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-   -   Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell (https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/vintage-sewing-machine-shop-come-sit-spell-t43881.html)

chris_quilts 04-14-2012 12:08 PM


Originally Posted by quiltdoctor (Post 5140635)
I was at a sale that a friend was having yesterday. She had lots of antiques and fabric this sewing machine. I knew from the minute I laid eyes on her, she was going home with me. She is a Wheeler Wilson 9 handcrank, 1/2 size. I brought her home and she sews just great but needs a cleaning. Alex of
www.Sewalot.com calls her the "Half size Half Pint Wheeler & Wilson 9". I have never seen one like her. She is very close in size to a Singer Featherweight, but weighs 20 pounds. The throad width is the same as a FW but the throat height is almost 2" higher. I am fascinated by her. Could this have been the idea that inspired the Featherweight after Singer bought Wheeler Wilson out in 1905? I don't have a firm date on her, but probably 1901 to 1905 is very close.
Texas Jan

Color me green with envy!!!!!

ThayerRags 04-14-2012 12:08 PM

1 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by quiltdoctor (Post 5140635)
....a Wheeler Wilson 9 handcrank, 1/2 size.
Texas Jan

Very good Jan! That’s a neat machine! It looks like it’s set up to go in a treadle too. (I think that the portable base sets into the top of the treadle top, and the front “notch” in the base is for a treadle belt path. The bobbin winder looks like it is “dual duty”?) Now you just need to find a treadle cabinet to go with it!

I hauled home an 1889 Singer New Family Model 12 Hand Crank machine this week. I haven’t done anything with it except take photos of it. It’ll replace the 1889 Singer 27-1 treadle that I had but passed on to another collector last year.

I’m a sucker for hand cranks anyway.

CD in Oklahoma

Mizkaki 04-14-2012 12:49 PM

Miriam,

Ray is 'THE Elna Guy". I'd definitely bring the Elnas. You sound like you are covered.

Lunch? At my classes we handled lunches several ways. I printed maps and marked all of the lunch spots near my place (usually several students would go together). I also took sandwich orders and ran to the Safeway grocery deli to pick them up. My kitchen was open to anyone that wanted to store food and then make their own lunch.

Have fun and give Ray a HUGE hug from me.

Cathy




Originally Posted by miriam (Post 5140551)
I am ssssoooooo jealous... I have 6 or 8 old Elna's needing lots of TLC, an old Bernina, a mechanical White zzer, ditto on a Kenmore, a couple Japanese zzers (one needing to find where the extra screws came from... :thumbdown: I have some foggy idea the approx area.) I picked up a Singer 306 yesterday and thought I would take it but it works just fine... Oh and I have a 401 with a bent stitch selector shaft... and a Genie. Then there are the old ladies.
What about lunch? What goes for that?


miriam 04-14-2012 01:11 PM


Originally Posted by Mizkaki (Post 5140801)
Miriam,

Ray is 'THE Elna Guy". I'd definitely bring the Elnas. You sound like you are covered.

Lunch? At my classes we handled lunches several ways. I printed maps and marked all of the lunch spots near my place (usually several students would go together). I also took sandwich orders and ran to the Safeway grocery deli to pick them up. My kitchen was open to anyone that wanted to store food and then make their own lunch.

Have fun and give Ray a HUGE hug from me.

Cathy

I knew he was the Elna guy. I have 4 old green ones and 3 gray ones. Ok I guess there are only 7 of them. The 3 green ones need the black rubber wheel in the balance wheel changed out and they all need timing and a good cleaning. The 3 gray ones one is a mess.... I tried to fix it about 25 years ago and had no instructions... It might be good for parts. There is one I recently got - don't even know if it works. The other one for sure needs TLC. I will give Ray a big hug just for you. I've been collecting things around here to take along. I messed around in my shop today. Phil built some shelves for me to put machines on. Then he surprised me again this morning. He had taken old counter tops and put wheels on them and put them on the bottom row so I can just pull them out. Isn't he sweet? And he makes scones too. While I was there I started thinking about tools. What tools should I grab. Then yesterday I bought an old cosmetic case (luggage type mirror and all) I was going to put my screw drivers and tools in there to take to the class. But I changed my mind this morning. I put in Qtips, cosmetic pads, nail polish remover, baby oil, vaseline, tooth brush, manicure scissors, baby wipes, make up brushes, tweezers, flossers, and some paper towel pieces, panty liners... blush... (my sister says I need those...) So when one of my machines gets a make over, I'll just get out the cosmetic case and be ready for it. Now I have to figure out where the screw drivers are going to live. I had a very nice tool box and a few years ago someone broke in. It was one of the things they took. They left the tools Phil had in an old sewing machine case and in 5 gallon buckets.

