Does it look like this?
http://sgws3productimages.azureedge....21282729es.JPG

If so then no, it does not take cams. The darn/embroidery feature is just the feed dog position.

Cari

Cari-
Yes it looka just like that. Thank you dor responding. I am having issues getting it ro sew. The bobbin thread and top thread wont connect it seems like a tension thing. Any idea on the aetting on this i have messed with it all day and i am ready to scream. It was sewing yesterday but i didnt have the thread wrapped around the tension knob by the hook... if that makes any sense. Today i did it and now it wont work. Sorry this is so long.

Val

What was different yesterday than you did today? Since it was sewing yesterday you must have done something different. Either you've got it threaded wrong up above, or you threaded the needle wrong, or if you changed the needle you might have inserted it wrong. The most common problem when the needle won't pick up the bobbin thread is the needle is in wrong.

Cari

It's up for sale on EBay check vintage sewing machines (near 87108)

Pic of the Remi[ATTACH=CONFIG]609290[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]609293[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]609293[/ATTACH]ngton

Pics of the Remington[ATTACH=CONFIG]609294[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]609295[/ATTACH]

The Remington is very nice. Looks like a Koyo built machine.

Cari

I love everything about that Remington! The color, the dashboard look, the mid-century star decal, and the name!

Montgomery Ward 7-Jewel Automatic Zigzag
 

I just posted a thread detailing the build of the table this is attached to, but I figured I would add a picture to this post as well as it fits.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]609371[/ATTACH]

Industrial looking table. Is there a huge motor underneath?

I just got one like this. You can see where your machine used to say Dressmaker, but it now says Viscount? I am new to this site so forgive me if that is something I should have known. I tried to google, but I didn’t find much. My machine works, but I’d love the manual.[ATTACH=CONFIG]612277[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]612277[/ATTACH]

A machine that I think probably fits on this thread has turned up on Craigslist in the Dallas Metroplex. It's probably a couple of hours from where I live and I have too many machines, but while the listing exists I thought some of the enthusiasts might want to see the pictures: https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/at...886153956.html

I just noticed this thread and I'm really enjoying the eye candy - I didn't realize there were so many Japanese machines from this era that were not 15 clones

I have a Bel-air that I’m needing help finding info on. When I got it it was a mess. Gummed up and filthy. Now that I have it running pretty smooth I’d like to get it up to useable condition. But I can’t find what model it is or what bobbin it needs. Any help pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated.[ATTACH=CONFIG]614876[/ATTACH] From what info I have found I believe it is a Japanese machine. Possibly a clone?

It is likely made by brother. It uses a class 15 bobbin. Good machine. Left set needle position?

Miriam, just wanted to comment on how cool it is that you started this thread nearly 7 years and 454 posts ago and you are still with us... Thanks for your support for so many.

Leon, I’m here when I get a notification of activity on the threads I started.

KSB Japanese Zig Zag Parts Needed
 

I'm new to the sewing world. I bought a Japanese Zig Zag. I'm not sure of the make. It as a badge that says "Rotary Electric" but so far that hasn't narrowed it down. I've been doing maintenance on it. I've tried adjusting the upper tension regulator; however it will not tighten up. I'm trying to find out more about the machine itself and what parts are compatible such as the upper tension regulator. Bottom has KSB 950320 JA/3.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]615775[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]615777[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]615776[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]615778[/ATTACH]

Welcome to the board. Since you are so new I must ask the question., Do you have your presser foot down? If it is up it realeases tension on most machines. Pretty , it is. Thanks for the clear picture, too.

Thanks for getting back with me. Yes, I have the presser foot down. The knob itself will spins around and pops off. I tighten the screw on the side. And there is a screw in the part that sits inside the machine which I tighten but the pin still pulls out. (I found a pic of what that cylinder looks like) I just don't know if I bought a replace assembly like this one if it would fit my machine. The original knob just spins.

Thread Tension Assembly

Welcome. I'm wondering if that is JA 13 meaning quite possibly a Koyo machine?? Several different names such as Dressmaker or Remington would fall into this group.

Along the lines of Leon's response, I'm wondering if the pin is stuck or missing. If you open the front nose of the machine and look at it from that end, you should see where that pin is and if it actually moves the tension assembly when you raise and lower the presser foot.

There a bunch of different assemblies out there. Some of them are somewhat similar. I know Miriam did a post or thread about 15-clone tensions and some of the differences, but I can't find it right now. It is possible that someone took it apart and back together improperly.

