Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell
07-11-2011, 05:30 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Rescue, California
Posts: 4,585
Originally Posted by omak
The man who sold me the machine (91-15) yesterday said it is a direct drive and Singer only made that feature one time in its production history. (I get the idea <g> salesmen say what salesmen say - - it may or may not be correct information). At any rate, DD found the approximate date (she presumed) in the owner's manual. Since she simply glanced at the front page, she told me it was made some time in the 30's. I am not sure that I understand what your comment means. It doesn't really matter if I understand, but I do get curious <g>.
In my way of thinking - - the machine is something that a basic person can keep running, and that is good enough for me. I believe that the most I have ever paid for any of the machines I have bought over the course of the last fifteen years has been $40, with the exception of a White. I paid more for it because the person selling it needed money and I needed a machine. Because it isn't black, I have never even checked to see where the machine came from or if there are any significant features to it. I have to admit that I am so basic that my appreciation for a machine has to do with: will it stitch when I turn it on? If it doesn't, then I will keep it until I learn enough to either part it out or repair it. (which is another "some day" plan <g>).
All this rambling to finally figure out the question I need to ask for clarification:
Was the machine created on that date? or Was the machine authorized for manufacture on that date? <wave>
In my way of thinking - - the machine is something that a basic person can keep running, and that is good enough for me. I believe that the most I have ever paid for any of the machines I have bought over the course of the last fifteen years has been $40, with the exception of a White. I paid more for it because the person selling it needed money and I needed a machine. Because it isn't black, I have never even checked to see where the machine came from or if there are any significant features to it. I have to admit that I am so basic that my appreciation for a machine has to do with: will it stitch when I turn it on? If it doesn't, then I will keep it until I learn enough to either part it out or repair it. (which is another "some day" plan <g>).
All this rambling to finally figure out the question I need to ask for clarification:
Was the machine created on that date? or Was the machine authorized for manufacture on that date? <wave>
The allottment is the range of SN's given to the factory on a particular day for a particular model machine. Whether those machines were actually made on that day - don't know - but, that is the day we 'have' to use as our machine's birthdate.
Nancy
07-11-2011, 05:33 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Rescue, California
Posts: 4,585
Originally Posted by tomilu
Yes, a particular soldier. He is taking apart wooden pallets and making a table for it. He does upholstery work back home.
We are packing the machine to hopefully survive a 10 foot drop, should one occur while in route.
I have it ready to test sew as soon as I paw through my parts stash for the HC portion. Never saw so much compacted lint in a machine in all my put togethers. :roll:
Tommie
We are packing the machine to hopefully survive a 10 foot drop, should one occur while in route.
I have it ready to test sew as soon as I paw through my parts stash for the HC portion. Never saw so much compacted lint in a machine in all my put togethers. :roll:
Tommie
Nancy
07-11-2011, 05:34 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 1,601
Originally Posted by incoming2me
Originally Posted by tomilu
Originally Posted by purplefiend
Originally Posted by tomilu
... I'm going to take the head out of the case, convert to a HC and ship to Afghanistan to a soldier.
Tommie
Tommie
Sharon W.
http://www.treadleon.net/woodshop/bu...dingbases.html
Tommie
07-11-2011, 05:37 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Rescue, California
Posts: 4,585
Originally Posted by Bennett
Hello all! I've been lurking here for a few weeks, and finally decided to join. I've loved seeing the variety of machines everyone has. Y'all have even inspired me to purchase a lonely and neglected treadle and get her up and running again. I've lucked out so far with my vintage machines and gotten ones that work without me doing anything, so my "old geezer" is an adventure.
My first was a Singer 201 in a cabinet purchased at an estate sale at least 10 years ago. I bought it for the cabinet/desk to use for my laptop! I think I started quilting at about that time, but I had a new Elna. Can't remember exactly why I started using the 201, but I was hooked. The poor Elna sat in a closet for a decade until I gave it to my sister earlier this year.
Next came a great 15-91 that I've used for many years with no problems. Then my mom bought be a Featherweight (finally got her up and running). A few weeks ago I found a 127 in a treadle that I'm currently working on. I don't seem to be stopping because yesterday I picked up a little 99k in a cabinet. Don't know why, because it's not as if I really need it! :) Oh, and I've got my eye on an well-used looking 66 model at Goodwill.
