I have been asked by several members if I would be interested in fixing their vintage machines up for them. The answer is of course I would. So I thought I would put this out here for you all who want the machines but are a bit intimidated by the entire cleaning servicing of them.

Now every machine is a different case and the price might change a bit depending on the condition and what you want done but this is the basic pricing on a machine that is dirty and needs a good thorough cleaning and checking out, not a COMPLETE rust bucket just a little rust!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

I charge $100 + parts and return shipping for a complete service.

That includes tearing the machine down, cleaning, checking the electrical (if it has any) assembly, tune up, oil and polish. Basically preserving what you have.

Now if you want a complete repaint or want the shiny parts replated then it will go up accordingly.

If I have to replace parts or anything like that of course I will contact you and we can go from there but what parts I replace will be put into the box with the machine for the return trip. Also you will get photo updates as the process goes on. That way you can be up to date on everything and you can watch your machine transform before your eyes!!! But if you are interested then feel free to contact me.

So far I have several of them in the mail heading this way and I am really looking forward to working on them. This is like therapy for me!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Billy

wow, that is awesome, you are the greatest!

I totally agree!! I've bookmarked this so maybe after DS b/d I can send you my 301.

Thank you so much for offering to do this..

Well its just that I service a lot of vintage machines and I know for a fact that there are very few places that will even touch them much less offer complete restorations, including a full paint and plating service.

So I thought this would be a good thing for those of us that want a vintage machine but feel a little overwhelmed by all of the parts and labor.

Plus how many sewing repair shops Flame and Pinstripe sewing machines per customers request?!?

Billy

Could we please see some of those Flame and Pinstripe machines? They have to be out of this world...!!!

I would love to see some of your custome paint jobs on some vintage sewing machines, please.

Let me dig through the HD and see if I have some of the FW's I did. I only flamed the bed of the machine but it came out really nice. Cream with a heavy Gold Pearl flames and an all over Gold Pearl mid coat. Then it had the Singer on the lampshade like the white FW's.

Here is a model 27 I did for myself.....

Billy

Beautiful machine Billy. Are those decals or did you paint those on there? Can't wait to see more. Thanks for sharing.

22kt Gold Leaf.

I am still looking for the FW photos but they will be posted as soon as they are found.

I was thinking about this today and I am going to drop the price down to $65 for the preservation service for the fact that you have to ship the machine both ways. The members that have machines in the mail and are here I am going to notify them and let them know that it has dropped and they will not have to pay as much.

At least this will help out on the cost of shipping the machine and you will not be out but around $100 or so total!!!

Also do not be scared of shipping a machine to me or me shipping it back I will walk you through the packing process (maybe another tute?) so that you machine will be guarantied to arrive in one piece safe and sound.

Billy

Hi Billy, Now I have to start going to flea markets and auctions to find another vintage machine . I don't think I'll do ebay again maybe only as a last resort. I want to leave my 66 red eye as a treadle but I would like her to have modernized made over sister. I love the flames. Anne

OMG! Billy that machine is just too beautiful for words! My jaw is still sitting in my lap! You do awesome work. I am bookmarking this topic as I have a Featherweight on its way to me now & have no clue what shape it is in.

mondo cool

Thank you for the complements I think it is official the Featherweight photos are in a dead Hard Drive and can not get them out.

But since you like the Flames here is a set of tanks I have posted before that I did for a buddy of mine.

Billy

I so agree that FIXING THINGS is therapy. There are too many other things in life we can't fix but if we can FIX THINGS we feel better! (at least you and I feel better) :)

OH MY that is just so beautiful!!! fab job Billy!!

Hey Billy:
I'm saving to send you my 1948 featherweight for a repaint. I just bought it and it's been totally serviced and came with a one year warranty so it doesn't need to be serviced, just stripped and painted. Well, I guess if you have to take it all apart you're gonna hafta put it back together and I guess that constitutes servicing. Oh well.

As for the centennial, I'm thinking I might try and tackle it myself following your tutorials. Which means good for me, maybe not so good for you because I will probably be pestering you with a ton of questions about it. I'm a bit timid, but willing to at least give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen? I would just have to send it to you anyway to fix what I screw up, lol!!! I will be in touch.

Billy that is so kind of you. Now if I run across a vintage machine I know that it can be cleaned and serviced. Thank you.
Buy the way I have a older baby lock serger and it need a foot petal attachment do you know where I would be able to purchase one.

That dog of yours is beautiful!

Let me go look around I think one of the suppliers I use should have something like that.

I am fixing to be buying straight from the manufacturer so I can start to give some serious pricing!!!

Billy

Hi Billy,
I asked a few days ago how much a paint job would be for my 201 and I cant remember what you said,,,just for a paint job...let me know please I dont want a tune up. I also have a few more machines that I may also consider one at a time...I love old machines...
Thanks,
Daisey

Well the repaint is around the $150 mark and that will include a service anyway because I will have to tear it all of the way down and clean it and go from there.

Billy

AWESOME paint jobs Billy!

Hey Billy,

I just received a Singer 201-2 from my great grandmother. I am so excited I cannot stand it. :) I was wondering, would your tute for refurbishing vintage machines work for her? Or would you still have room in your busy life to restore her for me? I am a bit afraid of messing her up.... i'm rambling a bit, sorry, very excited, but concerned at the same time... I want to sew on it :)

I always have time and room for pretty ladies!! My tute will work for it but with the potted motor on it there are a few things that it dosent cover. If you want to send it to me I will be more than glad to service it and get her back to like new condition for you.

I will PM you and we can work out the details!

Billy

What color would you call that? It sure is pretty!

I have a model 28 handcrank that looks almost like that. I won it on eBay. The machine survived the trip but the wooden box it sat in and the domed cover were both smashed to smithereens (the insurance on it gave me a full refund of the price I paid) !! The SM is pretty ugly, decals aren't very nice, etc but it is has a majestic shape that I like.

That is a Candy Rootbeer that I mixed for my '51 Ford, I had some left over and used it for the machine. I can do a repaint on yours if you would like. They start at $165 + parts and shipping and include a complete service.

Here are a few more repaints I have done.

Billy

Billy, nice job on the tank, do you happen to have a Harley too?

I have had a couple of custom built choppers that had S&S motors. I had a Billy Lane/Choppers Inc. built bike a couple of years ago and then I bought one from Russ Mitchell at Exile Choppers this year. But that one I sold before it got here and I ended up painting a deep candy Purple.

Billy

:shock: :shock: Those treadles are gorgeous!! What would be the price for something like the first treadle in the pics? What other ways can treadles be made to look nicer?

ETA....You sure do nice work, Billy.

I was wondering where you are located. I might have my husband drive a couple of machines to you rather than ship them, especially a treadle, if it is not too far.

To do a Singer treadle like that one will run $150 and if it is like the second one with out the embellishments they run around $100 bill.


Billy

I am in the process renovating my vacation home in Middle TN so I can move the family up there but for now I am in West TN.

Billy

You do beautiful work.

In your tutorial, you said it can be more expensive for featherweights. What do those usually run?

I have a couple of real beauties that I have aquired and they sure could use your services. How long is your offer good for?

Until the cows come home and I cant see them yet! :lol: :lol: :lol:

That is the standard fee that I charge for the service. Its cheaper than the other guys (around $25 difference here) and it goes way beyond the spectrum of what they will do when they service a machine. All they do is blow it out, oil it and replace whats broke and toss it on a shelf. I watched this one place service 3 machines in less than 30 minutes and was using used parts for the repairs and selling them to the customer as new.

Billy doesnt work like that. I believe in the values, morals and ethics that we had back in the 50's and that is the way I run my business. A handshake is just as good as signing a contract and actions speak louder than words. I have enough business from word of mouth so I never advertise.

Now when it comes to the repaints the prices are going to be going up soon. The price of paint has almost tripled to what it was this time last year. :shock: The last Candy paint I bought for the Bike I sold was almost $165 a quart! But I found a place locally that carries HOK and I can get it from them for around $145 a quart.

Fortunately I do not shoot many candies on sewing machines so the prices can stay where they are for a while.

Featherweights usually run anywhere between $350 to $500+ depending on the paint used (candy or Base/Clear). The reason they run more is because Aluminum is a whole 'nuther critter to work with and if the finish was ever chipped or compromised the chances of "white rust" and pitting is really strong. So I usually weld the pits up and sand them down and use the primer/sealer to fill in the sand marks. Also you have to prep Aluminum different than you do regular steel. That and the fact that 9 times out of 10 it is going to be the centerpiece of someones collection so it has to be perfect like a high end show car!

I painted a Ferrari GTO and had to do a lot of body work to (all aluminum) and when it came down to the paint it was a completely different animal. I had to hand fabricate body panels for the car and graft them in and did not use any body filler at all. The primer/sealer was the what I used to fill in the sanding marks and any tiny imperfections. It took several gallons of the stuff and at least a month to get it ready for the top coat.


Billy

Thanks Billy :0)

Billy,

I wish I could ship my 66 treadle to you.... but from here to the US would be a mighty pretty penny!

But please keep showing your work... it is just beautiful.

Hugs

Caroline

Me, me, me - I want to send you my 1905 Singer 27 for a cleaning and polish. She is not rusty - or at least none that is visible but she needs a good kerosine cleaning and polish to make her look purty! I was thinking of doing this myself but you are offering such a great deal, I would rather you go throuth the trouble :lol: She is in a treadle so you will have to walk me through removing her and packing her up.