[quote=vintagemotif][quote=Dolly's sister][quote=deplaylady][quote=justtrish][quote=Up North]
She might not be too bad to clean up.
yeah - get her going then - then don't look forward oops I mean back... i think.

Hey Billy, Pat P here do you know anything about an Earlha Treadle number L 1-881955? Thanks !

A while back someone posted a link to a thread with updates on Billy, I thought I saved it to my Bookmarks, but it is not there. Does anyone have that link? I have been worried about him and wonder how he is doing. TIA

I tried to search it - no luck - could you post a picture? I wonder if it had anything to do with Earlham College? In what part of Indiana did you find the machine?

Here is Billy's PDA. He is very sick & needs our thoughts & prayers.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-28727-1.htm

Hey Billy got the name wrong it is earlham didn't see the m but when I went to take a picture I saw it. will try and post a picture. It was my MI, she was born in Tipton In it could have been her mothers, her grandmother spoke only German. Thanks Pat

I found a nifty new machine that I'll be keeping as a backup-a Nelco Golden Stitch series, model number SZA-625f. (I posted about it over here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-154674-1.htm#4262295)

I've taken the back off, gotten it de-linted and oiled and so far, so good. Where I'm stuck is a mystery hole in the back. I found a screw top in the mechanism that I think that hole goes to, but I have no idea what it does. The two best guesses so far are some kind of tension, or it adjusts the zigzag width. Only I thought that's what the lever on top in the front did-maybe that centers the needle? It does make the needle move side to side, but I can't see that it's zigzagging, so now I don't know.

I know, I could take it to my osmg and let him figure it out, but A: I know for a fact he's now running more than a month out, and B: I'm sort of enjoying figuring out the mystery on my own.

I'd really like a manual for this but so far, the ones I'm finding aren't for this model number. Failing that, I'd be happy with sorting these two things out.

Wow! Is it small?- it looks something like a Necchi or an Elna or a Kenmore/ Jaguar... but it's made in Japan. I think I would have the time of my life playing with it. I think the manual or someone who has one would be a lot of help. I'm wondering how it comes apart - it appears seamless... Have you gotten it to do any of the stitches?

It's not small, but it's got the same odd shape the green monster Elna's have. Turns out there was a reason for that. Google Leon Jolson; the first two hits that come up are obits, but tell the guy's story pretty thoroughly. The article a few down from that, from a 1952 Time magazine was pretty interesting too.

I've only sewed paper with it so far, and I can't get the zigzag to zigzag. I'm still working on it, but this may be beyond my amateur abilities. Which is unfortunate-I've got skirts that need hemmed, and a new toy to play with! I'm taking the other one I bought (a Cavalier) to my osmg tomorrow; I'll take this one too and hope it's a fast and easy fix.

That hole in the back with the plus and minis looks like it could be something to do with the tension. I don't see anything that looks like a tension on the front of the machine. Just my thoughts.