Louise .... or the new Singer ....... no choice at all.
07-01-2012, 04:46 PM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Louise .... or the new Singer ....... no choice at all.
A couple weeks ago I picked up an old White DRESSMASTER machine. A typical large cast iron White with the OD green crinkle paint. I knew this machine had issues when I looked at the pictures. But it had it's slide plate so that made it worth a second look.
I watched this machine through two complete bidding cycles where no body bid on her. On the third cycle I just couldn't stand it any more, I bid and won.
Louise came well packed and with no additional damage. I found the first problem right off ... me. I didn't see what I really thought I saw. I knew the motor bracket was bent, but I thought the motor had the typical three flat blade connectors. It didn't, it had three round prongs. Nuts!!!! I had already bought a cord set and new foot controller from Sew-Classic.
I also found some impact damage at the top of the machines face plate. It takes a lot of impact to break cast iron, but it was cracked to the point of being broken at the top rear of the face plate. No damage to the working parts thankfully.
Well we looked and looked and looked for a three blade connector block for the motor, but couldn't find one. Thought maybe we had but it would be some time down the road before I could get to where the part might be and I just didn't want to wait.
I also needed a hinge for the wooden bottom. One was missing.
While looking for the parts my wife and I straightened the bent motor bracket and I JB Welded the broken part in the face place. I also rewired the light as the old wiring was junk.
I eventually found the 3 blade connector attached to an OD green motor at Thayer Rags.
He also had a hinge though it wasn't for a White, and some new friction drive wheels with the correct .25" shaft diameter hole.
(Above pic courtesy of Thayer Rags.)
I ordered those.
They came yesterday and I had Louise back together and sewing in about a half hour.
Today I finished her up by getting a bolt for the odd ball hinge and grinding the pin part to fit the machine. I also put some new rubber feet on the bottom of the case.
This machine sews beautifully. I wonder if the damage the machine suffered broke the wooden case it would have come in. I'm betting it did. Then nobody wanted to take the effort to fix her.
This machine is willing and responsive. She didn't fight me and has become one of my favorite oldies.
I named her Louise because of her past owner: F. Louise Staulty who proudly left her written autograph on the rear flat of the case bottom.
So, say hello to Louise.
She will contribute to my "All Machines" quilt that is for sure.
.................................................. ................................................
OT: The new black Singer machine with the turned up nose.
We've all seen the pics of the new, well last year new, Singer black plastic machine with the gold decals that is supposed to be a sort of retrospect machine.
Today I got to see one in the plastic as it was. That machine is HUGE. It is physically 50% larger than my wife's Bernina 930 or any normal full sized sewing machine. A huge waste of space in my opinion.
The hand wheel is small with raised spokes on it and has that shiny plating that you get on plastic. I don't know if it's plastic or aluminum but it looks cheap.
The work area is big as far the bed goes, but there is about 1/2 the room under the arch than a Singer 66 would have.
They had it turned on and I stood there looking at the control display. Not that many patterns really, maybe 30 or so, but with the electronics it would probably make many more.
To be honest, I wasn't too impressed. It's too big, takes up too much physical space, and doesn't have enough work room under the arch. Last but not least - it's plastic. There is an ugly seam all the way around the machine. It just looks cheap.
I suppose this is what a $399.00 machine looks like now, but honestly I'd rather pay that for a good used machine that will last till after I die.
I wouldn't bet on that Singer doing that.
.................................................. ..................................
JoAnn's had a whopper of a sale today. Lots of discounts and coupons. When we walked out of the store I told my wife I did not want to know what she spent.
Joe
I watched this machine through two complete bidding cycles where no body bid on her. On the third cycle I just couldn't stand it any more, I bid and won.
Louise came well packed and with no additional damage. I found the first problem right off ... me. I didn't see what I really thought I saw. I knew the motor bracket was bent, but I thought the motor had the typical three flat blade connectors. It didn't, it had three round prongs. Nuts!!!! I had already bought a cord set and new foot controller from Sew-Classic.
I also found some impact damage at the top of the machines face plate. It takes a lot of impact to break cast iron, but it was cracked to the point of being broken at the top rear of the face plate. No damage to the working parts thankfully.
