White · Straight stitch · Late 1890s to the 1950s
White Rotary covers a family of machines built in Cleveland, Ohio, from the late 1890s into the 1950s. The White Family Rotary came as a treadle in a cabinet or a hand crank in a case, and motors were added later at the factory or as an upgrade. The Rotary Electric models 41, 43 and 77 are the ones you'll find most, often wearing Sears badges, because White built Sears' machines from the mid-1920s until Sears switched to Japanese imports in the 1950s. White was the first to use a crinkle finish, with scrollwork cast into the head in place of decals, and a crinkle-finish Model 77 was sealed in the Crypt of Civilization in 1940. Electric ones run from a knee lever in the cabinet, so check it's there.
Under the throat plate
Ask for a photo under the slide plate with the bobbin case in place. A missing bobbin case or the wrong needle system is the most common reason a machine that looks fine won’t sew.
Long idleness gums up the mechanism and dries out the motor grease cups. Thread jams in the shuttle race from running it threaded with no fabric, and the knee control and its rheostat go missing from cabinets.
New to old machines? How to check a used sewing machine walks through the handwheel, the wiring, the bobbin case and a test seam.
Buying guide
We'd buy the White Rotary electric portable titled tested, with its case, at $240 delivered from a 99.9% seller, near the bottom of the $170–625 delivered band. There are at least 124 for sale, from bare heads under $100 delivered to treadles in cabinets, and condition and pickup drive the price more than age. One 1913 treadle in its cabinet asks $70 for pickup, and another asks $1,608 delivered. The eBay cards on these say New, a category default, so treat every one as used. Ask for a video of the handwheel turned by hand and a photo of the bobbin case through the hand-hole cover, and on an electric, whether the motor grease cups got motor grease, not oil.
$240.14est. delivered
The lowest delivered White Rotary titled tested, an electric portable with its case at $240 delivered. Ask for a video of it sewing slow and fast, and photos of the motor and control cords.
Antique White Rotary Electric Sewing Machine Portable w/ Case FR2813396 Tested!
$240.14est. delivered
A tested electric with its case, near the bottom of the band, from a 99.9% seller. Ask for a photo of the bobbin case through the hand-hole cover in the bed, since the machine can't sew without it.
Antique White Rotary Electric Sewing Machine Portable w/ Case FR2813396 Tested!
$123.72est. delivered
A treadle head titled untested and sold as is, at $124 delivered, well under a working White. It needs a treadle stand or a motor to run, so ask whether the handwheel turns before you offer.
Vintage Treadle Sewing Machine Head Ornate White Rotary U.S.A. Untested AS IS
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$240.14est. delivered
$199.99 + $40.15 shipping
Buy It Now$199.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Electric portable with case, titled tested.
Seller: josnie-7419
99.9% positive
For parts$123.72est. delivered
$59.88 + $63.84 shipping
Buy It Now$59.88
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Treadle head, titled untested, as is.
Seller: jetflyr
100% positive
Used$89.98est. delivered
$59.99 + $29.99 shipping
Buy It Now$59.99
Our take
Head only. Not titled tested.
Seller: cool_mansion
100% positive
Used$199.00delivered
$199.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$199.00
Our take
1913 head with accessories and papers. Free shipping. Not titled tested.
Seller: deafdoggarage
100% positive
Used$348.54est. delivered
$259.99 + $88.55 shipping
Buy It Now$259.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
1917 Family Rotary with pedal, case and light. Not titled tested.
Seller: khollamby
100% positive
Used$463.74est. delivered
$400.00 + $63.74 shipping
Buy It Now$400.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
1919, titled fully works.
Seller: zakamoli-0
100% positive
Used$70.00+ shipping
$70.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$70.00
Our take
1913 treadle in its original cabinet. Not titled tested. No shipping quoted; ask, or plan on pickup.
Seller: gillianz
100% positive
Used$1,607.73est. delivered
$1,500.00 + $107.73 shipping
Buy It Now$1,500.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
1913 treadle in cabinet at over five times the median. The first photo is the serial.
Seller: streckt
100% positive
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