I think I'm officially hooked. My family probably thinks I'm crazy. I think I've rambled on enough, but I did want to say thanks to all of you for this great resource.
My first was a Singer 201 in a cabinet purchased at an estate sale at least 10 years ago. I bought it for the cabinet/desk to use for my laptop! I think I started quilting at about that time, but I had a new Elna. Can't remember exactly why I started using the 201, but I was hooked. The poor Elna sat in a closet for a decade until I gave it to my sister earlier this year.
Next came a great 15-91 that I've used for many years with no problems. Then my mom bought be a Featherweight (finally got her up and running). A few weeks ago I found a 127 in a treadle that I'm currently working on. I don't seem to be stopping because yesterday I picked up a little 99k in a cabinet. Don't know why, because it's not as if I really need it! :) Oh, and I've got my eye on an well-used looking 66 model at Goodwill.
I think I'm officially hooked. My family probably thinks I'm crazy. I think I've rambled on enough, but I did want to say thanks to all of you for this great resource.
Nancy
07-11-2011, 05:38 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 1,601
Originally Posted by BoJangles
Originally Posted by tomilu
Yes, a particular soldier. He is taking apart wooden pallets and making a table for it. He does upholstery work back home.
We are packing the machine to hopefully survive a 10 foot drop, should one occur while in route.
I have it ready to test sew as soon as I paw through my parts stash for the HC portion. Never saw so much compacted lint in a machine in all my put togethers. :roll:
Tommie
We are packing the machine to hopefully survive a 10 foot drop, should one occur while in route.
I have it ready to test sew as soon as I paw through my parts stash for the HC portion. Never saw so much compacted lint in a machine in all my put togethers. :roll:
Tommie
Nancy
Tommie
07-11-2011, 06:06 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Livingston, MT
Posts: 427
Originally Posted by Ariannaquilts
Hi everyone, I am here to join your group, I have wanted a treadle for a long time and my sister bought me one for my birthday 2 yrs ago and she just brought her home to me. It is definitely a Singer treadle but I don't know alot about it since I can't seem to lift her out of the cabinet it has this weird corner on the top so it gets caught, the top has alittle damage but from what I have read probably something I can fix. The outside of the drawers look almost carved they are beautiful. The other odd thing is the fact that the treadle seems to close to the floor?? Anyway I will try to post a picture of her ASAP, and will need as much help as I can get to get her looking as good as the other girls on the board. I haven't named her yet since I don't know much about her but will when I get some info. Hoping all of you can help me bring out her beauty, I read somewhere on here not to clean the decals with soap and water but of course can't find the post anywhere. Will await your instructions. Thanks
Marie M.
07-11-2011, 06:14 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Groton, NY
Posts: 408
Originally Posted by chris_quilts
Originally Posted by emmah
Originally Posted by chris_quilts
However, looked at faceplate of machine and it is yellow also from tar & nicotine. How do I clean that up?
07-11-2011, 06:17 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Groton, NY
Posts: 408
[quote=omak][quote=vintagemotif][quote=Crossstitcher]
I have one named after Blaze Starr! My singer 201k is called Starr. I grew up in the Baltimore area and remember adults talking about Blaze Starr and the 2o'clock club down in the city when I was a kid.
Well, after I found my machine, I decided to call it Starr, and then Blaze popped into my head...which led to me thinking of Blaze Starr. I read somewhere that she sewed her own clothes. I can picture her with a Singer!
I remember my parents talking about Blaze Starr. B/C I lived in Md as a child. My parents knew Baltimore pretty well. Any way what I am getting at is a year or so ago they had Blaze Starr's FW on e bay. can't remember what it was sold for. They showed a picture of her machine and supposedly some of the costumes she had made with the FW.
Another person my parents talked about was Gypsy Rose Lee
and I think she made her own clothes when just starting out.
OMG! I remember the adults talking about Gypsy Rose Lee too! I didn't know that she too sewed her own clothes.
I didn't know she WORE clothes ;... I think she was more interested in taking them off <wave>
Guess she saved a lot of money on fabric by wearing skimpy outfits!
Originally Posted by vintagemotif
Originally Posted by kwendt
Originally Posted by miriam
Originally Posted by kwendt
Originally Posted by miriam
But naming the old machines after a celeb? that's a thought! Maybe I should name some of my old singer girls, "Francis Langford", "Betty Boop", Cyd Charisse and maybe "Bettie Page" or "Jessica Rabbit". lol!
