BRADBURY'S FAMILY V.S.
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For information about the history of Bradbury's Family V.S. click on the title above.

All material copyright David G. Best 2002 - 2020 All Rights Reserved.

Bradbury's Family V.S.

An early Family V.S. with attractive flower decals and the Company's Trade Mark on the bed of the machine.
This version of the Bradbury Family V.S. was a development of the Bradbury Soeze but the needle head was redesigned with the tension discs mounted on its side and an additional inspection plate.

This machine was probably made in 1906 and is both cosmetically and mechanically different from the later Family V.S. machine examples of which are shown below. Consequently the manuals for each version are significantly different.

This machine was kindly donated to our collection by Andre Ravary.

Threading & Oiling of Family V.S. c1906
(early version)

Bradbury's Family V.S.

An early Mark 2 version of the Bradbury Family (Vibrating Shuttle) machine, probably made around 1907. This model Family V.S. was not just cosmetically different from the earlier version but was mechanically different being developed from the Company's Medium V.S. machine.

It has the very attractive flower decals with the picture of the Duke of Wellington on the shoulder below the stitch length lever.

There is no accessory compartment in the base and the machine has a Coffin case with a metal handle at either end. The Family V.S was also produced as a treadle with various types of cabinet work including a drop head parlour cabinet (See Below).

Threading & Oiling of Family V.S. Machine c1907 onwards Revised Model

Bradbury's Family V.S.

A later Mark 2 version of the Bradbury Family (Vibrating Shuttle) machine, probably made around 1911. It doesn't carry the company's name or Trade Mark, instead on the arm it has "Made Specially for Sansom Speed & Co. Wareham". This was an Ironmongers which operated for many years from premises on South Street in this Dorsetshire town however by 1915 the firm had become Sansom & Co.

An accessory compartment is provided in the base and the machine has a Coffin case with a metal handle at either end.

Bradbury's Family V.S.

An example of the Bradbury Family machine in a drop head cabinet, probably made around 1913. The Green & Orange 'Celtic Knot' decals are worn through much use, the arm was particularly affected as it was used to lift the machine out of its recess as there was no automatic lift mechanism.

The beautiful four drawer Walnut cabinet is in excellent condition, note the four small brass drawer knobs.

Bradbury's Family V.S.
A well worn Bradbury's Family V.S. bearing the agent's decal for C. H. Sands, 1 Westgate, Grantham. The Bradbury company appear to have mainly labelled machines for its agents and required them to purchase as few as six machines.

Charles H. Sands started business in 1895 at the Westgate premises as an Ironmonger later he sold and hired bicycles as well as sewing machines. After World War 1 he had agencies for Bradbury, Jones and Hexagon sewing machines.

The machine has an attractive coffin or gothic case with metal handles. We assume that the customer would specify the type of case to be supplied with their particular machine.

An unusual feature of this machine is the waxed card drip tray instead of one formed from steel plate. This is an indication that the machine was made in mid 1915 when steel was in extremely short supply but before Great Britain went to full Industrial Mobilisation which would see the Ministry of Munitions directing companies what to manufacture.

Bradbury's Family V.S.

A later V.S. model with the accessory compartment in the base and a bentwood case. This was our very first Bradbury and was the catalyst for our research into the Company.

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