J Miller

Click on the pics to play the videos ... but you all know that.

I got my wife Elaine to do some sewing on her crafts with Minerva, my Minnesota Mdl ~B~. When she first started she said: "It's too slow and noisy too." I laughed and said just push on the pedal she'll go faster.
Then I started making the videos.
The first video just shows the machine in action. The roaring is due to the flat spotted and out of round friction drive wheel. I'll make a new one as soon as I can.


Now in this second video I did something for those of you who have always wondered what goes on under the slide plates of a shuttle machine. Minerva's original front slide plate was replaced by a home made one eons ago so just for the fun of it I made a clear plastic slide plate so we could make this video. If you watch close you can see the shuttle shuttling back and forth.


Hope you enjoy them.

I'm glad bdshafer didn't talk her friend into keeping Minerva. She's become one of my favorites.

Joe and Elaine

PS: For those with these old Minnesotas, the needle being used is a MTx190 size 14 or 90 if you speak metric.
So you can't use a lack of needles as an excuse for not using your Minnesotas.

Caroline S

Loved the videos Joe. Minerva sounds like a little workhorse tractor. I am interested in the plastic bobbin cover though. Exactly what kind of plastic did you use and how did you make it? Sounds like a "fix" for many machines that are missing slide plates. Keep up the good work.

nanna-up-north

Thanks, Joe. These are great videos.

J Miller

Caroline,

I used a CD case that had a broken hinge. Just cut it with my Dremel tool then finished it with a file. The plastic is brittle so care must be taken.
Eventually if I can't find an actual OEM slide plate I'll find some steel or brass flat stock and make my own.

Joe

jljack

I liked seeing the shuttle move. Really cool!! Great videos, Joe. I'm going to try to get the motor on my Western Electric this weekend and do a video of it working. It's been a while, 'cuz I was working on a big quilt that took mucho time!! Anyway, hope I can get it done this weekend!! I'll let you know. I really like Minerva...she's a sweet little lady!!

J Miller

I just got back from the hardware store. The roaring of the machine due to the flat spotted friction drive wheel got on our nerves so I'm going to try to make a new drive wheel. I have an old one from another machine and I pealed off the rubber. Once totally cleaned I'll put a new "tyre" on it and give it a try. If it works I just might do another video. Woooo Hoooo.

Joe

momto5

Fun to watch the old gal working her heart out, huh! First time I've ever seen a shuttle actually working....thanks!

Caroline S

Ah a Dremel tool. I have to add that one to my tool box. Maybe I will get myself one for father's day. FYI I was in Sears today and saw an awesome fushia pink double stacking tool chest and box. Wowser a girl can even get fushia pink tools to go in it. Perhaps that is one way my tools would not migrate out of my tool box to DD's workbench and tool box.

Rumbols

Awesome, loved the videos. Thanks for posting.

ranbro

Thanks for the videos. It was great watching the shuttle fly back and forth. You are very talented to make a plastic slide plate. Very cool.