Overcoming SMAD.
Hey, all. Some weeks ago I purchased a really dirty, smelly Pfaff 30 for $19.99. I could see potential but I couldn't get motivated to clean it up and get it running. I just wasn't into it.
Lately I've been looking at CL and have been thoroughly bored. Jones hand crank in near-mint condition for $25? Whatever.
I look over my collection -- all the tables and desks with machines in them, all the cases sitting on my basement floor, the 'night stands', the end tables -- and I ask myself what was I thinking and how soon can I clear all this out.
I think I'm over it. I'm into industrial machines now. I'll keep a small core collection of domestics for a future sewing studio (and any that are somewhat valuable or unusually nice) and I still like to learn about repairs, etc. but I just don't have my prior level of interest.
Anyway, here's the 30, before and after:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]503960[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]503961[/ATTACH]
And
[ATTACH=CONFIG]503962[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]503963[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]503964[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]503965[/ATTACH]
This was a time-consuming cleanup. Lots of cotton and oil, Q-tips, spit, oil, toothbrush, steel wool, etc. This thing was almost frozen solid. Rust underneath, locked up feed dog drop, dings to touch-up, etc. It was fun, I guess. I kept looking at my watch.
Anyway, if any of you are looking for a straight stitch machine to complement your 201-2, the 30 is a very good choice imho. Really strong and fast, it produces excellent stitches and unlike its larger brother 130, has no plastic parts save the hand wheel which is light enough to make stopping and starting instantaneous. Vertical hook/race is a plus (to me) but oscillating is a minus (to me), unlike the full rotary 201.
And if any of you are wondering if SMAD can be overcome, I believe the answer is 'Yes.'
(The painting behind the machine in pic #1 is something I picked up yesterday for a few $. The woman looks a lot like a friend of mine when I was back East.)