Having an index to this thread would be the kiss of sweetness. I'm having rotten luck with key words in the search. I know I read about the insulation flaking off of the wires, and comments about lead - just don't eat it, but I can't locate that portion.

While servicing my FW this weekend, the flakes were falling into the gears. I was camping, so didn't have everything I needed for the job at hand. I just picked the flakes out with a pin, and carried on with the lube job. At the time I read the thread, I was unaware of the flakes, now I have a need to know.

Should I rewire the machine? Is that something which can be done by a good handyman, or do I need to pay a sewing machine specialist more than I paid for the machine to do the job? It's a great little machine and I like to keep it up, but that stitch in time thing is nagging me.

301 is a slant-o-matic foot - don't know what the other machine is but it isn't likely the feet interchange

[quote=olebat]Having an index to this thread would be the kiss of sweetness. I'm having rotten luck with key words in the search. I know I read about the insulation flaking off of the wires, and comments about lead - just don't eat it, but I can't locate that portion.

I was thinking the same thing myself. Thinking about starting on page 1 and making notes of the topics in a database as there is sooooo much information and 500 pages later I remember reading something and have no clue where to find it.

Lauren

Marie,

I will have to ask my sister and probably call her friend to see about the manual. The machine doesn't take cams-has a dial with stitches on it.

Lauren

[quote=Grandmother23]too many topic on this topic?

[quote=Grandmother23]Yes, it would be rather nice to be able to SEARCH within a single thread, such as this 1000+page one! And/or to have the ability to AUTO ADVANCE within the thread to where the searched for TERMS are located. Anyone?

Then is it a clone of a Singer? I have no instruction book for it so need to know how to thread it. Would any Singer manual help with this? Thank you so very much for the info. I am anxious to try it but going to have it rewired first for the chord is very brittle. Mary

[quote=BoJangles][quote=Mary M]H, no I didn't post a picture just some info. Here are a couple pics. The machine is in great condition but the case I think may be shot. It is a Montgomery Ward machine made in Japan no. is H4810293

I have both slant foot machines (301, 403) and low shank 'straight' foot machines (66, 15-91s) and the feet are not interchangable between the two types. (um and there are LOTS and lots of folks on this thread/board that have way more machines and experience than I do!) They'll tell you the same.

Actually, there are at least 4 styles of basic machine feet that I know of (snap on, low shank, high shank, slant) but there are probably many more, especially with newer machines.

But, in regards to the old style/vintage machines, there are readily available feet out there made to fit each style. Learn which style/type your machine calls for. Then it's a case of reading the ebay descriptions very carefully - some of those descriptions are vague!

Perhaps you can contact the seller and offer an exchange? You'll send back the foot that doesn't fit, if s/he will send you the slant version? Was it a special type of zipper foot? I have several sets of 301 feet, and some extras... if I have a z foot you can use, I'll gladly send it to you...

Elizabeth... love your machine. I have TWO 127s, both Eqyptian decals. One I'm going to keep electric, the other I'm going to treadle. (eventually!). I love them. Both were machines bought by friend's grandmothers... loved... sewed with lots... and both purr from being so well taken care of. Decals a little fuzzy... but they've seen lots of cloth under those needles!

Nancy... you can get a foot pedal for the the 66-6 off ebay. I ended up rewiring the old one, but then also bought a 'new' foot pedal with the 66 cord set - so that I can use it with finer control. I love best the knee lever operation, so I leave the old foot pedal in the cabinet hooked into the knee operation. But when I have the need to change out machine heads, I'll just plug in that 66-6 on the regular 66 cord/pedal and use it on the table. Works fine. On that backtack... I learned to start my stitching on a scrap piece, then holding firmly, sew onto the real project fabric (this makes tiny stitches, almost like a backtack, without bunching up the fabric). It works, and is now second nature to me. I LOVE my granny's 66-6 machine. No, it doesn't have reverse, but man, can I sew boat canvas with it!

The Brother "Neopolitan" on my local Craigslist has been reduced to $60! If anyone is interested & would like for me to check it out for you...let me know.
http://fresno.craigslist.org/hsh/2357967523.html