My Grandma's Sewing Machine (Free Westinghouse Model 803?)
 

Hello all!
My mom took me to see my grandma's sewing machine and I know nothing about it! It still has the manual and the sewing machine attachments box. It has these weird knob things that I found out from the manual are different zigzag settings. I had never seen/heard of that! I don't know if it works yet, but my mom said she would pay to get it working if I wanted it to. Granted, I probably won't have it in my possession till I get a place of my own (I graduate college in May!)
It is a Free Westinghouse Model 803 and I can't find anything about it online...All of the pictures that come up don't look like the this one. It has the knee control thing, if any of you know anything I would love to know! Here are pictures. 1 is of the machine in the table, and the other is a close up of the plate on the lower left.

Looks like it was made in Japan. How about that place in Illinois I can't make out what the town/city is. Looks very old good luck with it. Sue

It's Rockford Illinois.

It may be a Riccar. I can't find any pictures either. My mother had a Riccar in the 1970's, and it's still in good working order.

The Free Company (named after a person, IIRC) made wonderful machines - I love the looks of it - early 60's, I'm thinking? Is there any date in the manual?

Getting it running again will probably be easy enough that you could do most or all of it by yourself, depending upon how good the wiring is - that's the only thing that requires some technical skill.

Inspect the wiring from one end to the other and inside the machine. If there are any places where the insulation is crumbling or sticky or torn, decide whether it's minor enough to repair with tape or if it warrants being completely rewired. If the wiring looks good, remove the needle and bobbin, raise the presser foot and turn it on. Make sure that the handwheel is engaged and not turned back for winding bobbins and that the bobbin winder is not touching the handwheel, then step on the gas. It may be very sluggish or it may not start at all. If the motor runs and the presser foot is driven up and down, you're probably good to go.

Turn it off, unplug it and start cleaning the insides and underneath - all the metal parts - not the wiring or any plastic or painted parts - with acetone on q-tips. You will get dried brown oil on the q-tips and shiny metal will emerge from underneath it. After it's clean, oil it thoroughly and run it for a minute.

There may be a little (tiny bit!) of smoke or a slight smell of smoke or rubber. If there is any more than that, stop and unplug it.

If it ran all right with just a little smell, let it sit for a couple of hours, then oil it again and run it as fast as it will go. You will be able to hear it speeding up as hidden bits of dried oil soften up and are rubbed away and replaced with fresh oil. Run the machine for five minutes at full speed.

If everything goes well with that, then you can put a needle in it, check by hand-cranking it to make sure that the needle isn't hitting the needle plate or bobbin case, then thread it up and try sewing something, following the manual.

If it's still sluggish, repeat the oiling and running for five minutes at full speed and letting it sit for a few hours until everything breaks free and the machine is running fast.

Working on these old machines is a lot of fun - you do get your hands dirty, but you might enjoy this kind of work - and in the case of fixing your grandma's machine, it's especially worth it. :) Good luck and have fun!

Thanks for that info! I'll look back when I actually get the machine.
I should've taken the manual home with me to look at more. I just glanced through it and put it back in the drawer.

Nice old machine. My grandmother had one like it. She sure made a lot of grandkids clothes on it.

Kiesh,
The old machines like yours are usually wonderful to sew with. They'll still be sewing long after the modern plastic machines have failed. Its worth getting it sewing again.

Good luck with the machine. It should be fun having your grandmother's machine and making it 'sing' again. Write up the story of it to keep with the machine, along with pictures if you can. That will give your machine a 'voice'. And these old machines do talk to us. They even know if they want to be named and what name they want to have. Or at least mine have told me theirs. I'm happy for you in getting the chance to get your grandmother's machine. That's wonderful!

A treasure for sure as it was grandma's. Hope you can get information on it.

My mom had one of these sewing machines when I was younger. She uses to make me and my siblings clothes.

I need a copy of the manual for Free Westinghouse 803-A ( KOYO Seiko LTD ), my grand daughter has one and needs the manual to operate, will pay a fee for copying and mailing. Plz reply, we have look every where for a copy.
Thanks,
Bob

kiesh,

This machine is a Riccar made machine badged as a Free. Probably late 50s to 60s.
It parks to the left on SS and uses cams.

Since it was your grand moms I'd take it in a heart beat. All the better since you get the cams and accessories. But do make sure the slide plate and bobbin case is there. Why these things are removed I have no idea.

I'd take that machine now and learn on it. It's a good machine, that just needs loving and care.

Joe

Do you happen to have a book for this machine? I found one like it and have no book and no cams. If you have cams could you take a picture for me? Thanks for whatever you can do. Glowygirl2