Originally Posted by jillaine

So, I have a sad (or perhaps pitiful) story that may be of benefit to someone else.

Several years ago, I purchased a red-eye that was in pretty bad shape. Just the machine; no table. I had it in my mind to refurbish it (using that wonderful set of instructions a former QBer had put together) and turn it into a treadle. One winter, I started taking it apart, taking photos of every piece, organizing the pieces in different little dishes based on where they came from in the machine, then I put it up, waiting for spring to come so I could do the nasty work outside with lots of fresh air.

Well, um, my dear sweet Gryphon kitty went exploring on my desk one day, bored because it was too cold to go outside. He found the neatly stacked bowls of parts and decided they must be toys for him. I mean really, what else could they be? He knocked over the bowls, and all their parts went waterfalling down together into a mixed up mess of a pile behind my desk and behind a bunch of boxes. Horrified, I delayed dealing with it for oh... I dunno... a year? I finally pulled away the boxes and the desk and gathered all (I hope) the loose parts, but somewhere in there, I lost heart about trying to put humpty back together again. (This is probably a good argument why amateurs should stay away from such projects...)

In the meantime, my brother found and gave me another Singer red-eye, in much better shape; she is now the target of my retrofitting-to-treadle, and I haven't dared yet take her apart.

I'm seeking to find a new home for my first red-eye and parts, perhaps in exchange for some advice about my new red-eye. I'm too embarrassed to ask for money for it.

I live in Bethesda, MD, near Glen Echo Park. If you're interested in discussing possibilities, PM me.