Another Singer: VS2
 

Some of you may remember the Singer VS2 whose CL ad I posted a few days ago in the Giggles thread.

I decided that someone on the QB should go get it and it appears that someone had to be me. :cool:

The cover in the ad was for a Western Electric. I let them keep it. :) The table appears to be some cobbled together non-Singer broken leg contraption. But it did come with a box of long bobbin attachments.

The head itself is in decent shape:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]514118[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]514119[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]514120[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]514121[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]514117[/ATTACH]

The metal bits need Evaporust or equivalent and a dremel. There are small drips of paint here and there and I've managed to pry some of them off (latex, thankfully), some are over the decals and I haven't attempted to remove those. I have superficially cleaned the head with oil and cotton balls, going to an old undershirt for the dirtier spots. I took some Maas metal polish to a few pieces but only for a few minutes.

It needs a completely different and appropriate table and it needs a re-shellac, plus a thorough cleaning and polishing. The needle bar and wheel move very freely, so that's not a problem. The bobbin winder and pressure screw are fully operational as is the length screw. The presser foot is completely rusted to the shank. It came with two shuttles.

It's a nice machine and a good project. I'm just not sure I'm the man for it. I'll have to buy a dremel-type tool, shellac materials, etc. And I'll have to buy some time.

LOL. That is not in "decent shape" it is FANTASTIC shape!!

Those are great sewing machines. Be very careful of the hinges, they are unique to that machine.

Ahhhhh. YOU got that one :-) . I had been eyeing it for a while but don't want another treadle. I would have converted it to a hand crank.... but we already have 3 of those. Anyway, it is very pretty and I really want a fiddle base at *some* point.... Love the flower pattern!!

Glad it's your "problem" now :D

ps. Have you dated the machine? I don't remember what it said in the ad.

Love the fiddle base! Great machine and not all that bad shape either. Good luck and enjoy.

:) This is my first pre-1900 machine but I'm glad it's in fantastic shape!

Thanks for the tip on the hinges. I don't know where or how I would have found that out on my own.

Dremel question: I've heard that dremel-type tools shouldn't be used on chrome. Is that true or am I trippin'?

Yeah, it's a project machine. *sigh* Why, WHY do I buy these things? I remember there was some interest here when I posted the ad but I don't remember anyone saying they'd definitely make the trip, so after a few days I thought "Why not?" Was a long drive but the day couldn't have been more beautiful and at $60 it was a good price.

The machine is from 1898, I believe. That's from the serial # and Singer.

Btw, here's a fantastic deal:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/art/4938649307.html

I remember we both wanted the same 201-2 and I was a little faster on the draw. Here's an even better one and for the same price!

Never heard that rule... IT would really depend on the specific attachment used, not so much the dremel itself.

Note: They were Nickel Plated at this time, not chrome.

Those plated parts are not as bad as they look. With Brasso and 0000 Steel wool (or Aluminum foil and water) they will clean up to be bright and shiny. really really

EDIT: I'd buy that from you any time you get tired of it......

I'm already on it but haven't heard back. Chances are I was too late. And I don't need it anyway. Just couldn't resist a portable. :)

So you wanna fiddle base!

Here are two nice ones:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/atq/4938748323.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/atq/4929659419.html

The second one is the one that interests me the most, though both are in good shape.

Ah, OK. Makes sense on the nickel -- that's true for some manufacturers well into the 1950s, as my recent Adler purchase demonstrates.

I purchased some Brasso several months ago. Misplaced it. Off to the store.

If I get tired or frustrated with it, I'll let you know. I think Macybaby also expressed interest. I may grow to really like it but my interest is in the later machines and industrials.

Macybaby get's first dibs to complete her "set". I have one already and am just being greedy...

I am officially no longer talking to you LOL!!


oh, ok, I forgive you and will send you more toys LOL!!

edited because I posted before getting to the second page.

Nice get KRA! I'm glad you got that one though I wouldn't have left the cover behind. The 201 ad you posted is already gone. If I wasn't so broke I'd be all over the one in Olympia. There's some rust but the machine would clean up really nice.
Rodney

That Olympia machine is tempting. The table itself is pretty cool, though in a fit of absolute cryptic special needs, I passed on a Pfaff treadle whose table and legs were all tiger oak.

I have that odd, unknown fiddle base and I need to have a stand for that one, too. These things multiply -- didn't you know? :)

You might be mis-reading the serial number: Singer didn't make the VS2 after 1891. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer_Model_27_and_127

Not only did I mis-read it, I mis-wrote it. The actual year is (drumroll, please...) 1889.

Oh so pretty! It would be loverly in my lilac painted and white lace curtained Ladies' Parlour!

She looks just like mine...you will love sewing on that one and showing her off.

All these positive comments are putting me in refurbish mode.

But I'm not sure what kind of table I should try to find. Seems like that's one of the first things I should address.

I love those decals. These look much better than the ones on my machine.

I'm apprehensive of applying anything other than oil on those decals. Unless I do it right, they're not long for this world. I'd hate to ruin any of them, as they're what distinguishes this particular machine.

I've seen several variants of the Roses/Daisies set and I like the one with ferns in it. I typically prefer the geometric, simpler designs but I can see why these Victorian styles are popular.

My VS2 and my Frister & Rossman are the only machines I have that are so smooth running that whey will free-wheel... (give the hand wheel a good pull and it will spin for several revolutions) Most will stop within one maybe 2 turns.

It is fun at our shows trying to convince folks that those are decals not hand painted. Most folks assume that if it were decals then the designs would be crisp and "litho" looking. Singer actually had folks hand paint the masters and then made decals from those so that they would look hand done.

And I'll just add that the eventual craquelure of these decals increases their hand-painted look, to my eyes.

My VS2 isn't quite that free-wheeling but it's very smooth and free for a machine that hasn't been used in what is probably decades. I hope I can get mine in a condition that is like yours!