My Daughters' Heritage: Their Great-Grandmother's 1917? Western Electric Sew-EZ Sewing Machine
01-02-2026, 04:25 PM
#125
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Join Date: Jan 2026
Posts: 3
One of those - but in much worse condition - showed up here last month. That one has become unfrozen but hasn't gotten much past that stage yet. From what I've found out while kicking around online, these "two spool" machines may require a slightly longer needle than is currently common these days. A "20x1" instead of a "15x1"? Not sure where to get those.
Also, the machine may not have a bobbin case but a spool canister? The spool that fits in there is one of those old wooden ones, I don't think those are made anymore, but there is a spool winder on the front of the machine. Apparently, finding one of those canisters is nigh impossible so be sure not to lose it. From the pictures, though, does your machine have the spool cannister? It almost looks like a different sort of bobbin set up?
Should the motor not become functional again, it can be used as a treadle if you had a treadle cabinet to set it into.
Also, the machine may not have a bobbin case but a spool canister? The spool that fits in there is one of those old wooden ones, I don't think those are made anymore, but there is a spool winder on the front of the machine. Apparently, finding one of those canisters is nigh impossible so be sure not to lose it. From the pictures, though, does your machine have the spool cannister? It almost looks like a different sort of bobbin set up?
Should the motor not become functional again, it can be used as a treadle if you had a treadle cabinet to set it into.
01-02-2026, 06:33 PM
#126
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,661
One of those - but in much worse condition - showed up here last month. That one has become unfrozen but hasn't gotten much past that stage yet. From what I've found out while kicking around online, these "two spool" machines may require a slightly longer needle than is currently common these days. A "20x1" instead of a "15x1"? Not sure where to get those.
Also, the machine may not have a bobbin case but a spool canister? The spool that fits in there is one of those old wooden ones, I don't think those are made anymore, but there is a spool winder on the front of the machine. Apparently, finding one of those canisters is nigh impossible so be sure not to lose it. From the pictures, though, does your machine have the spool cannister? It almost looks like a different sort of bobbin set up?
Should the motor not become functional again, it can be used as a treadle if you had a treadle cabinet to set it into.
Also, the machine may not have a bobbin case but a spool canister? The spool that fits in there is one of those old wooden ones, I don't think those are made anymore, but there is a spool winder on the front of the machine. Apparently, finding one of those canisters is nigh impossible so be sure not to lose it. From the pictures, though, does your machine have the spool cannister? It almost looks like a different sort of bobbin set up?
Should the motor not become functional again, it can be used as a treadle if you had a treadle cabinet to set it into.
Niele, the opening poster has not been on Quilting Board for over six years. And the machine shown is not a two spool.
According to the ISMACS Needle list on page 94 of https://ismacs.net/needle_and_shank/...eedle-list.pdf, the needle for a two spool would be a 15x1, not a 20x1. There were a couple of Western Electric that would take the 20x1.
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