Oh and also, I forgot to mention towards the top of the machine, it has a plate that says TransWestern

Hi Daniel,

To post a photo, first, upload a photo to photobucket.com.

The click on the html code and paste it right into the message box here at Gardenweb. It's very easy!

Perhaps that might help members here recognize your machine.

Dawn

I googled "sewing machine Mercury Electric Company" and the first items that showed up were a couple of threads from here at the sewing forum. It may be an industrial sewing machine. Can't wait to see pictures, if you can load them.

http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/sewing/msg1022555525492.html?3
and
http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/sewing/msg0316151627485.html?6

Thank you Dawn. I can do that :) Wasn't sure if they need to be uploaded or something.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/Daniel_20-13/My%20Old%20Sewing%20Machine/101_1985.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/Daniel_20-13/My%20Old%20Sewing%20Machine/101_1987.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/Daniel_20-13/My%20Old%20Sewing%20Machine/101_1990.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/Daniel_20-13/My%20Old%20Sewing%20Machine/101_1992.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/Daniel_20-13/My%20Old%20Sewing%20Machine/101_2004.jpg

From doing a search, I think it's a machine made by Montgomery Ward in 1912. The JA12 must be the year and that it was made in Japan. Not 100% sure about all this tho.

Oh, I forgot to add, it's just a regular domestic machine, much like the old Singer's and Pfaff's, probably a straight stitch. The box is probably just the base it sits in if you don't have a cabinet, but it can be put in a cabinet.

Hmm...Okay. Still not sure. Looks like we got a mystery on our hands haha. I'm not sure if its a straight stitch. There is a know on the machine that you can select either Silk, Embr., and NORM. So, I know that has something to do with the material, but does that tell you something maybe about the stitch?

I meant knob in my above post, not know.

The knob probably just lowers and raises the feed dog. The silk probably lowers is just a tad, so that the foot pressure isn't too tight, allowing it to move easier so the fabric doesn't pucker. The embroidery probably lowers it all the way so you have free hand movement and can follow an embr pattern.
Have you tried threading it and sewing? Does it work?

Oh ok. No, I have not tried thearding or sewing with it. To be honest, I'm not great at this kind of stuff. And it being an antique, or at least Im thinking it is, I didnt want to mess anything up on it, especaially since I dont know anything about it yet.

So, I have Googled the "JA 23" that was engraved/stamped on the bottom of the machine. I have come to realize that it might be JA 2-3 from looking at pictures online, (of course they look fancier). Im still wondering, and have found nothing that has told me yet what it might be. But maybe thats a starting point, the JA 23. Has anyone else found anything?

I'm not following why you're not believing what I'm telling you. I know machines, I own a lot of them and I've sold quite a few. There really isn't anything special about it, it's just one of many that were made way back when, under different names. It may be antique, but it really isn't worth much, under $50.

Daniel - based on the color (is it really PINK?) and sleek industrial shape, I would guess it's from the 1930s to 1950s.

It's nothing special - certainly not as valuable as the singer Featherweights.

If it works well, you can get $15-20 for it on Craigslist. Not worth selling on eBay because fo the shipping weight.