Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell
Guy is terrific! He won my heart when I was sure I needed a new motor for my Kenmore, and he refused to sell me one until the one that is on the machine is toast! Told me, "a little smoke after sitting for years is no big deal, run it until it either stops smoking or stops working." LOL!! I expressed a bit of concern about the possibility of a fire, and he told me not to worry...that I wouldn't see flames, the motor would just quit. He was right...it didn't need a motor. I love that he could SO easily scam folks...and he doesn't.
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
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
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
My singer 201-3 came with a 220V motor, but I was very happy to give it a motorectomy since I wanted a 201 to treadle.
Congrats on your Spartan.
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
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Outer Space
Posts: 9,319
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?
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North Carolina - But otherwise, NOTW
Posts: 7,940
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
http://rochester.craigslist.org/atq/2732838452.html
Absolutely it could be easily converted. It most likely does have a spoke handwheel. Even if it doesn't you can get one easily, plus the handcrank, and with a little coaching you can do the conversion rather easily. It took Cathy only about 10 minutes to do my 99. Mizkaki you wanna chime in here?
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?
Real helpful, aren't I?
Autobody shop works for me too! I hate messing with stuff like that. They have all the needed chemicals and sprayers to make your machine look pretty.
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North Carolina - But otherwise, NOTW
Posts: 7,940
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
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!
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!
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!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Stitchnripper
Main
5
10-17-2018 09:01 AM
AngieS
Main
38
10-06-2011 10:06 PM
craftybear
Offline Events, Announcements, Discussions
34
09-09-2011 12:36 PM