Thank you Steve & Cari. Steve, maybe we'll "talk" closer to June 3rd
My thinking is that I want to try the boiled linseed oil and vinegar on the table. It is too cold to do it any time soon but Colorado weather is very changeable. I remember when it didn't get above 0 degrees for a few weeks in January and I've also seen close to 70 degrees in January. I'm not sure about the drip pan as it is nailed, rather than screwed, to the board.
Does anybody know what the "original" drip pan is like? Would it have been like galvanized sheet metal? There is a very thin layer of kind of a goldish color coating that scratches with a fingernail, but I can't tell what it is.
For the irons, my current thoughts are to rub down well with sewing machine oil. I found one oil hole that is pretty well clogged that will need to be cleaned out. I"m thinking that for now I will not try to do anything with the pitman. It is wood and looks black. One set of instructions I have seen seem to indicate that one should oil where the metal fasteners are on the pitman. I don't have a picture but there appears to be something similar to a wing nut only it is not a nut but more like a screw/bolt head on the lower end of the pitman.
Just for fun I weighed the machine on just household scales. It weighs about 13 pounds. I tried to weigh the irons and it appears they weigh over 45 pounds.
I'm also wondering about the bobbin winder tire. I do have the larger Singer type but I was hoping to try to brainstorm how to use the one that is on the machine. Maybe by finding a rubber band to fit over the wheel it rides on. Or try to find one to fit over the bobbin winder tire. I noted that when the bobbin winder was swung into position to wind the bobbin that it doesn't seem to actually run parallel to the wheel - it comes in at an angle. Is it supposed to do that? AND if so how well does that work?? Maybe should find a different type/size of tire?
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.