Now, here is The Beast:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]416046[/ATTACH]

I took The Beast out of its case because it takes up less space this way, and also changing the bobbin required flipping the machine up on its hinges; you can see from the next photo that the bobbin is a Royal Pain to reach.

BTW, I gave everything a nice clean, wipe, and oil, being careful to avoid the fabric-and-metal belt. While I think I will replace a wire in the motor (it looks worn), otherwise things are in amazing shape! It stitches very nicely! Only a straight, reverse, and zig-zag.

So, this next photo shows accessing-the-bobbin.[ATTACH=CONFIG]416047[/ATTACH]


The bobbin case itself is not terribly weird, I suppose; but it does have a funny hook on it, which I have figured out (Miriam ,you are right!) how to thread.

Do you want me to send a close up of the bobbin? I am afraid of monopolizing the site.... One more photo only, here, I will show you the unusual (at least, it is unlike any other machine I have seen!) threading around the upper tension. Firstly, as you can see on the large photo of the whole Beast, the thread first passes through a neat steel plate with three thread-pass-holes. Then it passes through this bizarre spring near the tension dial. Does this seem right to you? It was quite finicky, getting it threaded. It stitches well, so I must have done something right - but please, if anyone sees an error in my threading, please do let me know! I will be most appreciative of any pointers at all.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]416048[/ATTACH]

So, now that you have seen The Beast...

It stitches really beautifully! Sounds very gentle for such a hulky thing.

The mechanics, switches, etc are so heavy-duty-industrial-machinery-like. Nothing sleek, smooth, or dainty about it! Yet it sounds ssooooo quiet and behaves so tamely. The stitch width lever, the feed-dog-drop, the needle-position lever... it is all -so- hulky.

A question; I cannot for the life of me figure how I can disengage the bobbin winder from the large wheel during sewing. It must be possible - it seems so bizarre to me that it would be engineered with this one inefficiency. Has anyone had a machine where the bobbin winder was always in contact with the wheel? What could I be doing wrong?

-C.

should be lever that makes it flip down. it shouldn't be in contact all the time. only when winding a bobbin.
can you post a close up of that area from a couple of different angles. You are not monopolizing the posts --this is how you get help if you need it. from others looking and ooohhing and ahh over the machines. I really wish I could find 1 like this one. she/he is a beaut not a beast. Amy

So, now that you have seen The Beast...

It stitches really beautifully! Sounds very gentle for such a hulky thing.

The mechanics, switches, etc are so heavy-duty-industrial-machinery-like. Nothing sleek, smooth, or dainty about it! Yet it sounds ssooooo quiet and behaves so tamely. The stitch width lever, the feed-dog-drop, the needle-position lever... it is all -so- hulky.

A question; I cannot for the life of me figure how I can disengage the bobbin winder from the large wheel during sewing. It must be possible - it seems so bizarre to me that it would be engineered with this one inefficiency. Has anyone had a machine where the bobbin winder was always in contact with the wheel? What could I be doing wrong?

-C.

Sorry I somehow posted that twice! I will try to post photos of the bobbin winding area. It is puzzling. The Beast (The Beauty) is really making my day - I have been tinkering all morning, and it is such fun!

So, here is a full view of the bobbin-winding area and the handwheel. Turn your head sideways to the left.[ATTACH=CONFIG]416064[/ATTACH]

The curvy metal paddle and the squarish lever operate in tandem, to press down on or release pressure from the bobbin, whilst winding. Pressing the[ATTACH=CONFIG]416066[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]416066[/ATTACH] squarish lever causes the curving metal paddle to snap down onto the bobbin, keeping it in place and causing an even winding of the thread. Then, when finished winding, one touches a finger to the underside of the metal paddle and it releases up. As it does this, the square metal lever also returns to its original position. None of these motions affect the position one way or another of the bobbin winder itself, which has all the time been in contact with the handwheel. Here are two closer photos, which show the bobbin winder paddle in up and down position:[ATTACH=CONFIG]416065[/ATTACH]

I am not a bit of help only to tell you your Beast is really a "Beauty".