Intermediate Wheeler Wilson W9 bobbin case fix
 

I will spare you the tales about my addiction to 14 other machines (and counting). This is about a Wheeler Wilson W9 with the pre-D9 model 8-style bobbin case.

What, you say? Intermediate W9? No, it is not a Singer. And it is not a parts machine. Apparently the early W9's used the model 8 style bobbin case and a swinging "gate" that holds the bobbin case in place. I got this machine from my parents, who said it was my great grandmother's machine. And alas! It had no bobbin case.

I tried a WW bobbin by itself. No go, the top thread wrapped around the bobbin. I tried feeding thread through the hook race, a la a thread stand--no go. I bought a bobbin case off eBay for too much money, only to realize it was for a later D-9 machine and didn't fit. But I did have two bobbins.

After searching the web for weeks, I found pictures of the intermediate machine and the model 8 style bobbin case. It looked a lot like a half sphere with the top cut off and a tension arm added. There are NONE of these on eBay--trust me, I've watched for six months. And then, I had an awful Grinchy idea: If I don't have a bobbin case, I'll make one instead.

Long story short: I cut the handle off a plastic teaspoon, ground it down to size, drilled and sanded it narrow enough, and drilled a tiny hole for the bobbin thread. After a lot of cut-and-try and fiddling with the top tension, I added two small squares of felt INSIDE the case for bobbin tension. Two hours later...the old WW is stitching again, with a 50-cent teaspoon for a bobbin case.

Since I have haunted quiltingboard (among others) in search of a solution, I thought someone might appreciate the easy fix--and even better, the resurrection of this quiet, smooth old machine.

Oh! I forgot. I have also read frequently that this machine takes "non-standard" needles, I.e., you can't use the ubiquitous 15x1 needle in it. There was one needle in the machine, and the greatest difference was the shaft diameter. I put a 15x1 needle in a vise and filed it down, and it looped and caught the hook perfectly. So, I am happy to say I can still use the high quality Schmetz and Singer needles I do with my other machines.

Welcome aboard! Great name for this group.
Pictures?
If you click the third icon from the left it will lead you the rest of the way.
Rodney

Welcome to the QB. Well done, very creative repairs. I'd enjoy seeing pictures of your #9. I'm familiar with your bobbin case and it is indeed very difficult to find without buying a complete new machine.

Jon

I would if I can figure out how to get them from my iPhone to the site. It really just looks like a tension dial, except the felt is between the "hole" and the bobbin proper.

Wheeler Wilson W9 bobbin case pic
 

Let's see if this works for adding an attachment. If it does I may post on the Help page because others need help posting from an iPhone.

I posted a new thread with a picture once I figured out how to upload a picture directly from my iPhone. I also wrote out the instructions on the QB Help Center page.

On my iphone, the picture appears right side up. On my kindle, the picture appears rotated 90 degrees to the left.

Necessity is the mother of invention again! Well done with coming up with a solution!