Karen's Home for Wayward Kenmores
12-11-2011, 09:26 AM
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Valdosta GA
Posts: 1,876
PB Blaster has a fairly new one that is not so oily. I think it is called Dry Blaster or something like that. I bought one can and now I can't find my can nor any in a store. I really liked it better than the original and it worked just as well.
12-11-2011, 10:24 AM
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Western Tidewater, VA
Posts: 463
Success! The After hosing down the inside with PB Blaster from the back and the bottom of the pillar, a few minutes with the hair dryer, and a few more minutes of rocking everything with a padded lockjaw, I finally got it to turn. It now spins fairly freely. While it sits a bit more, I'll start on polishing the rest of the parts. The head unit and front tension disc will be last, so I can keep track of what goes where.
Does the PB Blaster need rinsed off with kerosene or something, or will it evaporate on its own?
Does the PB Blaster need rinsed off with kerosene or something, or will it evaporate on its own?
12-11-2011, 02:13 PM
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Western Tidewater, VA
Posts: 463
Done. Or at least, done for the day. Everything turns freely (although I have some questions about the stitch length selector), everything that can be polished has been, and it's all back together.
Problem-I'm just not getting how to thread it. I've seen the pictures, read the directions, and nothing. I'm done dealing with it. I'll fuss with it again tomorrow when my brain isn't so fume-y. Also, I see by my original picture that I put the tension together wrong, so that's going to have to be fixed first.
I'm using the old needle until I can figure out what kind of needle it takes. Somewhere, something in the detachable part of the faceplate is hinky; when I turn the wheel, the needlebar rises almost to the top of its lift, then clunks on something and stops. When I take the faceplate off it doesn't do that, so clearly I put something together incorrectly. Again, I'll deal with it tomorrow.
After that though, I should be able to thread it and see if it will sew. All in all, I'm pleased with the day's results.
Problem-I'm just not getting how to thread it. I've seen the pictures, read the directions, and nothing. I'm done dealing with it. I'll fuss with it again tomorrow when my brain isn't so fume-y. Also, I see by my original picture that I put the tension together wrong, so that's going to have to be fixed first.
I'm using the old needle until I can figure out what kind of needle it takes. Somewhere, something in the detachable part of the faceplate is hinky; when I turn the wheel, the needlebar rises almost to the top of its lift, then clunks on something and stops. When I take the faceplate off it doesn't do that, so clearly I put something together incorrectly. Again, I'll deal with it tomorrow.
After that though, I should be able to thread it and see if it will sew. All in all, I'm pleased with the day's results.
12-11-2011, 10:49 PM
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: my heart is in texas, philly and london
Posts: 4,756
i have a kenmore 100 limited edition from 1986. not what i'd consider vintage. the poor thing gets little or no maintenance, and according to the salesman at the time, doesn't need it. i don't know if he's right or not, but it has certainly thrived on neglect! it is a sturdy machine and works as well today as the day i bought it. the head is steel and i have to get help moving it, so i tend to leave it in one place, but no tension issues, timing or anything else. it has 100 decorative stitches, hence the name. i would buy another steel body kenmore in a new york second! if i haven't killed it by now it must be immortal! lol
12-12-2011, 04:43 AM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: North Florida
Posts: 976
I like old Kenmores too. I am still kicking myself for getting rid of my 1650 after I bought my Elna 6004. Thought that I did not need two machines, boy was I wrong. I had purchased my Kenmore 1650 in 1969 when I worked at Sears and it sewed like a champ. So now after all this time I am looking for another one. I found two old used Kenmores at 2nd had shops cleaned them up and donated them to our Guild and that made me decide to find my old machine. Nothing runs like an old Kenmore, heavy but tough and ment to sew just about anything.
12-12-2011, 01:36 PM
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 4,001
Hi, I have the green viking and am looking for bobbins for it. Would you know where I could get some or what size they may be? I don't have a clue what to look for or where to find. My machine runs really well, sews really well and is quiet and nice to use, but heavy.lol I had a new 1974 top of the line Kenmore, and used it forever, had a chance to trade it in on a new electronic fancy machine Singer when they first came out years ago and I couldn't do it, my machine was so good didn't want to take the chance of getting a new machine that wasn't as good, and turns out I was so glad I did! Kenmores are usually really good machines.
It started with the Model 71 my neighbor brought me (the VSMS thread, post #28670). I was home for a family funeral this week, and on my way back out of town, stopped by the junk shop where I bought my Pfaff 130 this summer. (And the guy remembered me, and gave me the Pfaff buttonholer he'd found the day after I was there. He kept it on the off chance I ever went back. How cool is that?)
Apparently that original Kenmore called the others, now I have a bunch. I picked up a 148.12170; grubby, turns, but has no foot controller, so I don't know if it runs or not. I'm assuming 1950's-it's pea soup green. This one will go to my osmg for resale.
Also a 7057a (Dressmaker Stretch Stitch), which has a mostly metal body-the front and top are plastic. It's printed "Made in Poland" on the back of the pillar. It's grubby, but runs. This one I'll clean up and keep until I run into someone who says, "I'd like to learn how to sew, but I don't have a sewing machine."
My favorite is a 117.958. I can find *nothing* online about it. It looks like it's related to the Kenmore Imperial Rotary--same body--but model number is 117.591. I had to cut the cord to get it out of the table, but that was no loss. It was a knee bar (which I don't like), and had clearly been snacked on by some member of the family Rodentia, possibly a party of them. It's frozen stiff and missing the bobbin case, but I'm keeping this one-it's too cool looking not to. It's also got a really weird tension plate? disc? that I'm going to have to track down a manual to figure out, I think. It reminds me of a 30's train engine, and it's about that heavy, too. I'd love to know more about this model, if anyone has any info. Anyone know/want to guess when it was made?