Well, after I found my machine, I decided to call it Starr, and then Blaze popped into my head...which led to me thinking of Blaze Starr. I read somewhere that she sewed her own clothes. I can picture her with a Singer!
Another person my parents talked about was Gypsy Rose Lee
and I think she made her own clothes when just starting out.
07-11-2011, 06:48 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Cadillac, MI
Posts: 6,487
Tommie, where do you send the machines? I assume you only pay the postage to an APO address, so it wouldn't be terrible. This Admiral might be a candidate for a trip if they're taking e machines. I don't need it and the Necchi both, though I think the Admiral has the better motor.
07-11-2011, 06:51 AM
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 1,222
Since it's a chainstitch, I THINK it will be a little easier--though I don't know for sure. Guess I'll find out. I've changed out needlebars on other machines though, so we'll see.
If you turn that needle bar you will have to time the machine. It is the same screw to loosen as to time it though. It isn't too hard. If you can read a pattern and sew you can do this. Look at the animation cartoon: http://home.howstuffworks.com/sewing-machine1.htm
Then get another machine to look at while you are working. Take off it's feed dogs too so you can see the hook and needle. Pay close attention to how the needle and the shuttle hook eclipse. There are service manuals free on line. I posted some a while ago. It would be helpful to have one - just about any will tell you what screw you need to loosen to turn that needle bar around or set the timing. You CAN do it!
Anyway loosen the screw (at the top, inside the nose cover) that holds the needle bar on. Turn the needle bar around. Get the needle eye and the hook in position (hard part) Then tighten the screw. If it doesn't work you have to repeat until it does work.
Originally Posted by miriam
Originally Posted by Miz Johnny
Lately I've been working on my machines using cardboard flats--they work really well at keeping table tops clean AND catching screws, etc. as they fall.
I worked on my Kruse and Murphy HC a bit over the weekend, but couldn't quite figure out the needle and couldn't make it stitch. I could see the way the needle SHOULD go in, but the only way it fit was backwards. Of course, it wouldn't stitch properly, and kept breaking threads. Finally, someone asked if the needlebar might possibly be backwards. Darned if they weren't right. I haven't taken it apart and put it back together the RIGHT way, but will get around to it eventually, I guess.
Do all of your work over a nice thick towel. This way if you drop a screw it won't go anywhere. Good luck on your cleaning :-D
I like the thick towel idea!!!! Brilliant!
This one had an oil bath set up with dried up oil bath, dried up lines, dried up wicks - I've cleaned it once. Now is time to truly disassemble one section at a time and do again -maybe needs a microscope to find all the gunk. It only seems to take a small amount to really mess things over. The thread isn't going around the shuttle right. I think it is gunk. The timing is ok but it isn't going the whole trip. It could also be burrs.
The tension spring is backwards - I have to figure out that one.
I worked on my Kruse and Murphy HC a bit over the weekend, but couldn't quite figure out the needle and couldn't make it stitch. I could see the way the needle SHOULD go in, but the only way it fit was backwards. Of course, it wouldn't stitch properly, and kept breaking threads. Finally, someone asked if the needlebar might possibly be backwards. Darned if they weren't right. I haven't taken it apart and put it back together the RIGHT way, but will get around to it eventually, I guess.
Originally Posted by miriam
Originally Posted by cabbagepatchkid
Originally Posted by miriam
they have 13 screws in them and I'm dreading it if I loose one.
This one had an oil bath set up with dried up oil bath, dried up lines, dried up wicks - I've cleaned it once. Now is time to truly disassemble one section at a time and do again -maybe needs a microscope to find all the gunk. It only seems to take a small amount to really mess things over. The thread isn't going around the shuttle right. I think it is gunk. The timing is ok but it isn't going the whole trip. It could also be burrs.
The tension spring is backwards - I have to figure out that one.
Then get another machine to look at while you are working. Take off it's feed dogs too so you can see the hook and needle. Pay close attention to how the needle and the shuttle hook eclipse. There are service manuals free on line. I posted some a while ago. It would be helpful to have one - just about any will tell you what screw you need to loosen to turn that needle bar around or set the timing. You CAN do it!
Anyway loosen the screw (at the top, inside the nose cover) that holds the needle bar on. Turn the needle bar around. Get the needle eye and the hook in position (hard part) Then tighten the screw. If it doesn't work you have to repeat until it does work.
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