Originally Posted by
Caroline S
Wonderful sewing machine Joe. By the looks of her she is related (kissin cousin?) to my Universal Zig Zag. I think that perhaps if you cannot find a manual for your Alden you should create one. I think I may have to do that with the Universal Super Zig Zag. I have been fiddling her knobs and buttons and for the life of me cannot figure out how to get the knob to turn that creates the decorative stitches.
Caroline,
I wouldn't be at all surprised if your Universal and this one was made in the same place. At least they probably share many of the same designs.
I've got to go back and look at your machine. I can't remember what it's controls look like.
Perhaps it needs the top off and a gallon of oil poured inside. That's just about what I did to this one. Besides the two or three actual oil holes, there is a bunch of moving, pivoting, sliding, turning, parts that were dry, so I oiled them. I put the Tri-Flo grease on the two gear sets at the left end as well.
I think people sometimes just put one drop of oil in the oil holes and then forget the rest of the moving parts. Then they run the machine to death and wonder why it quits working.
Post me a close up pic of the entire front of your machine and I'll cogitate on the controls.
Joe