I got a Singer 237 too, which is (gasp!) clean, and works fine. This one will also go to my osmg-they're his favorite.
The last shot is a pic of my aunt's Viking, that I brought back for a tuneup. She bought it second-hand nearly 30 years ago, and I love it! I've only ever seen green Elna's like this before. It has a cute litte red suitcase that I'll replace the lining in before I send it back.
Apparently that original Kenmore called the others, now I have a bunch. I picked up a 148.12170; grubby, turns, but has no foot controller, so I don't know if it runs or not. I'm assuming 1950's-it's pea soup green. This one will go to my osmg for resale.
Also a 7057a (Dressmaker Stretch Stitch), which has a mostly metal body-the front and top are plastic. It's printed "Made in Poland" on the back of the pillar. It's grubby, but runs. This one I'll clean up and keep until I run into someone who says, "I'd like to learn how to sew, but I don't have a sewing machine."
My favorite is a 117.958. I can find *nothing* online about it. It looks like it's related to the Kenmore Imperial Rotary--same body--but model number is 117.591. I had to cut the cord to get it out of the table, but that was no loss. It was a knee bar (which I don't like), and had clearly been snacked on by some member of the family Rodentia, possibly a party of them. It's frozen stiff and missing the bobbin case, but I'm keeping this one-it's too cool looking not to.
It's also got a really weird tension plate? disc? that I'm going to have to track down a manual to figure out, I think. It reminds me of a 30's train engine, and it's about that heavy, too. I'd love to know more about this model, if anyone has any info. Anyone know/want to guess when it was made?I got a Singer 237 too, which is (gasp!) clean, and works fine. This one will also go to my osmg-they're his favorite.
The last shot is a pic of my aunt's Viking, that I brought back for a tuneup. She bought it second-hand nearly 30 years ago, and I love it! I've only ever seen green Elna's like this before. It has a cute litte red suitcase that I'll replace the lining in before I send it back.
07-18-2013, 10:36 AM
#29
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3
Looking for info on JC Penny Model 7057. A friend just bought this machine at a thrf
Hi MrsBoats,
JC Penney marketed a version of the Polish 7057 back in the 1980s. My wife has one. It was her only machine between 1990 and 2006, and sewed everything around the house including the embroidered patches on our leather motorcycle vests. The fiber hook gears finally gave out in the Fall of 2006, and I replaced them with Singer gears for a Stylist Model 538. It’s still her “go to” machine when she needs a free arm, but she got a Singer 401A in the Spring of 2006, so the 7057 became “semi retired” at that time.
The 7057 is very similar to the Singer Stylist 538 that I have used almost daily at the shop since 2006 for mending jeans. I replaced a broken fiber feed gear in the 538 in 2010, but other than that, it’s been a good little workhorse for me. If you need parts for your 7057, check to see if Singer Stylist parts will fit.
CD in Oklahoma
JC Penney marketed a version of the Polish 7057 back in the 1980s. My wife has one. It was her only machine between 1990 and 2006, and sewed everything around the house including the embroidered patches on our leather motorcycle vests. The fiber hook gears finally gave out in the Fall of 2006, and I replaced them with Singer gears for a Stylist Model 538. It’s still her “go to” machine when she needs a free arm, but she got a Singer 401A in the Spring of 2006, so the 7057 became “semi retired” at that time.
The 7057 is very similar to the Singer Stylist 538 that I have used almost daily at the shop since 2006 for mending jeans. I replaced a broken fiber feed gear in the 538 in 2010, but other than that, it’s been a good little workhorse for me. If you need parts for your 7057, check to see if Singer Stylist parts will fit.
CD in Oklahoma
07-18-2013, 10:37 AM
#30
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3
Looking for info on JC Penny Model 7057.
Hi MrsBoats,
JC Penney marketed a version of the Polish 7057 back in the 1980s. My wife has one. It was her only machine between 1990 and 2006, and sewed everything around the house including the embroidered patches on our leather motorcycle vests. The fiber hook gears finally gave out in the Fall of 2006, and I replaced them with Singer gears for a Stylist Model 538. It’s still her “go to” machine when she needs a free arm, but she got a Singer 401A in the Spring of 2006, so the 7057 became “semi retired” at that time.
The 7057 is very similar to the Singer Stylist 538 that I have used almost daily at the shop since 2006 for mending jeans. I replaced a broken fiber feed gear in the 538 in 2010, but other than that, it’s been a good little workhorse for me. If you need parts for your 7057, check to see if Singer Stylist parts will fit.
CD in Oklahoma
JC Penney marketed a version of the Polish 7057 back in the 1980s. My wife has one. It was her only machine between 1990 and 2006, and sewed everything around the house including the embroidered patches on our leather motorcycle vests. The fiber hook gears finally gave out in the Fall of 2006, and I replaced them with Singer gears for a Stylist Model 538. It’s still her “go to” machine when she needs a free arm, but she got a Singer 401A in the Spring of 2006, so the 7057 became “semi retired” at that time.
The 7057 is very similar to the Singer Stylist 538 that I have used almost daily at the shop since 2006 for mending jeans. I replaced a broken fiber feed gear in the 538 in 2010, but other than that, it’s been a good little workhorse for me. If you need parts for your 7057, check to see if Singer Stylist parts will fit.
CD in Oklahoma
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