Update: 2026.04.10

I currently have three machines of this style, all manufactured by the Free Sewing Machine Company, two badged as “New Home” and one as “Free~Westinghouse“. The machine pictured above is cast magnesium. All three have Westinghouse motors, though the Free~Westinghouse motor looks quite different from the ones on the New Home machines. Dating primarily from the late 1930s through the 1940s, these are rotary-hook, straight-stitch machines with no zig-zag capability. The defining feature of the Type F is its full rotary hook with round bobbin, as opposed to the older vibrating shuttle design common in earlier domestic machines. The rotary hook allows for higher sewing speeds, quieter operation, and a smoother stitch — it was Free’s more modern mechanism by that era, and a central selling point of the line.

The black machine above is also a New Home Type F Rotary, but this one is made of cast iron, and there are a few other minor differences, including the color being the most obvious.

Motor and friction wheel

The motor on the New Home Type F has a more traditional design than the one found on the Free~Westinghouse Type E Rotary, even though both motors were manufactured by the Westinghouse company.

Badging and other decals

These machines came with great decals, and the model number was stamped just under the deck near the bobbin area under the front corner.

Machine Needle

According to the manual this machine uses a CC1221 or BB1221 Rotary Needle, and as shown in the image above my machine included a few Boye Sewing Machine Needles sized 2 1/2 30-80. These are a hair shorter than the common 15×1 needles used in most modern household machines. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s my understanding that you can adjust your needle bar up a little, allowing you to use a 15×1 needle in this machine (do this at your own risk).

Bobbin case and bobbin

The bobbin case for the New Home Type F and Free~Westinghouse Type E Rotary looks like the wishbone rotary bobbin cases used in the older style White sewing machines, but these are smaller. This bobbin case and bobbin is closer to the Kenmore 120 series rotary machines manufactured by New Process. In fact I’m pretty sure, though not positive, that the Type F bobbin case and bobbin and the ones used Kenmore 120 series rotary are interchangeable. For a deeper dive into Rotary bobbins and bobbin cases, check out “A few rotary bobbins and bobbin cases“.

A little history about the Free and New Home companies

Free Sewing Machine Company origins

The company traces its roots to the St. John Sewing Machine Co., founded in Rockford, Illinois in 1870. This became the Royal Sewing Machine Co. in 1883 before being renamed The Free Sewing Machine Company in 1897, honoring company president William C. Free.

New Home Sewing Machine Company origins

New Home was an independent company based in Orange, Massachusetts, operating from 1882 to 1930. Its own lineage reaches back further, to the 1860s, under earlier names including Johnson, Clark & Co. By the late 1920s, facing financial pressure in the early tremors of the Great Depression, New Home was acquired by Free.

The merger and its consequences

Between 1927 and 1930, Free merged with or acquired New Home, moving production to Rockford. Through the early 1930s, New Home-branded models were phased in as essentially Free designs wearing New Home decals. “New Home” ceased to be a separate company and became a brand name within the Free organisation. The same factory in Rockford produced machines under New Home, Free, and Free-Westinghouse badges simultaneously, sold through department stores, mail-order houses, and multiple distribution channels.

In 1953, Free/New Home was merged into National Sewing Machine Co., which was itself acquired by Japanese interests in 1954. The New Home name eventually became associated with Janome after 1960.

Bottom line: Any “New Home” machine made in Rockford, IL was built by Free Sewing Machine Co. after approximately 1927–1930.

Specifications

Brand	New Home
Model	Type F Rotary
Manufactured By	Free Sewing Machine Company
Made In	Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A.
Hook Type	Rotary
Bobbin	#10025 Note: I’m not 100% sure on this
Bobbin Case	#3368 Note: I’m not 100% sure on this
Needle System	CC1221 and BB1221 Rotary Needle Boye Sewing Machine Needle 2 1/2 30-80
Foot Type	Top clamp
Construction	Cast Magnesium or Cast Iron
Construction Drivetrain	Metal, with possible plastic hook drive gear