Thanks Jim and Jon. I tried holding the take up lever but of course once I let go it still moves. I think the next step is trying the steel wool. I feel pretty certain the washer it is in correctly, I tried to pay close attention to that.
Thanks for the help, I am so glad to have this machine up and running, it is a similar story someone else recently posted...grandmothers machine, then mothers, now mine. Both grandmother and mother have passed away ('97 & '91) so it thrills me to use the machine they both used at one time. I have not treated it very well and it shows in rust and the shellac flaking off. Oh well, it stills sews nicely.
Jp