I'm thinking that the assembly should be taken off, and cleaned. There are some places on QB that show how the tension assemblies come apart and the pieces involved. https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...y-t266364.html https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...a-t220494.html and others. Just take pictures as you take it apart and lay them in order that they came off. It doesn't necessarily mean it is right. A clean assembly with all the pieces put in the proper order, may just be what is needed for the tension to work properly

​Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Did you mean the screw on the inside or somewhere else? Does the whole thing come out?

Another thought, after looking a little closer, it appears that the piece on the very out side is like a nut. Is it possible to unscrew from the front and see what else is in line. Maybe the threads are stripped?

​Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

More pictures:D You inspire my online search. I found some similar to mine and the one with the arrows is mine tension assembly. I bravely took it apart and put back per diagrams. However still breaking thread. The arrows show where the screws, pin and breaking points are. Any suggestions?

These came with the machine, not sure if they go with it or not since I can't find where the cams would go.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]615828[/ATTACH]

I'm unsure of what you mean "breaking points." Which diagrams? Are there some in your manual? I saw the pictures of the pin and it looks like the presser foot is down, when you took it. Can you see the discs (#5 & #6) separate a little when you raise the presser foot? Are the discs (#5 & #6) facing each other? I couldn't tell for sure from the picture. If you think of the the discs as bowls, are the bottoms together?

It has been quite a while since I've had a tension assembly apart. Most of mine that I've taken apart are Singers and I have found good diagrams of how they go back together. For some reason, when I first saw your assembly apart, I thought that 7 & 8 were transposed. I could be wrong, but I think the large end of the spring (#8) goes in the open part of the 'bowl' of disc #6 and then #7 fits over the small end of spring #8. So the sequence should be 5, 6, 8, 7 from the machine outward. It seems like I've worked with pieces similar to #9 through #12. It kind of reminds me of the Singer 401 tensions. It seems like there is a way to press on #12 to get the previous pieces in the right slots of #9 & #12 to get the right tension. My "google-fu" isn't working very well, tonight, but perhaps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G49qEBwDBFM or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UttHpnQy0xk would give you some ideas. The parts would be a little different, but similar.

When you have your machine threaded properly past the tension assembly and hopefully tension set somewhat close, if the presser foot is up the upper thread should pull through easily. When the presser foot is down, the thread will have slight resistance, but still able to pull some thread through.

I wish I could help better.

ETA: I don't think those cams are for your machine. Generally there is a door or place on the top of the arm that opens to put the cams in. It seems like there are some that the door is on the front of the arm - where yours has the various decorative stitches.

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




I

Upon some further research, I'm wondering if Kenmore 158 tension assembly might be closer to your machine.

Something else I thought about is that the center bars of #7, #8, and #10 all need to fit in the slot of #3. I wish I could remember which of my machines might have a similar assembly.

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

I was hoping someone can tell me where to get a replacement tension assembly my JA 13 Zig Zag.
I'm not sure of the make other than the KSB stamped in the metal. Attaching some pictures to help ID.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]616357[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]616358[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]616359[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]616360[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]616361[/ATTACH]

That's how I got a 99K and a Rocketeer! 2 separate occasions, but for embarrassing money.

Yesterday, while picking up a machine for a colleague, the elderly seller showed me this machine which he was about to throw away because "it didn't work". He bought it new for his wife when they were newly married.
The motor is dead, it smells of old oil after a couple of minutes but never mind, it is an external motor so I ordered a new generic one ;)

If anyone can tell me more about it, that would be so nice because I have not been able to find information on it online. There is a "made in Japan" somewhere underneath so I thought I'd post it here!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]617171[/ATTACH]

On this forum these are often called dashboard machines. They are named that after the auto dashboards in the 50s and early 60s that had lots of different buttons and levers and quite a bit of chrome.

The Japanese seemed to name their machines after anything that seemed to be familiar to Americans and beyond.

Crosley made radios refrigerators and many appliances and even cars in the USA back in the day. I have no idea if they were related to this sewing machine, however. Their name still exists,

I have a back Japanese "Wizard". I will try to post a pic later today. She is a dandy.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]617519[/ATTACH]This is a Wizard dashboard machine.

