I agree! Just clean it up with sewing oil. I use cotton balls and sewing oil to clean up the machines.

NICE! That will look pretty after a cleaning!

My husband would know if I had another FW. He keeps asking if I found anymore of them- he thinks they are cute!

Congrats on your 201! That's my favorite machine to sew with since it makes a gorgeous stitch top and bottom. Hopefully, Billy can help you with the missing part.
Enjoy that beauty!

Way cool! to still have the machine that your mom purchased.
Glad you got it out, cleaned it up, and now using it.
Enjoy your new old find.

While camping in West Virginia this past weekend, someone brought a new to me machine. It's a White Rotary. I untied the cabinet for a quick peak before the guys loaded into my van. Looks as tho the the cabinet will need to be re-glued, and some blistered varnish removed and redone. The machine knobs are cracked and almost completely deteriorated.

The history was that the neighbors bought it when they were newly weds, more for the cabinet than for the machine, as she was not much of a sewer. Their kids are now in college, and none of them wanted the thing, so she had it in her yard sale. My friend mentioned that I restored the vintage machines for 4-H, and the neighbor gave it to her.

Well,with a story like that, it must have been second hand when they picked it up. It's much older than current college kids. I'll be interested to see what it does when I get it out of the van later today. Then I'll need to go back through the thread to read up on White Rotaries. I'll post some picks, but I know I'll be needing control knobs. It has lots of attachments, including some which look as though they came from some horror chamber.

Wow! Lots happening here! It's fun to hear about all the wonderful machines being saved.

I have an update - finally - on the treadle listed on Rochester NY craigslist last week. When my sistere finally got hold of the seller, the lady said it had been sold just that morning, and that she could have sold 10 of the machines.

Thanks to the individual with the explanation about the machine boss. I learn something new every day here.

I have discovered that my local sewing machine repairman is now selling off his (and his father's) collection of machines. He also has a couple of collectors who are selling through his shop. There are some that I am considering, but my DH always talks about the limited space in the house, etc., and do I really need it. He finally conceded to the treadle because we do experience power outages, and his mother sewed on a treadle. But more?! How could I even think of it?!

Ah, well. The bug, once it bites, is hard to get rid of.

My DH now loves my treadle machine. It's displayed in the dining room and he thinks it's really cool. He has told me more than a few times how nice it looks and how cool it is. He even helped replace the chandelier in that room (it needed that update, it was over 20 years old) to something that would look better with the treadle. Too bad I don't have room for more of them. I like the idea of shrinking the machines to fit more!

Candace how does the 185K sound when you sew on it? Is it loud, groany sounding? There is a gal that comes to our Girl's Night Out with a 185K that sounds terrible, but sews really nice. By the way, really nice machine. I love the way those 185's look!

Nancy

Monica, once you have more than three, he won't notice! My DH has no idea how many I have! Besides, I am collecting the FW's for grandkids to get someday.

Nancy