Singer Model 27 Crinkle, Perplexed
 

I obtained this machine yesterday from my OJCG. He said he had an interesting old Singer for me. The serial number is D905664. The ISMACS site shows her to be a model 27 and being allotted 9 Mar 1909. But she is a crinkle finish, the underneath appears to be painted silver. Worst of all the case appears to have been sitting in water at some point in time as the bottom is missing. She is locked up tighter than an drum and I have given her a thorough Triflow spray soak..

Was this machine someone's restoration? The front slide plate appears to be original but the back one is shinier and looks like a reproduction. The face plate has the crinkle finish. The hand wheel is solid, not spoked. Need some information from more experienced vintage owners. This machine just plain perplexing to me:eek:.

I would say it's a rebuild. I've read that Singer authorized certain repair facilities to rebuild machines during and just after WW II. Those machines were painted with the black crinkle paint.

What does look odd is the silver paint on the bottom. But I've never had a rebuilt machine to mess with, only a factory crinkle 66-18.

I'd pull that machine out of that non Singer box and flood it with Tri-Flow oil, after taking all the plates and hand wheel off of it.

The bottom pieces will need coaxing but I'll bet they free up pretty quick.

Oh, if you trash that case, please save me those two hinges. My Alden's case has a broken hinge and they are all but impossible to find.

Joe

The hinges are yours. Rusty critters that they are. I will take some pics of the top also if you are interested.

The machine has been sprayed inside liberally with Triflow. Yep, the handwheel is next to come off. It is good to know that this machine is probably a Singer rebuild. The motor is not a Singer motor. More pics will be coming soon. Ah, one more project.
Caroline

Caroline,

You need my address or do you have it already?

Yeah, I'd be interested in the top too.

"Ah, one more project." -- No kidding, I can't get the current one finished before 3 more seem to pop up.

Thanks,

Joe

I have your address. I was thinking that sending you the whole shebang, top and bottom, would be best. I sure would hate to ruin those hinges trying to remove them. They look like they are riveted on and are rusty.

Caroline

OK, that will work. The hinges are attached to the back of the bottom by screws from what I can see. But they can be a PITA to remove.

Joe

Whatca gonna do with the motor - feets controller and wiring?

Joe

Gonna keep the motor. Tested it and it runs perfectly. The foot controller I think I will take apart and see if I can re-wire it if needed. The other wiring is toast, brittle and bare.

Caroline

If you're not gonna use it, send me the cord block and the toasty, brittle and bare wire. :D

Rewiring foot controllers is a piece of double dutch chocolate cake. :D :D

Joe

Serious??? :eek: If so, it is yours also. Otherwise it would be going in the dumpster. Ah, one woman's junk is another man's treasure!!!!!

Yes, I'm serious.

No wastum cordy block. :D :D



Joe

It is beautiful and definitely worth restoring!

I’m going to agree with Joe here, and disagree with him too...

I agree that it’s a rebuild, but I doubt that a Singer shop did it. More likely, an independent shop did it, and probably in the late 40s or early 50s when electrification spread. The motor, handwheel, lead cord, and decals were available from a popular Wholesaler to turn treadle machines into electric machines. It was big business in the industry at that time. Many sewing machine owners had their treadle machines “electrified” when electricity finally reached their home. Orphaned machines were electrified to sell to new buyers.

The decal set appears to be set #1261, available wholesale at $0.50 each, $5.50/Doz, or $40.00/100, and was in the 1951 catalog and probably earlier. Motors were $10 and up, and the handwheel was $2. The motor block and 6’ cord set (#700) was another $0.90 or $10 per dozen. Retail was probably double the wholesale price, plus labor to make the conversion.

I would guess that the silver “paint” is possibly the primer coat that was applied to the entire machine before the paint was applied. Paint wasn’t needed under the machine where it wouldn’t be seen, but rust prevention was needed.

It looks like they kept the original treadle belt-powered bobbin winder instead of replacing it with a belt guard-mounted one. I guess that the belt was simply stretched out around the BW when winding a bobbin?

I enjoy the rebuilds because they’re not all the same. Shops did whatever they needed to do to get the machines running with the newest convenience to the homemaker...electricity!

CD in Oklahoma

CD just described my #2 Singer 66 treadle. Thankfully they didn't paint it as the red eye decals are in decent shape.
Electrified it, removed the treadle plate, pitman arm, big wheel and guard in the process.

But I prevailed. I returned her back to a treadle and she sews very nice.

Joe

I'm trying to show her how easy it is to fix these gems! You may hear from her if I am not successful!!

Rewireing motors and foot controllers is fairly easy. Some motors are a bit of pain but they are all usually rewireable. I've yet to find an old foot controller I couldn't rewire. Adjusting them can be a pain though.
There is supposed to be a tutorial on Yahoo about adjusting them but I can't find it. It seems to be a secret or something because those that tell me it's there won't give me the URL. Oh well.

Joe

mmmm...cake! Love the conversation!

27 Crinkle update
 

Caroline,

I do not like to take the main moving parts off of sewing machines. However, sometimes you have to. My rusted up 99K was one such machine. In order to get it de-rusted and functional I had to disassemble the bottom end and pull one of the connecting rods out of the pillar. It just had to be done.

If I had your machine I'd just take it apart. You can't hurt it much more by doing so and you have a good chance of getting it fixed.

Joe

OK Joe. How do you get the connecting rods out of the pillar? I figured that is my next adventure.:thumbdown: