I bought an old converted machine today. It had been a treadle machine, converted to a "portable", in a case. Very heavy, lol. You can see where at one time it said Olson on the front, but no longer. It seems to be missing a piece that I suspect is a prong for a second spool of thread. It needs cleaning badly, but the woman I bought it from says it works, or did, last time she used it.

I can't find a serial number or year on it anywhere, and my built in flash reflects so much that the photos are terrible. I will have to get my dh to take it back outside to get a daylight photo.

I didn't get a manual, but hope to figure out how to work it. I really wish I could get it into a cabinet and out of the case, since it really makes it sit up high. I looked on the net, but could find nothing on the name Olson.

A lot of the old Singer and others were "rebranded" and sold under other names. What I would do is Google old Singer sewing machine images to find one that looks similar, check it out online to make sure it is a close match (especially the bobbin), and then perhaps order a manual for that machine.

http://www.ismacs.net/faq.html#badged

This came up when I googled "Olson Sewing Machine"

I found the number S 58068 on the front of it, on the underside. Boy, does this machine need cleaned, lol.

No, but if I ever saw one I would snatch it up! My mother, who taught me to sew on a Singer treadle, was an Olson. I had never heard of the history behind naming these machines. Very interesting.

I had not either until yesterday when I went to pick up my machine at the shop and saw Olson in the list of machines he works on. The man fixes home and industrial machines so it may be one of those.

I pulled the machine out of the case and looked it over pretty well. It really needs cleaned up, inside and out. Even after looking over the tutorial, I am not sure I am up to that job, lol. Anyone know a qualified person in the Ft. Myers area that could clean and maybe rewire it for me? And a manual for it, or a generic that is close would be nice, too.

My dh asked how many sewing machines I plan to collect, lol. Is there a good answer to the question?

check out Muv's videos - she has made 9 - just above the picture it will say other videos http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-155695-1.htm
Your machine may not be exactly identical to hers but the same methods and principles apply. You will need a manual for what ever machine you are working on.

I would love to get a manual, lol. SO far, haven't even been about to find anything online about an Olson. THanks for the video link. She is very good.

A picture would help figure out what it is.