National Two Spools CAN
 

These are a series of photos of the Two Spools case (or CAN) that is used in the race area of the sewing machine. Instead of a bobbin a spool of thread is placed in the spool case.
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The race where the can sits onto the pin.
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Placement onto pin located in the race.
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Bottom of can in place.
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Top of can in place.

Wow, interesting I have never seen this.

Now that is cooler than glass of iced tea. Joey likie ...... Joey wants one.

Joe

Oh!!! To do free motion and not have to stop and fill the bobbin every 2 minutes! Glenda want one, too. LOL

The feed dogs on this machine can be dropped, but I have never done so. I use this machine for piecing since the foot is the perfect 1/4'' and the feed dogs are the same length. Since the feed dogs are the same length, the material feeds in evenly. My FMQ is done best on my Singer 15-90 and my Necchi Supernova. Different machines have different jobs.

Monica,

Are these two different cans?

Cathy

Yes, It shows that there are two different designs to the can bottom. The rest of the can design is the same for the thread path.

Would love to see more pics of the whole machine. i haven't seen this before, but pretty cool! :) :)

Wouldn't we all love this feature on a machine. What is the vintage and make of this one?

Eldredge made the Two Spools and later the company became National. National continued to make the Two Spools.
There are some Two Spools machines with the name Eldredge and some with National.
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When I purchased my first Two Spools, it didn't have a treadle cabinet. So, my clever husband helped me convert a Singer straight-leg cabinet to fit the Two Spools. Here is a link to my tutorial on that conversion: http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...t-t130940.html

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Awesome!!

Now the big question ... if they could make this machine then, why can't they NOW?? Especially for quilting machines.

Although on second thought, the bobbin running out is my queue to clean the machine. I can't think what the inside of my machine would look like after waiting for a whole spool to complete.

I have often thought this would be a good idea. I had NO idea that it had ever been done. I wish the modern machines had this ability. ...

GGGG Guess we do learn some thing new every day. Thanks

BUT, these machines have NO insides...you can clean it all by simply lifting it up!

I wonder why this never caught on. You know we all want one.

that's a good question. Seems like the dream of every quilter/sewist.
but thread people would be out more $$ if we didn't have to buy thread all the time. This could drive up the $$ of thread to have this on a machine to make up the difference in lost revenue.
Wonder what part of a tank this type of mechanism became so the sewing machine no longer has it.

you all have flung a craving on me - I want one too

Well now, I thought that I had all the sewing machines that I "needed" but this makes me realize that I absolutely need one of these ASAP. I think that the thread companies would make more money if we all used these machines 'cause we couldn't use the big cones then, could we? Those spools go for a lot more per yard of thread than the cones. Or am I not understanding something about the use of the spools in the can part?

I have an original Eldredge Two Spools manual that I found in another cabinet. Someday I will find the sewing machine to go with it. What size thread spool fits in the can/case? I am going to assume that the spools were the small wooden ones. Is that the reason I am saving all of my old wooden spools?

Yes, save those old wooden spools. The larger ones don't fit. It's a matter of just testing what fits in.
The Two Spools were designed with a thread winder so that if you were left with one spool of thread, some of that thread could be wound around the empty spool.

I purchase the huge spools of thread that I place on a cone/thread holder. When my spool runs out, I just wind a new spool of that thread color that I'm using.

This is a dream machine for me. Never heard or have seen either brand before and not likely to encounter them in the Antipodes I should think. What a treasure!

I think you are right. The thread would have to be purchased on the correct size spool, otherwise you would have to wind thread onto the right size spool, and that would mean a special spool winder. LOL

yeah I would love that, someone need to event on for quilting

I don't just want one of these, i NEED it. DH says I am the neediest person ever. Just wait until he hears bout my new need!!!

The spool winder is "built onto" the machine... You can see it in the pic of the whole machine. That's how I ended up doing this with the wood spools for other machines:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...s-t205624.html

I may have just happened into one of these bad boys in an oak parlour cabinet.

Note to self: Want one!

Interesting
 

Me either, what kind I'd machines are they used on?

The bobbin can like that is used only on the Elderidge two spools sewing machine - that is it no other machine was made that way. I found one and Glenn bought it from me. The engineering and metal work on those old machines is a whole lot better than the newer stuff available today and they won't fail if properly cared for.

im a newbie to this,use to use my moms old national two spool as a kid,forgot everything! i am in desperate need of a can! mine was lost over the years of hauling it around, need some other parts ,can anyone help me find a can or point me in the right direction?

Welcome to the board!

Good luck, there is always hope...

Welcome Kevin! The cans are highly sought after by the people who need them and tend to be very expensive if you find one at all. All I can suggest is the usual sources like Ebay.
Rodney

what would i be expected to pay for a "can"?

1. there are three styles of cans - which one do you need?

2. Since you need a can and some other parts - find another machine on craigslist in your area - or maybe goodwill. Online - If the seller knows what they have and lists it correctly, it should sell for $100 + (just the can), in two years I've only seen a few come up. Most people get the machine dirt cheap, and then whine when they find out how much they are going to pay for the can - but the machine without the can is only worth the parts on it.

Use searchcraigslist.org to check all of the US at once. It is probably your best chance to find one.

im still trying to understand why the bobbin winder on this machine?

also if anyone has a lead on a "can" i need one , anyone got any leads ?