Rescued machine; help me identify!
 

I just rescued this machine and its cabinet from the curb. Still works (once I replaced the scarily-disintegrating power cord). Trouble is that I can't find any similar models online. I'd like to maybe find a manual or additional cams at some point. I'd also love to know what that little thumb lever on the right side of the base does (it seems to engage/disengage some sort of drive shaft that runs to the bobbin housing area, but I haven't figured out the functional effect yet).

Identifying marks include

• A "Made in Germany" label on the pillar
• "Domestic Imperial Automatic" on the case
• "Domestic Sewing Machine Company, Inc" with an Ohio address on the motor housing
• "Model No. 691" inked lopsidedly on the underside
• "911548" stamped on a metal label next to the model number

And it's got a sort of knee-lever to run it instead of a foot pedal, which I hadn't known was even a thing.

I'm guessing from the style that it was made in the 50s. I'm not an expert at all, but it kind of has a Brooks Stevens-esque feel to the design. Can anyone help?

https://scontent-dft4-1.xx.fbcdn.net...83&oe=5883E13Ahttps://scontent-dft4-1.xx.fbcdn.net...a4&oe=587ECED2

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*** Cant' help, but she is a nice looking machine. Good Rescue.
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And so very timely, too. I'd been using a newer Singer, and been really frustrated with its chronic tension problems, and last week I got the news that the servicing fees to get it even usable again were more than I wanted to pay for something I'd never been very happy with. I'd been all set to pay up to $100 for a vintage used machine when this curb alert popped up.

I think that may be a Gritzner Keiser machine, it sure looks like the GK built Kenmores. That little lever is probably the feed drop. Great find!

Cari

Is that the one CatD agonized something terrible about? Superb machine, you have to let us know how it runs and stitches :- )

I'm SO confused - why does it say "Domestic Imperial" etc on it then? Though I agree; it looks remarkably like the Kenmores, Pfaffs and Whites that GK apparently built (so sayeth historian Google). Do you know how I'd go about recognizing the proper cam set?

I suspected the lever was the feed dog control, and that's what a different site said too. I'd tried, and it didn't seem to work. I'll have to revisit that with more experimenting.

Also, I was mistaken in the original post. It doesn't say "Made in Germany;" it says "Made in Western-Germany." Which my husband the history teacher says dates it to between post-WWII (duh!) and the early 50's. Because apparently it was the early 50s when the Germans gave up hope of eventually reuniting the country and started using the formal country name of West Germany.

Well, yes it was then they officially started using West Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) from 1949 to 1990. Eastern Germany became communist, aslo know as DDR, Deutsche Demokratische Republik.

It's a twin to my Kenmore 117.740 also made in Western Germany. I use it's "kissing cousin" my avatar daily so I can help you figure out your machine if you want. Just send me a PM. The knob you are curious about is definitely to drop the feed dogs. When I got my machine, it was also stuck. I oiled the heck out of it and ended up giving it a tap with a hammer - very very lightly!!

I've also attached pics of the cams. I have knee controls on both of my machines and really like them.[ATTACH=CONFIG]557591[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]557590[/ATTACH]

By the time your machine was built, White had taken over the Domestic Sewing Machine Company of Cleveland, Ohio.
Some of White's machines were made in Western Germany and could be labelled "White", "Domestic", "Kenmore", etc.

Nifty! Thanks! Next big question: what products should I use to clean (inside AND out), grease and oil it? Anybody have any helpful links?

Also, have confirmed through testing that the lever is definitely the feed dog control. Which is awesome, because my previous machine did not do that and I've wanted to start trying some FMQ. I had a feed dog cover for my former machine, but things got bulky and between that and the tension problems my first attempt was kind of a mess.

My machine is my dedicated FMQ machine. It does a nice job.

I'm not an expert on cleaning etc. My machine was pretty clean when I got it. I oil it regularly with sewing machine oil and use a silicone grease for the gears (I think it's silicone at least) I only do the grease every year or two.

I used hand cleaner (GoJo type hand cleaner) on my Singer machines that were painted. It works very well. It gets rid of all that stuff that appears to be nicotine. I used Brasso on the chrome. I pretty much followed the videos listed below. Your machine is painted, not shellac'd like the one she is cleaning. Do not use WD-40. If you need a solvent, use Gun Scrubber.

Good rescue!

How to clean an oil a vintage sewing machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bidpJ..._order&list=UL

Don't go away, relax, pour some more tea, and stay tuned for part 2!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKR5t..._order&list=UL

bk

I go by what Joe says, oil everything that moves. Grease on the gears. Clean, clean and more clean. Just use oil on cloth or cotton to clean the outside of it. I also put just a bit of oil on all the screws,[ just me]. I take the top off and the bottom off and oil and grease everywhere. I may need to wipe the dirty oil and grease off of stuff and re-apply.

OH B-Kay has the good videos too. these are perfect.

It is a Gritzner-Kayser made machine sold as the Domestic 691, probably the least common of the variants of this machine. These were make in 1956-1958. There are Kenmore, White, Domestic, Pfaff and Gritzner-Kayser labelled variants that I am aware of. There is at least one more version that takes a slightly different cam set that was make in 1959-60 but I've only seen it as a White and Gritzner

Oh, my goodness!!! YAY!!!! I think you got the machine I was so sad about missing yesterday! That makes me so absurdly happy, I can't tell you. (reference thread, "Stab me through the heart"!) So very glad it has gone to someone who will love and appreciate it!

That's funny! I'd also read your post CatD and thought it was interesting that this relatively obscure machine was mentioned two times in 2 days. You are in Oklahoma, is that where you are too Qatie?? Is it really the same machine?

I'm in Wichita, KS... which appears to be where CatD was browsing Craigslist ads. So, yeah, I think so. I went over to her thread and posted so as to ease all the troubled hearts over an abandoned machine.

Too cool!!

The people on this site are a fountain of information - I am always amazed at what people know!

Qatie,

Welcome. Congratulations. I think once you get her cleaned up, and oiled you will be happy with your score. I'm not really sure where to post, but since this is where you started, I will post here.

I think I read that you may be missing the bobbin case, needing a bobbin winder tire and a belt. I think I read that you have low shank feet and this machine takes high shanks. sew-classic is a good place to get a lot of those things. Unfortunately the adapter that you could use (see http://shop.sew-classic.com/High-Sha...daptor-FHL.htm ) to use your low shank feet with this machine is out of stock. I have the "non-cam" version of a Pfaff (much like yours and KenmoreGal that was made by Gritzner. I'm pretty sure it takes class 15 bobbins, but can't remember whether it is a one o'clock or 11 o'clock finger. Those are available at sew-classic, too. I did get the adapter, but haven't tried it yet.

I don't know if the machines that have the cams can be treadled, but my instruction manual shows that the Pfaff 139 can be treadled. I know there is a "White" machine made by Gritzner, too. I thought I had downloaded the "White" version manual from the singerco.com site, but can't find it now.

Again, welcome and good luck on getting this machine running - I think you will be glad you got it.

Janey, Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

That's a grand find. I know you will like the knee control.