floyd1

Hello guys

I'm french. I just finished to cleaned up my grandma sewing machine.
I'd like to use it now but i couldnt find anywhere the manual.

The machine is a National Improved Eldredge type B.

I checked the smithsonian librarie but it has not been digitalized yet.

Does one of you have this manual as a pdf?

Merci beaucoup!

Floyd1
[ATTACH=CONFIG]598040[/ATTACH]

jlhmnj

Belle Eldredge B.
https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.ne...dEldredgeB.pdf

OurWorkbench

jon, doesn't this machine take a 20x1?

OurWorkbench

Welcome, Floyd1.

Very nice looking machine.

It is great that it was your grandmothers.

I was hoping jlhmnj would see this thread. He knows his needles and which machines they go to. I'm thinking it takes what is known as Singer system needle 20x1. They are not readily available at the local sewing machine shop. Several have been known to take the modern system needle 15x1 or 130/705 H system needles and drop them a bit to match where the eye of the 20x1 would be. Another way to do it is put a piece of thin magnet so the needle only goes in the right depth. There are a couple of threads about how to do it at http://www.victoriansweatshop.com/po...eedles-8224067 and http://www.victoriansweatshop.com/po...eedles-8065031

Have fun with your grandmother's machine. I didn't think I would like treadling as had tried it once a long time ago. I have a few now and while I really haven't made a quilt or garment with them, they sure are fun to sew with.


Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

jlhmnj

Yes, that's right. National would have called them Eldredge Flat shank but Singer offered 20x1 for National, White, and New Home VS models.

Jon

floyd1

Yeah!!!
Thank you so much for the manual. Do you mind if i share it on a antique sewing machine french forum too? It can be usefull for others...

Yes, unfortunally, i just have one needle, the one in the machine. The idea of lowering a 15x1 sounds good to me coz it's seams to be hard/expensive to find those 20x1.

floyd1

Mickey2

As a temporary solution you can sharpen the old needle on a fine honing stone. If you run your finger nail over the neelde tip, or run it over a nylon stocking you will know which side it catches on. Carefully run it once or twice or over the honing stone and check again if it still catches. It should feel smooth from all angles.

Converting it to 15x1 has a few advantages; wide range of needle sizes and speical tips available. The only dowside is you have to let any future owner know it's set for a different needle type. Put a note in the manual or something.

jlhmnj

The manual is from the Victorian Sweatshop group. I'd check with them and they have a bunch of other manuals:

http://www.victoriansweatshop.com/?forum=501752

Jon

costumegirl

Lovely machine!!! I am sure you will enjoy playing with her