Well, the head is packed in the same box I got from Cathy... This was an Outer box when you sent it to me, now it will be the inner box. Off the the hardware store for the outer....

HELP! Steve H. I'm Starting to Restore a Singer 72W19
 

Dear Steve:

I have read and followed your thread - which gave me hope to find my own vintage hemstitcher at an affordable price. My husband is willing and very mechanically inclined...we just need a starting place!

We found a one-owner 1929 Singer 72W19 machine in Canada and just brought it home for my birthday this weekend. Originally purchased in Hudson Bay, B.C.

Would you be willing to outline for us where to start, what products to use, step-by-step to work on restoring the machine, cabinet and treadle? It's not in bad shape, but has been unused for 40 years. And I've seen restored/repainted cast iron legs and treadle that are beautiful! I know we can do this together, if we knew what to use and had guidance on how to get started to remove old paint and prep, etc. What wax is best to shine up the machine head? After cleaning do we grease or oil it all up again? What is the process for this?

My daughter and I will be keeping this and doing our own personal projects on it and hope to keep it in our family. Also the machine came with a handwritten log book with all jobs since 1930 and it also has a beautiful vintage tin case with many foot attachments. Many are for different sized rolled hems and one may possibly be a ruffler or a walking foot? Another has a measuring guide. How would I learn to use these?

Looking forward to your kind guidance, help and expertise!

Best regards,
Barbara

I don't know how often Steve still pops in here, but you're more likely to get regular contact over at his forum, the Victorian Sweatshop.

http://www.victoriansweatshop.com/?forum=501752

Cari

You are a great "cleaner upper". Thank you for saving it from becoming art.

Hi Barbara,

Welcome. The 72W19 is quite an impressive piece of machinery. Here's the owners and adjusters manual if you don't have it already.

http://parts.singerco.com/IPinstManuals/72W19.pdf

Jon

Love that machine. I would sure love to see how one works. There is one on CL for 650 bucks.

BarbeeQ - Cool machine. Sorry for the delay in responding. I am spending most of my time on the VSS forum. Not sure how much help I can be since mine just required cleaning, and then cleaning, and then some more cleaning...

I use Sewing Machine Oil on the painted parts and brasso and/or 0000 Steel wool on the metal bits.

I would be glad to try to answer any questions you may have after reviewing the documents that Jon shared the links to.

The key is clean, and no particulates...

Holey Frenkenferter! I can just hear the gears going "Mmm, gimme your unsuspecting fingers and bits of clothes, om nom nom!"

Looks really great! Thanks for saving it, both you and Cathy. It couldn't have ended up with better people.