Thread: Will the REAL 15 clone please stand up

Originally Posted by J Miller

Nancy,

That Electra is nice. Nothing out of the ordinary about it other than it doesn't appear to have been used excessively or abused. Needs a spool pin, no big deal, and someone to love her.

ELECTRA ................. The last good car I had was a 69 Buick ELECTRA 225.


Joe

Well, the only thing so far out of the ordinary is that - I can not get the needle bar to move! I cleaned and oiled her, a few times - no go. That needle bar is stuck solid! No wonder they just wanted me to take that machine for $5! I have never had a machine so stuck before! I was always able to unstick even the rusted ones. This machine has no rust - had a lot of dirt, lint, but she won't budge! I took the wheel off too just checking, and pulled the bobbin casing - no go - the handwheel will not turn the needle bar!

Nancy

Originally Posted by Charlee

Have you pulled the faceplate yet Nancy?

How is Mowgli?

Sure Charlee, I pulled the face place, bobbin case and race, hand wheel, everything I could get off safely. That machine will not budge. I soaked it with sewing machine oil yesterday, all night, and again today. I can get a tiny bit of movement now, but it is still frozen solid!

Mowgli, is hanging in there. He cries when I leave him alone so I have to stay with him or move his bed if I come in here to the office. He had a large chunk of his femur removed - the head and neck of the femur. His body will form a 'false' socket and in about a month or 2, he will be able to run and play.

Nancy

Originally Posted by deplaylady

Here is a picture of Gretel, my Singer 15-30 from 1915 with it's Tiffany (Gingerbread) Decals and of my newest, which looks like a 15 clone to me. It's a White Model 65 but it is also labeled J-A15 near the serial number. When I called about the date I was told it was made somewhere between 1958 and 1960. I saw it just 2 days ago and loved the blue and white - it sews really quiet and nice. (Gretel does too!) No name yet for the new machine.

Gretel
Attachment 279351

J-A15
Attachment 279352

WOW - your Gretel is just beautiful - love all the gold paint - Gingerbread on it. Beautiful machine

Originally Posted by miriam

give that machine some heat.

Ok, today we will try the blow dryer! Yesterday, DH played with the Electra for a long time. He did everything I had already done with a little force and got her to move ever so slightly - so I am thinking maybe today we will get the needle bar to move!

Nancy

Nancy,

Here is a trick I've used on a couple machines that were really badly gummed up. Use Hoppe's #9 gun cleaning solvent.
It's mostly kerosene with some additional ingredients. It works very well for cleaning the yellow brown oil and nicotine off of the chrome parts. And limited contact won't hurt ..... as least it hasn't hurt any of mine .... the paint or decals.

I use it mostly to removed the old oil from the presser foot and needle bar.

Joe

Originally Posted by miriam

When they are stuck like that it is usually dried up oil. Some times heat works some times a solvent.... Protect the paint while you are cleaning for sure.

Well Miriam and Joe, I didn't have to use anything but sewing machine oil to un-stick the Electra. I soaked her with sewing machine oil for 4 days. I kept trying to turn her wheel with no luck until last night. Last night I got the wheel to make a half turn. Today when I tried, I did a whole very slow and stiff turn. I oiled again, set her in the sun and tonight she is fully funtional! I haven't threaded her yet to see if she sews, but I have no reason to think she wouldn't sew! It amazes me how stuck that machine was from just neglect. No rust. Just dried up oil, or probably no oil was ever applied to her!

Nanchy