A find of a lifetime, a free Pfapp 130
"Free sewing machine, not working. Need gone ASAP."
It was only supposed to be a quick check of Craig's List before my boyfriend and I went to Fort Collins for lunch and to look at a few shops, but that listing caught my attention. A free sewing machine will always get my attention, but the three pictures are what really did it. Two of the cabinet. One of the machine resting inside, a black shape hiding in a dark nook in a dark picture, but unmistakenly an old cast iron. And a Pfaff sticker on the cabinet top.
I replied immediately, and less than two hours latter my wonderful boyfriend and I where squeezing the whole cabinet into the back seat. We hadn't looked at her closely at first 'cause I'll take an old Pfaff in almost any shape so it was only after we got her home that I had time to lift her up and my heart melted - a beautiful 130, a machine I've been dreaming about.
And I mean Beautiful! The decals are very nearly perfect, the japaning is so glossy, and the crome just gleams! There was the usual lint and the gears seemed a little dry, but the needle moves like silk when you turn the handwheel. Even the belt and bobbin winder tire look pretty good!
The motor looks like it's in good shape with no sign of malfunction, but my boyfriend did notice that the wiring seems loose in some of the conections. I also later found the bobbin thread had snarled. Hella thick thread, too, almost twine. Either the wires or snarl could have been why she was "not working."
Since she was fairly clean, I mostly just washed the gunkier spots with a little soap and water, gave her a quick wipe down with a little rubbing alcohol to kill the other people cooties, and oiled her up. Also found a manual for her for free online. I haven't stitched with her yet as I still need to clean around the hook race and inside the stitch width mechanism - all the scres for those are being stuborn.
Also still to do:
Clean the petrified tape off the needle plate.
Clean the cabinet.
Clean the electric cables and around the motor mount.
Check the motor and electronics.
Convert the knee control to foot control.
Make spool pin felts.
Replace the spool pin arm.
Get some more good bobbins (she came with just one and apparently new ones aren't as precise as the originals.)
Get a darning foot and a satin stitch foot (all of mine are rotary feet.)
Take lots of pictures and tell you guys all about her.
Sew up a storm!
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Her name is Grazielinda (gra-tsay-lind-a), meaning "Beautiful Serpent" after the scale pattern on her back plate & hand wheel clutch knob and because she's soooo beautiful! And she wanted a name that started with 'G' or 'J,' but of course that was just me thinking that, because I don't talk to my sewing machines. Of course not. *cough*