ArchaicArcane

I agree. I found it interesting that it was marketed as a buttonholer.

Pics, because I promised them:

Candace

You have an extra as there's only supposed to be one spring in the box. I used mine on my Rotary White.

ArchaicArcane

I thought that too, but on the "Do's and Don't sheet" it says:
"We included 2 springs so if you lose or break one, you will have a spare. They both work the same".

I am missing the Dressmaker Button Hole Guide though.

I'm hoping to get a chance to try it out in the near future here to see what it's like. My darning foot experiment a few months ago didn't go so well, but that was with a slant shank, drop in bobbin system, which I've read since didn't give a beginner the best chance at success.

J Miller

I have two of those sets. Kind of neat in a vintage gadget sort of way.

Joe

J Miller

ArchaicArcane,

Here's your Dressmaker Button Hole Guide:

Joe

LynnVT

Joe, Greist was bought out by MITE Corp. over 45 years ago. As far as I know, they still made the buttonholers, but we moved away in 1977. Can't find them online, just some old references, so don't know what happened to it.

ArchaicArcane

I think you're right. I think they were exactly that.. a gadget. Still neat to look at.


Yes, I'm missing the Pink "ruler" (guide)
Looks like you have 3 of the springs.

Do these work for slant shanks do you think? I know it says universal, but the angle of the needle seems like it might be an "exception"....

Tammi

Candace

Depends on how much time you want to spend bending and twisting the wire to work. Took me quite a while to get it on my machine properly. And then the needle still rubbed on the wire which can cause the thread to break during FMQ at higher speeds. I'd probably stick to a trusty, darning foot if available. I much prefer my darning feet to darning springs.

ArchaicArcane

Oh yuck. OK,.. it'll probably just be a display piece then. This hobby of sewing and possibly in the future quilting too is supposed to be teaching me to relax ... that doesn't sound relaxing.

In other news, it looks like I'm going to pick up another buttonholer today to add to the collection. It comes with a machine too. 503J with a Jetson's style Slant buttonholer.

J Miller

The last button holler I got is a chrome plated Greist. Came with the cams and the feed dog cover plate. I tried to make it work the other day and it wouldn't. Took it apart and it's all gummed up inside. There is some sort of grease like stuff on a lot of the parts.
I don't know if this is just old factory grease or something some body put in after the fact, but I've got to clean and properly lube it before I can test it.

Which brings up a point. Button hollers are fairly precision made mechanical tools. They need to be kept clean and oiled internally to work properly.
If yours is sluggish and uncooperative, take the shell off and check it. I'll bet a good cleaning and oiling will work wonders for it.

Joe