Making Manuals from Printable Copies
12-18-2020, 12:52 PM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,350
Making Manuals from Printable Copies
I am finally finished making manuals for some machines that were missing theirs. Hooray! I also printed a threading chart for one of my Kenmore machines. Since I have been unable to locate a manual (or copy of one) for the JCPenney 6501, I made it a leaflet/booklet consisting of a threading chart, a safety sheet, and a troubleshooting guide.
I always try to find original manuals, but sometimes doing so is a challenge. Then there are the hard copies of originals available for sale which often have pages that read one direction, but flip a different one. No, thank you.
Of the all of the manuals I have put together recently, and others in the past, I only paid to copy one. Unfortunately, each page had the website address of the company from whom I purchased the printing access.
From my experience, the printable copies online range from poor to medium quality because of the following:
1) pages crooked in images (copied tilted)
2) images contorted (copied curved)
3) debris copied in images
4) missing pages
5) images of pages in two directions, different from original
6) print going off pages
7) handwriting on images
8) blurred images
9) manual website-address printed on every page
10) narrow margins every other page
The narrow margins have been very common in the online manuals I have copied. One side of a page is usually okay, and the other has one margin which is too narrow to allow for any sort of binding. To correct this, I make copies of all of those pages, then re-copy these with a margin spacer in place. Using those corrected pages, I print the remaining pages to the reverse sides one-page-at-a-time, in case of printing issues, etc.
Next, I make covers and backs, trim all of the pages with a paper cutter, punch holes with a triple puncher, and tie together each book. So, depending on the quality of the printable online images, making one of these can take several hours. It is worth it. It makes me feel good to reunite these machines with decent manuals and accessories!
I always try to find original manuals, but sometimes doing so is a challenge. Then there are the hard copies of originals available for sale which often have pages that read one direction, but flip a different one. No, thank you.
Of the all of the manuals I have put together recently, and others in the past, I only paid to copy one. Unfortunately, each page had the website address of the company from whom I purchased the printing access.
From my experience, the printable copies online range from poor to medium quality because of the following:
1) pages crooked in images (copied tilted)
2) images contorted (copied curved)
3) debris copied in images
4) missing pages
5) images of pages in two directions, different from original
6) print going off pages
7) handwriting on images
8) blurred images
9) manual website-address printed on every page
10) narrow margins every other page
The narrow margins have been very common in the online manuals I have copied. One side of a page is usually okay, and the other has one margin which is too narrow to allow for any sort of binding. To correct this, I make copies of all of those pages, then re-copy these with a margin spacer in place. Using those corrected pages, I print the remaining pages to the reverse sides one-page-at-a-time, in case of printing issues, etc.
Next, I make covers and backs, trim all of the pages with a paper cutter, punch holes with a triple puncher, and tie together each book. So, depending on the quality of the printable online images, making one of these can take several hours. It is worth it. It makes me feel good to reunite these machines with decent manuals and accessories!
Last edited by Sewsation; 03-03-2021 at 04:42 AM.
12-18-2020, 04:16 PM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 4,307
I have printed copies of all my machine manuals. I also save the pdf files on the laptop and a separate hard drive. The printed pages are inserted into the sheet protectors and then into a notebook. Some of the manuals are over 500 + pages. One of my machines had a guide available that cost $125.
The instructions for each specialty foot are printed and in a binder called sewing feet.
I attended a 3 day serger even and have a sample of each activity in the serger notebooks.There is another manual called serger feet. The notebooks are color coded according to my machines. I can easily find what ever I need to look up for reference.
The instructions for each specialty foot are printed and in a binder called sewing feet.
I attended a 3 day serger even and have a sample of each activity in the serger notebooks.There is another manual called serger feet. The notebooks are color coded according to my machines. I can easily find what ever I need to look up for reference.
12-18-2020, 05:55 PM
#3
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,350
Rhonda K, I love how organized you are! Which machines do you have with the 500+ page manuals?
I think my largest manual is around 100 pages. All of my machines are mechanical, some with electronic components, but no computers. Their dates of manufacture range from about 1975 to about 2005. They are all simple by today’s standards. When I do find original manuals, they are usually $10 - $30. I always prefer original manuals and do my best to locate them, even after making copies.
I think my largest manual is around 100 pages. All of my machines are mechanical, some with electronic components, but no computers. Their dates of manufacture range from about 1975 to about 2005. They are all simple by today’s standards. When I do find original manuals, they are usually $10 - $30. I always prefer original manuals and do my best to locate them, even after making copies.
