Originally Posted by Quilter7x

Oh my goodness, that is awful, just awful.

Charlee, I talked to Guy the other day. He's sending me a foot pedal and some bobbins for my Kenmore 158.14101. I told him you sent me to him!

Originally Posted by BoJangles

Well, my DH and I did a little day trip yesterday to pick up a Spartan listed on Craigslist for $20. I got the machine for $10 because it is missing its slide plate. The machine is in really good shape except for the missing plate, which I think I have in the storage unit. If not, I bet Cathy has them! I cleaned it yesterday, but it is not picking up the bobbin thread - it is almost like the bobbin case in twisted or something? This machine may have to go to Cathy for a once over! I am going to play with it a little more and see if I can figure out why when I try to pick up the bobbin thread, the top thread catches around the bobbin race/case thingy and gets stuck!

We stopped at a couple antigue stores/thrift stores on the way home with no luck. We also stopped at a flea market and I picked up a Pfaff Hobby 4228 for $15 because it is missing the foot pedal/cord. I know, plastic wonder, not a vintage machine, but I have a soft spot for Pfaffs. Anyway, we searched the internet last night and the Hobby 4228 is not even listed anywhere! I think I bought an anomaly!!!! It is like it doesn't exist! I searched all over to find a manual, a picture, a foot pedal and we can't even find a 4228? Geeze! I think, I know why it was so cheap - besides missing the foot pedal and cord - it really doesn't exist! I am going to take it over to our Sewing Repair shop and see if Oscar can fit it with a foot pedal and cord. We found several, what they refer to as Universal Plugs, but none are shaped like what this machine uses. It seems, I always find the weird stuff!

Nancy

Originally Posted by chris_quilts

As to the Davis, how will I know if the shuttle is complete? I have never seen a Davis in person and the seller is a non-sewer so there's no help there. Also, are the Boye #20 needles available thru EBay or some other source. I know I've seen the #10's on Ebay but can't recall any #20's. I knew you ladies would be able to help me out. Thanks in advance for any and all help. ~ Chris

Originally Posted by deplaylady

I am looking at a listing on CL, and assuming this Red Eye is still available - would it be a good candidate for a motorectomy and a hand crank? I would still want to find a better base. What would be a good offer for it? (They said they are open to offers)
http://rochester.craigslist.org/atq/2732838452.html

Originally Posted by Candace

O.K. I got my Elna yesterday. Interestingly, it's the European released model 62D..which is the same as the American released 62C but at one time it had a plug to fit the European outlets. Anyway, besides me having to figure out how to center the needle better from front to back. It stitches very nicely. Here's the thing. It's paint on the throat of the machine is REALLY dinged up and it would be so nice to repaint. The plate comes off the machine, so it would be very easy just to paint the piece that is all messed up. I searched through the archives and although Billy had one thread where he showed a repainted machine, I didn't really find any directions per se. We have a Napa Autoparts store but not a store that necessarily is a Automotive paint type store. I know I can get a chip of the whitish paint off to match the color but then what? Sand it all off, primer of some kind and then paint? Do I have to have a sprayer, because I don't have a nice one:< I'm sure the common spray paints available would not match exactly and I don't want to make it look worse than it is. Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by Charlee

I'd take it in with me to match the paint...and I'd most likely just do touch up instead of a full paint job. For a repaint like you're talking about, I'd take it to an autobody shop and see what they'd charge.
Real helpful, aren't I?

Originally Posted by chris_quilts

As to the Davis, how will I know if the shuttle is complete? I have never seen a Davis in person and the seller is a non-sewer so there's no help there. Also, are the Boye #20 needles available thru EBay or some other source. I know I've seen the #10's on Ebay but can't recall any #20's. I knew you ladies would be able to help me out. Thanks in advance for any and all help. ~ Chris

Originally Posted by jljack

I was lucky and found an extra shuttle for my 1890 Davis VF from a dealer on eBay. I told him specifically which one I needed, and he had one. It and 6 bobbins cost me $25.00. I got them while the gettin' was good!!

Charlee's Davis and mine are only a few thousand apart -- probably only months apart in production runs. Hers was made in Watertown, NY, mine in Dayton, OH after they moved there in 1890. It was a very interesting fact to discover, and the folks on the Davis group on Yahoo were quite intrigued at that discovery, as it helped date some of the serial numbers!! It was fun!