BelAir 990 Sewing Machine
 

I just got my husband's grandma's sewing machine and I can't find any info on it. It's a BelAir Automatic Zig-Zag 990. It still works. I really need to know how to thread it, wind the bobbin and also a little history on it would be nice too

thanks!

Wow - made in Japan! It threads just like any other machine. Thread goes from the spool, across, down around the tension & tension spring, up through the thread take up lever and back down through the needle. Needle threads from the left to the right. I'm not exactly sure about the red knob but I think it sort of helps set the zig zag in combination - 2 knobs and lever - just experiment - one knob probably holds the lever in place. Some times the extra knob will be button hole settings. (Usually if it has a cam stack it is closer to the upper left.) The long lever on the right is the stitch length. Can you shoot a close up of the control knobs and levers on the front right of that machine? It would be VERY difficult finding the same manual as your exact machine: There is a generic manual somewhere on this thread: http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...s-t207877.html

This is for a singer featherweight but I think the photos are clear enough that it will fit most other machines. http://www.april1930s.com/html/how_t...r_feather.html especially around the tension assembly which seems to be the most confusing part of vintage machines.

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I made this up in photoshop hope it helps out.

Photoshop sure makes diagrams easier. Thanks. This looks good except after the threads passes over the tension spring, it needs to go down under the down-pointing finger, then up to the take-up lever. It threads just like a Singer 66 or 99.

Oh yes, it does! oops.

Thank you all so much for your help. Been trying to get back to this thread all day with up close pics but haven't had a chance. It also has a knob where you can choose embroidery or normal