New to me Pfaff 130 - my lucky day
 

I had given my SIL a more modern machine I don't use, so in return, she brought me a Pfaff 130 on a recent visit. I am told the machine has had a recent going over by a tech. Even has a kenmore foot pedal as a replacement to the original.

I am working on putting the bobbin in. My SIL said she had put the "bobbin thingy" in wrong. I think it might be the race, but I don't have a picture yet. The bed has a very bumpy crinkled finish. Confusing because the decals seem to be on top of it. Would make for some rougher sewing.

Anxious to get her going. I am giving her to a friend that saved me life this past year. She needs a machine, loves vintage and reliable. I'll also post some pics. (my first time posting them, so let's see if I get it right.
Maggie
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Justsosew,

Good pictures. welcome aboard. I haven't run into a Pfaff yet so I can't help you on the bobbin area. But I can tell you that the krinkles on the bed didn't come from the factory. After you get it running, then you can decided if you want to try to smooth it out.

I was wondering about that, Iris. I thought the krinkles looked like crazing from age, maybe exposure to something?

That is most definately crazing of the finish. Someone must have used a bad chemical on the machine. Don't know how you can fix that without a major job.

More likely just being stored for years with temperature extremes and/or a bad prep job at the factory when it was first painted. The black Necchi BUs are famous for paint peeling from the bed.

Cari

[QUOTE=Justsosew;7730414]
I am working on putting the bobbin in. My SIL said she had put the "bobbin thingy" in wrong. I think it might be the race, but I don't have a picture yet.

The bobbin rides in a bobbin case and is then inserted in the machine. I believe it takes a class 15 bobbin.

So the crazing could render this machine useless. It's really rough and I imagine it will be at constant war with fabrics. The bobbin is a different issue. The case and bobbin are fine. What they go into seems to have been put in wrong and I can't get it out. Ugggghhh.

Not having a bobbin case is much worse than cruddy finish. You could do some finish work and at least make the thing smooth. I had a machine that had been stored in a damp basement and the finish just came off in huge flakes. I could have sanded it but I chose to just smooth it and spray on some shellac. You can scrape and sand it off then clear coat it. The machine is a really good machine and even though ugly it will sew like nobody's business. It might well be the best machine you ever run across if you make friends with it. When I scraped off the finish on mine it left huge pits. I chose not to sand it. I sprayed on shellac but it didn't fell smooth until after I French Polished it. It is still very ugly. http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...rly-beat-death

Eta
Before I scraped that one I would just try to French Polish it. Look up Glenn's refinishing tutorial and ask him what he thinks.

Not having a bobbin case is much worse than cruddy finish. You could do some finish work and at least make the thing smooth. I had a machine that had been stored in a damp basement and the finish just came off in huge flakes. I could have sanded it but I chose to just smooth it and spray on some shellac. You can scrape and sand it off then clear coat it. The machine is a really good machine and even though ugly it will sew like nobody's business. It might well be the best machine you ever run across if you make friends with it. When I scraped off the finish on mine it left huge pits. I chose not to sand it. I sprayed on shellac but it didn't fell smooth until after I French Polished it. It is still very ugly. http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...t257669-5.html I have a couple others I posted - if I can find them I'll bring them up.

Eta
Before I scraped that one I would just try to French Polish it. Look up Glenn's refinishing tutorial and ask him what he thinks.

I couldn't edit any more - timed out.

I have seen old japanned tables in similar condition being restored, with no trace of crazing or flaking having been there at all. I think they glued down loose flakes where possible, and used a thick blend of shellac to fill in the cracks and dents. It might be just as easy to strip the bed and refinish it, but I think it's possible to restore the finish with a clever approach to it.