Need Help Identifying Green Vintage "Dressmaker" Sewing Machine
 

Hello all. I am fairly new to vintage machines. I saw this machine on Craig's List and couldn't pass up the color and all that wonderful metal. Does anyone recognize it? The two plates on the front say: Dressmaker and Model TAZ Deluxe Zig Zag Family Sewing Machine - Japan. The plate on the back above the serial number (127274) says model number SZ-230. There's a "case" at the top of the machine that looks a lot like it would hold the fancy stitch cams I've seen some vintage machines have on Ebay. I cannot find a manual.

Any Help would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Katrina

Deluxe Zig Zag Model TAZ or Model SZ-230 is what you want to search for.

I would look here for a manual of a similar machine:
http://www.sewusa.com/Sewing_Machine...g_Machines.htm

Mark:

Thank you for the link but I've already searched there and at least a couple other sites. I've looked a lot online and found one other person had the same machine but hers says Universal instead of Dress Maker. Mine came in a nice cabinet that looks 50s/60s. It looks similar to the ones that are just straight stitch/zig zag but it has that odd compartment at the top that looks like a bobbin case but with a rod sticking up through the center. I thought maybe a compartment for cams, it's located where those usually are but the compartment has a see-through door instead of a metal cover.

Thank you,

Katrina

Need Help Identifying Turquoise "Dressmaker" Sewing Machine
 

Hello again. I took some pictures of the back and the compartment at the top that I mentioned above. I'm hoping someone might at least be able to tell me if it's for cams? Are there cams that have a hole all the way through them? I've seen some for Dressmakers that have a cap look to them and there's no opening at the top. This machine has no markings at all on the bottom. The motor says Universal on it. I've added a couple pictures of the compartment opened and closed. Thank you.

Probably the same machine, just different names slapped on them. From what I understand that was common practice with the machines coming out of Japan. The names really don't mean anything.

Okay. Can you tell if that compartment is for cams? Thank you.

Yes, the compartment is for cams. Unfortunately, finding the right cams might be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Your Japanese "badged" machine probably has several different names as they were sent out with different names to different retailers. If the other example you found has pictures of its cams, that would be the most telling as to what cams to search for. There are many different cams, with different sizes of holes and even number of pins that turn them. You probably have to try them on to see if they actually fit.

There is a yahoo group called vintagejapansewingmachines that has many pictures where you might find other examples. They also have some generic zigzag manuals for download. You do have to have a yahoo ID to join, but that is free to sign up.

Usually, they're very good machines.

Good luck.

John

John:

Thank you! I did check the vintagejapansewingmachines Yahoo Group. I searched their messages and photos. I found a couple of people with a very similar machine, different names as you said. One was a White 670 Streamliner (although I've seen another 670 Streamliner that didn't look anything like mine) and another was Hamilton De Luxe Zig Zag machine. All had model TAZ on them. I got a couple of the free manuals too. At least that's better then no manual!

Thank you,

Katrina

I have a Fleetwood which is 59 years old and was made by Necchi. The opening on the top is for the cams. Its a great machine. Hope you can locate the cams for your machine.

Mine has a knee pedal mounted on the inside of the cabinet. I would prefer a foot pedal. When I take to the shop for cleaning, is it worth asking to see if they can rewire it as a foot pedal? Would it cost a lot of money? Has anyone done something similar?

Thank you,

Katrina

It should be just a matter of undoing a couple of wires and attaching them to the new foot pedal. Shouldn't cost much more than the cost of the foot pedal.

Mark:

That's good to know. Thank you!

Katrina

Thank you! I've been looking around on Ebay etc.

We have a thread about the Japanese zzers:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...s-t207880.html

Katrina,

Depending on the length of cord you might be able to unscrew the controller from the underside of the cabinet and use it as it. Otherwise you'll need a new cord set with a longer controller side. Or you could rewire your cord block yourself if you want. A sewing machine shop will not rewire a cord block or splice in a piece due to insurance liability costs. All they will do is install a new one. It would be easier and less expensive for you to do it yourself. Same with the servicing.

Ebay is not the only or the best place to find things like this. Sew-Classic is but one place on line that has brand new cord sets. They are neither expensive or hard to install.

Joe

That is a pretty deep looking cam compartment. The cams I have seen for Dressmakers have tall top hats on them and are not the flat style so maybe that is why it is so deep as it needs room for those taller cams? Maybe that will help you to decide which cams to buy to try out.

Neat machine, I like it a lot. Sometimes you can never find a manual so you buy one from Sewusa that is the closest fit and fiddle with the machine and take notes until you figure it all out and then add those notes to the manual you have. Of course the very next day you will find the manual at a thrift store for 10 cents!!!:D Also check to see if sews without a cam, some will only do straight stitch with out the zigzag cam.

That post inside that cam compartment sure looks like it is for a bobbin. Never seen a cam that would fit that.

Maybe the cams that look like they have holes all the way through? Like donuts? 😜

That is definitely a cam drive compartment. If you look at the first pic the OP posted you can see the bobbin winder in the normal place.
I'm no help in ID'ing the machine or coming up with a manual but it does use cams.

Check Shopgoodwill.com, { http://www.shopgoodwill.com/search/s...umbs=on&page=1 }
they have lots and lots of accessories come through their auctions. If you watch all the machines that do have their cams, you might see one like yours and then you'll know what cams it takes.

Joe

Joe - some times there are better deals on ebay than on GW.

Is that the spool pin next to that top door? That looks a little strange too.

Maybe it uses these cams.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Kenm...-/400693888748

I know this is an old thread but Fleetwoods were not built by Necchi, they were sold by the same distributors.

Cari