lettering. The interior of the tin has a gilt finish. The tin measures approximately 19cm x 8.5cm x 4cm
Willcox & Gibbs Accessory Tin
This accessory tin has subtle differences to the one above. It is slightly smaller measuring approximately 18cm x 8.5cm x 3cm and the wording has changed to include Ltd.
This came with the Willcox & Gibbs machine B535535 dated to 1902.
Willcox & Gibbs Accessory Tin
This tin is shaped differently to the above examples but retains the wood grain finish and brass effect corner reinforcements. It has the company name in gold lettering and again the interior has a gilt finish. The tin measures approximately 16.5cm x 8.5cm x 5cm
Willcox & Gibbs Needle Packet
I have the original receipt for this packet of needles which were sent by post from the company's Fore Street office on 15th August 1940.
Willcox & Gibbs Needle Box
Being made of thin card these boxes are very delicate and susceptible to damage. This example has the company's Chief Office for Europe as 20 Fore Street, London which would date it to the 1900's. I have an earlier example with the Chief Office as 37 Moorgate, London dating to the 1890's.
Willcox & Gibbs Needles
The company patented its needle in 1861 and before May 1876 every needle was just stamped Pat Mar 19 1861. After May 1876 the company's W & G Trade Mark was added.
The company's needles have a groove running the full length of the needle and when inserting the needle into the needlebar this should be facing the left.
Willcox & Gibbs Wrench
Small wrench used to raise the needle in the needlebar and to then tighten the retaining nut. The wrench has a slot specifically designed to accept the needle.
This example is made in steel but I have another which is nickel-plated brass.
Willcox & Gibbs Stiletto
Used to remove thread caught round the looper. Note the shank has a patterned finish and it could easily be mistaken for a modern item. The Stiletto measures approximately 11.2cm in length.
Willcox & Gibbs Oil Bottle
This bottle is moulded rather than being blown, it has Willcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine Co. on the front and on the rear Special WG Oil (the WG is intertwined).
The manuals refer to Cosmoline oil which could be supplied by the company and its certified agents. The oil was said not to thicken, never clog or become rancid!
Willcox & Gibbs Oil Can
Nice example of the company's oil can it has Willcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine Co. round the centre with London across the middle. Made in steel with brass spout and nipple the can tapers towards the bottom.
