Thanks for the laugh, Joe. I'm guilty of the same thing!

Cricket

I usually marvel at the engineering, try to increase my understanding of the machine, test out it's capabilities, and wash my hands frequently. LOL

Joe, we can all certainly identify with you and love your sense of humor :)

I keep a flashlight (doesn't need to be a big one)and one of those magnets that telescope with a mirror on the other end. Picked up at Harbor Freight for $7.00 (got 2). Also have couple of those magnet trays next to each machine. Comes in handy when I come up with an extra part that wasn't there when I started. Or you can get magnetic sheets at the craft stores and cut to size to fit in different trays, metal lids or whatever.

:) When I work on, mainly replacing bobbin thread, and sew on my Singer 15-91, I reflect on the fact that this machine is 83 years old and sews great!!

I love getting a machine with documented "history" so I know where it started and how it was used. I got both my 201s from families whose relative bought it originally.

My hand crank 99 went to Canada with its original owner (a missionary) and sewed for kids.

My 401A came from a friend. Her x-boyfriend's mother gave it to her.

I don't know where my White treadle came from but I brought the original owner with it. I can't leave it open at night. It sews by itself. :-)

After all that is said and done my next thought as I'm cleaning it up is which of my children are going to try and take this from me? I've lost a 401, 201 and two Featherweights that way.

Just thought I say that those two little screws held the feed dog in place and took me quite a while to find out where they belonged because I had put the cover back on!! It's all good, right?