My Hand Crank 99K Delivery Drama
 

It hit 90 degrees in Arizona today for the first time this year . . . early. I worked in the yard putting up bambo fencing along the ugly horse fence that encloses my back yard. Just as it started to get hot I decided to come in and it wasn't 5 minutes I looked out and found the horses eating my bambo fencing! AHHH!

So in the heat of the day, I'm putting electric fencing around the horses side of the fence to save my good looking bambo from being tomorrow's fertilizer. This is how my day started.

Finally came in and sat down to cool off and the dogs started barking . . . and a car horn is blaring! I look out and whoo-ray, it's the mail lady with a BIG package . . . my 99K Crank is here . . . and the mail lady is flipping the box head over heel trying to get it to the fence. I'm running through the yard like an idiot yelling STOP! STOP! She's yelling "It's really heavy!" I'm yelling IT's ANTIQUE, STOP! She's still yelling "It's really heavy!" I get to the fence and finally get her to stop and she says "do you collect antique sewing machines? I have a couple at home I might want to get rid of." By this time my day isn't going so well and I'm starting to fear what I'm going to find in the box, praying the seller packed it nice and tight . . . and I tell her "I don't collect, I save and I'm hoping this one is savable (is that a word?).

Anyway, she's still doesn't have a clue about my stress and she says "well if I decide to get rid of mine, I'll leave you a note on your gate :-(

So I get it inside and open the box, the case was unlatched and the lid was off. The attachments were all over the box and the wooden box it sits in was splintered. I threaded it and it works! She's a beauty, too. The only thing I'm concerned about is the little tension wire doesn't seem to be doing anything but hanging there . . .but the machine works and I'm happy. I'm posting pics and see if I can get one of the tension wire.

I think I'll call her "FLIP".

wow beautiful sewing machine

I'm sorry...I honestly am sorry...but I'm sitting here with the first REAL smile I've had on my face all day!! Well...that's not completely accurate, I'm actually giggling a bit!! :D You have quite a way with words, and I just can't help myself, even while wanting to come smack that mail lady for you, and wanting to ask for the seller's address so I can send a scathing email about their packing skills! :D

Thank you for the "mental images" that ran through my head as I read your story! :)

Let the the seller know the condition of the machine when it arrived. "Flip" should have been packaged to withstand the delivery- except for gorillas. or being stepped on by horses. SAVE and photograph all packing materials. Definitely March down to the PO and speak directly with the Supervisor AND file a written complaint. There is NO excuse for your package being treated that way. I have 2 sibs working for the USPS.

To bad the seller did not pack her better, she is really a cuttie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't tell from your pics so I'll post a couple of my own.

To properly thread the top tension;
Thread from the spool passes through the thread guide at the top of the head, down under the tensioner on the right side. Up the left side, over the spring, down under the hook, then up to the thread take up lever. Through the eye of the T-U lever from right to left, then down through the guide on the face plate, through the guide on the needle bar and through the needle from left to right.

If the little spring is down way low on the left side, it can be adjusted.

Joe

How do I adjust it? It is way down low on the left. The machine sews just find with it there but it doesn't feel like its catching the thread at all.

ArizonaKat,

This site has all sorts of information on fixing, cleaning and tuning sewing machines.
http://www.tfsr.org/publications/tec...achine_manual/

There is a section on tensions in there.

Joe

That is the best info on tensions out there as far as I know. Love your story and your machine.

I am so sad to hear about the shipping fiasco. I have your machine's twin, a 1951 hand crank! Aren't they just so sweet? The tension spring on my 1953 electric 99K does the same thing and still sews beautifully. I just need to research and fix it.

It would be cool if the mail lady had some great machines too. I wouldn't burn that bridge. I would just contact the seller. I made sure my ebay seller packed well and he did a great job. Ask me how I know: my ebay Viking machine came bouncing around in a box only half-stuffed with packing peanuts!!!