Quiltingboard Forums - Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell

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I posted our newest machines in the photo shop.
Nancy and I have been having a discusion about the 306W machine. I know it is suppose to take the 206/13 needle but this machine takes a 15/1 90/14 needle as well. Don't know why but the machine sews really good with either needle. Even watched it go into the hook and it picked up the thread like it is suppose to and did not hit any thing along the way. Ever hear of this before? The machine came with a 90/14 in it which is just 1/16" longer but the needle eyes are the same from the top when put side by side. Also this machine does not have a plug on the side like most machines it is wired right to the motor. Not even an outlet for a plug. Is this different also? I have two other 306's K and they are different

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crossstitcher (Post 5249012)

Yes the 15 x 1's will look o.k. sometims, but then doing a certain embroidery stitch or going over different thicknesses of fabric, etc. and whammo goes the needle into the bobbin case leaving scars along the way and possibly effecting the timing. Not worth the risk to use the incorrect needle. It was designed for the 206 x 13 for a reason. Though, yours may have been retimed to take 15 x 1's and could be the reason they appear to work. Just beware the whammo, needle breakage and out of time machine!

I would have to see pictures of your motor/wiring set up. But, these machines have been around for a long time and yours could just have been rewired by someone who chose to do it that way.

i know there is someone on this thread looking for a featherweight. here is one for sale for a really good price. i would love to have this one and it would complete my vintage machine collection but no funds for it right now. i hope someone here can rehome it.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/hsh/3041980267.html

Speaking of FW's, my newest one now runs when I use Betsy's (other FW) foot controller. I will have to look at the foot controller when I have more time. :D:D I am happy all is now working minus the foot controller and DH just wants to tear into it badly which is a scary thought. He needs supervision, IMHO, when working on my sewing machines. I am hoping it's just a wiring issue and nothing more major as I have had a couple of controllers with minor wiring issues which I was able to fix myself.
Chris

Thanks Nancy and Candace for your input. I will stick with the right needles. I have them for the other 306's and the 319.

Trish, I like your new black 306 and the 99! You know, you won't need the zig zag attachment for the 306, it must of been for the 301 the people must of owned at one time! Boy, I would have loved to get that haul - those manuals are really nice to have! Anyway, that little 99 looks great too! I only have one 99, which is older without reverse, and one 99 clone - that one does have reverse. Congratulations!

Nancy

I read a while back that someone suggested buyin the book Featherweight 221, The Perfect Portable. I just got my copy from Alibris.com - used. Cost $15.28 shipping and all. It's a wonderful site for getting books at a reasonable price and/or out of print.

Thanks Nancy I know I won't need the zig zagger. The little cams will do what I want. But the zz will work on my other machines.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candace (Post 5248711)

Hehe. Yes, I'm enabler. Well, Nancy, a lot of people have told me I should have been born a man. I built a 18 x 16' greenhouse a few years back and my hubby just shook his head. I had no directions from a 10 year old kit. I put my noodle on it and did it pretty much all by myself, except I did hire an electrician and have a friend help me pour the concrete block footers. And I built a 15 ft. redwood pergola on the side of the house with help from my MIL. You should have see the looks we got from people driving by, watching two smallish women heft redwood around and putting in concrete piers. I had a few people ask me "Why my husband isn't doing it or where's my husband?" Too funny:> I've always tackled this kind of stuff.

I know how you get attached. I sold a machine last week and I'm selling another today. I bought a vintage Viking on Fri. that I've spent at least 8 hours working on that is now going to be a fantastic machine. It had 3 stuck dials and I had to rebuild the internal buttonholer mechanism. Also the motor wiring needed help. The machine only sewed in reverse when I got it. I received a lot of help from someone who walked me through some of the tricky steps. I said a lot of cuss words and ended up with bloody knuckles. But, in the end I learned the problems of a different brand-and this machine seemed to have all the problems vintage Vikings are known for! I can't keep them all so I try to let on go if I keep one. Or at least, that's what I tell myself!

Hummmm, you'd have been a very small man! I get frustrated because I wish I had the physical strength to tackle a lot of repair/maintenance/improvement projects around our place. I have a friend who will tackle anything from putting up crown molding, to tile work, hardwood floors, plumping - I have always admired that about her. Maybe, in my next life I will be more productive! Men who marry women like you are sure blessed - my poor DH has to do all that stuff - I'm kinda useless when it comes to building or repairing something!

You know Candace, how in the world did you learn how to rebuild the internal button holer? And you re-wired the motor? You and Miriam are both amazing. I know Cathy can do that stuff too, but she has been practicing/learning for years! I am learning how to do timing and some other things, but I really don't have the desire to really get into the mechanics of the motors and such. I would rather get the old machines that aren't so complicated. I am getting more and more interested in the workings of the machines, but I don't think I will ever dig into them like you two do? Although, the more I dig into my machines, and the more I am able to 'fix,' the more interested I am becoming in the inner workings of the machines!
Nancy

Nancy, the vintage yahoo groups are wonderful treasure troves of info. Most vintage machines are prone to have some sort of issue or issues and the specific vintage yahoo group usually has many postings on that specific problem and many times, how to's with photos to show how to do it. My Viking problems were rather tough and Bill Holman was kind enough to answer some questions and help guide me through it. One major issue for the vintage Vikings is that similarly to certain
Elna models, they have problems if not used frequently. They lock up internally and the dials freeze. People try to force the dials and get the buttonholer out of whack which causes the machine to operate in reverse only. Many times vintage Vikings will only operate in reverse and there are several reasons why. My machine had all 3 problems:> So, it was a good one to learn on!

Yes, I tackle all kinds of construction jobs. My reason is not necessarily to save money, although that's nice. But, I'm a perfectionist, and I just am never satisfied with jobs other men do. They seem to think good enough is passable and I want it done right and as close to perfect as possible. So...I tend to try to do things myself.

Nancy, I bet you will do more digging and learn more, when you happen to buy machines that will be way too expensive to fix (by someone else). I'll have to find you some of those. Hehehe.