Originally Posted by kwendt

Hey all my best VSMS buddies....

Now that I'm finally recovering from what turned out to be Pnuemonia, and can sort of think straight, for hours at a time <smile!>; I can jump back into the fray here.

I have an old tensioner question. I have an ancient, 1912 Singer 115/15 treadle head that I've cleaned up and put back together. My first treadle is almost ready to test drive!!! Whoo hoo! But I'm not sure if I have to replace the two tensioner disks or not.

This is the extremely basic, extremely plain tensioner. Has two disks, a washer thing, a spiral spring, a divided post and a thumb nut (and a funky wire/spring thingy for a thread guide/back tensioner that I cannot tell if it's bent out of shape or not.) That's it.

The two plated tension disks where the thread passes between are worn. They are discolored, but not rusted, pitted, burred or lined... just discolored on the highest part of the bevel curve of each disk. About the size of a lifesaver, 1/3" or so. Is this sort of thing indicative of 'worn out-needing to be replaced'? or is this just cosmetic, and it'll be fine?

(I have no other tensioner that's even CLOSE in age, wear or style. Can't compare. Pictures didn't come out.)
Help? Opinions? Jokes?

Originally Posted by kwendt

LOL... I about split a side laughing when I read Tommie's comment. Took me a good 60 seconds to figure it out too. ROTF! Oh rats, I just remembered I have a quilt binding to handsew later today.... grrrrr. <smile>

Originally Posted by kwendt

Hey all my best VSMS buddies....

Now that I'm finally recovering from what turned out to be Pnuemonia, and can sort of think straight, for hours at a time <smile!>; I can jump back into the fray here.

I have an old tensioner question. I have an ancient, 1912 Singer 115/15 treadle head that I've cleaned up and put back together. My first treadle is almost ready to test drive!!! Whoo hoo! But I'm not sure if I have to replace the two tensioner disks or not.

This is the extremely basic, extremely plain tensioner. Has two disks, a washer thing, a spiral spring, a divided post and a thumb nut (and a funky wire/spring thingy for a thread guide/back tensioner that I cannot tell if it's bent out of shape or not.) That's it.

The two plated tension disks where the thread passes between are worn. They are discolored, but not rusted, pitted, burred or lined... just discolored on the highest part of the bevel curve of each disk. About the size of a lifesaver, 1/3" or so. Is this sort of thing indicative of 'worn out-needing to be replaced'? or is this just cosmetic, and it'll be fine?

(I have no other tensioner that's even CLOSE in age, wear or style. Can't compare. Pictures didn't come out.)
Help? Opinions? Jokes?

Originally Posted by auniqueview

Here are the best photos I can get of the machine I bought. Any idea of what it is? I would really like a manual. Also, anyone know a good repair person in the Ft. Myer, Fl area who works on vintage machines?

Originally Posted by Charlee

You should be fine with them as long as they aren't worn through and aren't catching/cutting your thread.

Originally Posted by kwendt

And actually, while I think about it... that CHSS comment was yours, Charlee! Sorry I mis-identified you! So funny!

Originally Posted by QuiltnCowgirl

kwendt - I'm the one with the original CHSS. Charlee was nice enough to translate it for everyone else. :D

Originally Posted by kwendt

GOSH GOSH GOSH!!! I'm so sorry, QuiltnCowgirl!!! LOL. Credit is due where credit is due. <hangs head, coughs> My head must still be spinning from the pneumonia! Um yeah. Right.

I'll do better next time, promise!