My wife has a Universal Model 98 (same machine) that I bought for her in June 1975. I've also found a pic of it as a Keystone Model 98. Great sewing machine,

Zig zag machine types
 

In general you can split all zig zag sewing machines in two groups. The no. 1 type is when the hook pass behind the needle, and the needle is threaded from the front. The no. 2 type is when the hook pass the needle to the side and the needle is threaded from the side.

I think all Singers and Pfaffs are made as the no. 1 type except the Singer 237 mainly produced by the Necchi factory in Italy. The no. 1 type has been most successful and almost all new machines are of this type. But I think the no. 2 type have got some advantages, and many of these Japanese produced machines are made this way. They should be better to handle heavier work, because they are less sensitive to at bit forward and backwards forces on the needle from the fabric.

I made this video explaining at bit of this type 2 regarding Singer 237:
https://youtu.be/8TONKVFi1fg

I noticed a youtube channel, that have made a video description of many of these Japanese badged machines, because they restore them and sell them. I have no interest in this shop, but I think their many videos are a very good source of information about these machines: https://www.youtube.com/user/tonysmo...able_polymer=1

In most cases, you will be able to see what kind of the two types the machine is, by looking at the direction of the needle plate and to the left you got the sliding plate to access the bobbin.

New White Designer
 

Miriam, yours is the only New White Designer I've seen besides mine (I actually bought it for the wife). I also bought an identical machine (minus the cam setup) with a Badge of Belvedere but it has a wonky bobbin winder. Have you found where to get parts? Both machines are JA3 units. One is a model 190, the other is a model 290. I moved the bobbin winder assembly over to the Belvedere and it fits perfect and works so I would like to find another bobbin winder assembly for the Belvedere. The New White is in perfect condition with all the cams and extra attachments and after I cleaned and lubed it from top to bottom to get all the grease and oil out, the wife did some sewing with it. Very cool. Neither machine had winder tires on them and the rheostat foot pedals could use some help (can you still find the rheostat type foot pedals?). I'll post some pics asap. I found another just like it, a Dressmaker 290 and I suppose I should make sure I can find parts so they are not just paperweights. I could use the Belvedere for parts for the other two.


Thanks
Perry

I need a bobbin winder for this one.

Vintage Japanese style zig-zag sewing machine and manual
 

I got my mother’s sewing machine and could not find the manual. My wife and I were not sure how to thread correctly, so I was trying to find a manual online. I looked online and came across this thread, but did not see a manual. I saw many different versions, all similar, but none quite matching my machine. It was interesting seeing everyone’s different machines and reading the threads. After talking with my sister, I found the manual taped in a folder on the machine. I thought I would register and share pics and the manual. I took pics of each page because it was easier. I hope this thread can take that many pics. It is giving me an error for missing some token or something. If you would like pics, email me at [email protected]

The footprint/style of these machines:
https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...0-p1010161.jpg
https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...223_185538.jpg
is very similar to my late 50s/early 60s Kenmore,

and this early 50s one I just found on eBay, https://www.ebay.com/itm/303536941113

all seem to be badged machines from the same factory, all what I’ve found that’s been said about them is that they are all very tough, hard working machines. Although I don’t think I’ve seen who the manufacturer is. I’ve seen Soryu and Koyo mentioned.

Hallmark Deluxe
 

This is a Hallmark Deluxe, probably from the 50's or 60's and pretty sure it was built in Japan. Is anyone familiar with the model?

Perry, I’m so happy to see the same machine that I have! I’m having difficulty finding information about it, as is common with Japanese ZigZags. Mine is badged with Dressmaker and is also a model 190. It works wonderfully, but I can’t figure out how to do straight stitches. The knob to the left of the stitch diagram will move from 1 through 5, but I can’t get it to go to zero (the straight stitch). I’d appreciate any help! Additionally, it seems whenever I reverse my stitches, something ends up tangled and I’ll have to rethread the needle and cut out tangled thread. Is this just the nature of backstitching zigzags?

I believe the red arrow point to the "lock knob" and the blue arrow is the "width dial." Can you loosen (counter-clockwise) the red arrow knob and then turn the blue knob (counter-clockwise, also) so that the flat part is parallel to the bed? I would think that you would need to tighten the knob again so that it only stitches straight. It is possible that there is some dried oil or lint that is blocking it to go where it needs to be to make straight stitch.

Attachment 625317

I'm not sure why the thread is tangling when reversing ZZ. I don't try to reverse ZZ unless I'm darning something and the machine I use to do that, I don't have a problem with.

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