Well we looked and looked and looked for a three blade connector block for the motor, but couldn't find one. Thought maybe we had but it would be some time down the road before I could get to where the part might be and I just didn't want to wait.
I also needed a hinge for the wooden bottom. One was missing.
While looking for the parts my wife and I straightened the bent motor bracket and I JB Welded the broken part in the face place. I also rewired the light as the old wiring was junk.
I eventually found the 3 blade connector attached to an OD green motor at Thayer Rags.
He also had a hinge though it wasn't for a White, and some new friction drive wheels with the correct .25" shaft diameter hole.
(Above pic courtesy of Thayer Rags.)
I ordered those.
They came yesterday and I had Louise back together and sewing in about a half hour.
Today I finished her up by getting a bolt for the odd ball hinge and grinding the pin part to fit the machine. I also put some new rubber feet on the bottom of the case.
This machine sews beautifully. I wonder if the damage the machine suffered broke the wooden case it would have come in. I'm betting it did. Then nobody wanted to take the effort to fix her.
This machine is willing and responsive. She didn't fight me and has become one of my favorite oldies.
I named her Louise because of her past owner: F. Louise Staulty who proudly left her written autograph on the rear flat of the case bottom.
So, say hello to Louise.
She will contribute to my "All Machines" quilt that is for sure.
.................................................. ................................................
OT: The new black Singer machine with the turned up nose.
We've all seen the pics of the new, well last year new, Singer black plastic machine with the gold decals that is supposed to be a sort of retrospect machine.
Today I got to see one in the plastic as it was. That machine is HUGE. It is physically 50% larger than my wife's Bernina 930 or any normal full sized sewing machine. A huge waste of space in my opinion.
The hand wheel is small with raised spokes on it and has that shiny plating that you get on plastic. I don't know if it's plastic or aluminum but it looks cheap.
The work area is big as far the bed goes, but there is about 1/2 the room under the arch than a Singer 66 would have.
They had it turned on and I stood there looking at the control display. Not that many patterns really, maybe 30 or so, but with the electronics it would probably make many more.
To be honest, I wasn't too impressed. It's too big, takes up too much physical space, and doesn't have enough work room under the arch. Last but not least - it's plastic. There is an ugly seam all the way around the machine. It just looks cheap.
I suppose this is what a $399.00 machine looks like now, but honestly I'd rather pay that for a good used machine that will last till after I die.
I wouldn't bet on that Singer doing that.
.................................................. ..................................
JoAnn's had a whopper of a sale today. Lots of discounts and coupons. When we walked out of the store I told my wife I did not want to know what she spent.
Joe
07-01-2012, 05:04 PM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 6,442
Joe, nice machine...and I love the name inscribed in the base, which I believe is actually F. Louise STANLEY. (You read a lot of handwriting as a genealogist!)
I found a "F. Louise Stanley" on the 1940 census, at the age of 16, living with her parents in Brownhill, Virginia. She would have been born in 1928. That's all I find about her with a quick search on Ancestry.com.
I found a "F. Louise Stanley" on the 1940 census, at the age of 16, living with her parents in Brownhill, Virginia. She would have been born in 1928. That's all I find about her with a quick search on Ancestry.com.
07-01-2012, 05:09 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Charlee,
Could be Stanley, but I've looked at it with a magnifying glass and did a rubbing of it and I'm gonna stick with Staulty for now.
Or not, my wife agrees with you.
Anyway, just for giggles and grins here's the rubbing I did of it.
Joe
Could be Stanley, but I've looked at it with a magnifying glass and did a rubbing of it and I'm gonna stick with Staulty for now.
Or not, my wife agrees with you.
Anyway, just for giggles and grins here's the rubbing I did of it.
Joe
Last edited by J Miller; 07-01-2012 at 05:22 PM.
07-02-2012, 12:55 PM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Sierra Vista, AZ
Posts: 3,992
Joe, you have been overruled. I agree also that the surname is Stanley. Like Charlee, I have also do a lot of family genealogy. Actually I have found that it harder to read "modern" handwriting than vintage.
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