Shuttle Singers
 

We have purchased 2 machines that have shuttle bobbins. Both need rewired so I haven't tried them out yet. And no I don't have pictures yet. Too many quilting deadlines for me to take the time right now. We would like all our vintage machines to be in working condition, eventually. I would like to take turns sewing on them, it's so cool! I just got to wondering what it was like to sew on a machine with a shuttle.

Loud and lots of vibration IMO. They are neat machines. Just not my favorite.

Some are louder than others, some vibrate more than others too. My Franklin in it's parlor cabinet is down right noisy. The cabinet acts as a megaphone and amplifies the noise.
The actual sewing isn't that much different. Once the bobbins are filled and put in the shuttle you do the same things to sew. I have 5 shuttle machines ... so far. I use them all.

Joe

I love my shuttle machines....I like the sound, and I like the stitches they make. They are noisier than a round bobbin, but that's ok with me. :)

Oh, here's one thing I've found. All the shuttle machines I have weather they live in a cabinet, or a case have rubber, felt, or leather cushions under the machine. These are usually either gone or hard as a rock. Replace them and the machine will be quieter.
If you can't find the cushions, you can make them.

Joe

Would you use the rubber pads that come on industrial machines? Just cutting them smaller?

Susie,

I'd use anything I could get that could be modified if I couldn't find the exact parts. On my Greyhound and New Home I used 1/2" Rubber stoppers ( rubber corks ) and cut them to fit. Works fine. On other machines I've used layers of felt and on others leather cut to fit.

Joe

I have a hand crank shuttle machine and I love the little 'clickety clack' sound it makes as it travels it's path.

Every long bobbin machine has its own individual rattle. If the bobbin winder works well and they make a good stitch they are lovely, equal to any other machine. I have only recently started to use round bobbin machines.

This is areal memory booster! I learned to sew on a shuttle bobbin machine with a treadle! You wound the thread on a long bar like thingy and put that into the silver shuttle, threaded the thread through the shuttle, put it in the machine and away you went. I would just love to have one in my home today, alas not enough room or money to buy one!!! Thanks for the memory :-)

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Majormom,

If you want a shuttle machine and don't have room for a cabinet, try to find a Kenmore 159.262. It is small and has the shuttle. I found mine at a thrift store for $15.00 and I just love it. The base of the machine is only 12 inches long and 6.5 inches wide. Made in Japan. All steel construction. A keeper.

I don't have a shuttle, but have found those small discs you use to move things on carpet, really work well under all the scratchy cabinets -- because I have this thing about moving things around and finding what I've stuffed under them occasionally I use a lot of them. Since my sweetie had one of the bays in his garage (had 3) converted into a nice room for me to sew in, I requested hardwood floors and don't want them scratched. Those moving pads have a nice thick foam pad on them and ought to help.