12-19-2020, 05:21 AM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 4,307
Thanks! I love being organized. I have a sewing/embroidery combo machine. There is a manual for each function (approx 230 pages each) plus the designs.
PS: You can buy the copy paper with 3 holes already punched.
PS: You can buy the copy paper with 3 holes already punched.
12-19-2020, 06:55 AM
#5
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,350
Rhonda K, you’re welcome! Your machine sounds like a great tool.
The manuals I have made are not binder size. I trim them down to be closer to the size of the original manuals. I have a vintage 3-hole punch with adjustable hole distances, so my three-hole pages are all custom. The smaller manuals can fit in a sealed gallon Ziploc bag for protection when being stored. The machines with these manuals are mainly for guests when I do little home workshops in making tote bags (-not since the pandemic).
Fortunately, I have original manuals for my main machines which are my Bernina 1031, my Bernina 830E Record, and recently, my Bernina 1030. My 1031 was missing its manual when I bought it. I made a copy and kept shopping for an original. My sister liked my Bernina 1031 machine so well, that I found one for her. The seller of that 1031 had two manuals. So, I got an original manual for my 1031 machine as a bonus! An amazing lucky coincidence!
The manuals I have made are not binder size. I trim them down to be closer to the size of the original manuals. I have a vintage 3-hole punch with adjustable hole distances, so my three-hole pages are all custom. The smaller manuals can fit in a sealed gallon Ziploc bag for protection when being stored. The machines with these manuals are mainly for guests when I do little home workshops in making tote bags (-not since the pandemic).
Fortunately, I have original manuals for my main machines which are my Bernina 1031, my Bernina 830E Record, and recently, my Bernina 1030. My 1031 was missing its manual when I bought it. I made a copy and kept shopping for an original. My sister liked my Bernina 1031 machine so well, that I found one for her. The seller of that 1031 had two manuals. So, I got an original manual for my 1031 machine as a bonus! An amazing lucky coincidence!
12-19-2020, 09:02 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Waterford Michigan
Posts: 7,240
I print out manuals for each of the machines that did not come with their own. Once I find one on line or ask around for someone to send me a copy of their own I am in good shape. So now all my machines have manuals. All 14 of them.
12-19-2020, 05:27 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Vancouver Island / Arizona
Posts: 458
Sensation: You are a woman after my own heart. My machines are all even older - a FW and a 1967 Stylemate. So what I did was photocopy my originals and use the copies. That way I don’t damage it, lose it, or get oil on my originals. I doubt that I would ever be able to replace the Stylemate.
12-20-2020, 07:52 AM
#8
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,350
It is amazing to see people share copies of rare manuals here. I am glad to see a common theme of pairing manuals with vintage and antique machines, and of protecting rare originals. I wish I could say I have a manual for every one of my dozen, or so, machines, but I have one machine for which I have not managed to locate a manual, the JCPenney 6501. At this point, I would like to sell that oddball machine (very cheaply), but I have never sold a machine without a manual.
Many years ago, I purchased a four-year-old Pfaff 213 from a dealer. The dealer said the machine came with a manual. It did not. Then, he said he would get one for me. He never did. This was prior to our modern Internet. I used the machine without a manual for over twenty-five years before finding a copy on the Internet. When I sold that great machine less than a year ago, the new owner was pleased to be getting a copy of the manual, along with all of the basic accessories to use with her machine.
I want all of my machines to be completely intact and completely functional with their manuals, all original accessories or good substitutes, replaced cords if the cords have any damage, and a case of some sort. That is my goal with every machine I purchase!
Many years ago, I purchased a four-year-old Pfaff 213 from a dealer. The dealer said the machine came with a manual. It did not. Then, he said he would get one for me. He never did. This was prior to our modern Internet. I used the machine without a manual for over twenty-five years before finding a copy on the Internet. When I sold that great machine less than a year ago, the new owner was pleased to be getting a copy of the manual, along with all of the basic accessories to use with her machine.
I want all of my machines to be completely intact and completely functional with their manuals, all original accessories or good substitutes, replaced cords if the cords have any damage, and a case of some sort. That is my goal with every machine I purchase!
12-20-2020, 09:29 AM
#9
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Ontario
Posts: 299
I have an original 99K2 manual that's in remarkably good condition for it's age. So I'm looking for a replica (to purchase) for my kid to use instead of the original. If anyone knows where one is available, would be appreciated. 