Two more weeks... until Ray's class. I can't wait. AND I have a lot to get ready. Phil just told me I should clean all those machines before I go.

quiltdoctor 04-14-2012 01:27 PM


Originally Posted by ThayerRags (Post 5140740)
Very good Jan! That’s a neat machine! It looks like it’s set up to go in a treadle too. (I think that the portable base sets into the top of the treadle top, and the front “notch” in the base is for a treadle belt path. The bobbin winder looks like it is “dual duty”?) Now you just need to find a treadle cabinet to go with it!

I hauled home an 1889 Singer New Family Model 12 Hand Crank machine this week. I haven’t done anything with it except take photos of it. It’ll replace the 1889 Singer 27-1 treadle that I had but passed on to another collector last year.

I’m a sucker for hand cranks anyway.

CD in Oklahoma

That is a beauty CD!!! You are right, it does have a place for the treadle cord to go through. I'll doubt I ever find one that it will fit, but I'll be looking.

Texas Jan

ThayerRags 04-14-2012 01:41 PM


Originally Posted by quiltdoctor (Post 5140880)
...treadle....doubt I ever find one that it will fit, but I'll be looking.
Texas Jan

Ahhhhh, but that’s the most fun of all! The HUNT!

CD in Oklahoma

miriam 04-14-2012 01:43 PM


Originally Posted by quiltdoctor (Post 5140635)
I was at a sale that a friend was having yesterday. She had lots of antiques and fabric this sewing machine. I knew from the minute I laid eyes on her, she was going home with me. She is a Wheeler Wilson 9 handcrank, 1/2 size. I brought her home and she sews just great but needs a cleaning. Alex of
www.Sewalot.com calls her the "Half size Half Pint Wheeler & Wilson 9". I have never seen one like her. She is very close in size to a Singer Featherweight, but weighs 20 pounds. The throad width is the same as a FW but the throat height is almost 2" higher. I am fascinated by her. Could this have been the idea that inspired the Featherweight after Singer bought Wheeler Wilson out in 1905? I don't have a firm date on her, but probably 1901 to 1905 is very close.


Texas Jan

Before I saw the FW I was thinking it looks like a FW on stilts. VERY cool http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...e-t185449.html do post a pic with the rest of the old ladies!!!

Mizkaki 04-14-2012 02:16 PM

Miriam,

Phil is right. Do clean them cosmetically before you go or do it after you get home. Also don't worry about oiling and greasing them as you can do that at the class. You after all are paying for his time to teach mechanical things not cleaning and dusting techniques.
I saw one person years ago waste most of the last day of class cleaning decals on a very old German hand crank and it still didn't sew since she ran out of time to work on it. I hope she was paying a lot of attention during the 1 1/2 days of the lecture.
Don't get me wrong, he is still teaching on the last 1 1/2 days, just not a lot of straight lecturing. The last 1 1/2 days are to practice what you learned on the first day & a half. You also get to see and learn from the problems that the other students are having on their machines and that can be a lot.

Cathy




Originally Posted by miriam (Post 5140847)
I knew he was the Elna guy. I have 4 old green ones and 3 gray ones. Ok I guess there are only 7 of them. The 3 green ones need the black rubber wheel in the balance wheel changed out and they all need timing and a good cleaning. The 3 gray ones one is a mess.... I tried to fix it about 25 years ago and had no instructions... It might be good for parts. There is one I recently got - don't even know if it works. The other one for sure needs TLC. I will give Ray a big hug just for you. I've been collecting things around here to take along. I messed around in my shop today. Phil built some shelves for me to put machines on. Then he surprised me again this morning. He had taken old counter tops and put wheels on them and put them on the bottom row so I can just pull them out. Isn't he sweet? And he makes scones too. While I was there I started thinking about tools. What tools should I grab. Then yesterday I bought an old cosmetic case (luggage type mirror and all) I was going to put my screw drivers and tools in there to take to the class. But I changed my mind this morning. I put in Qtips, cosmetic pads, nail polish remover, baby oil, vaseline, tooth brush, manicure scissors, baby wipes, make up brushes, tweezers, flossers, and some paper towel pieces, panty liners... blush... (my sister says I need those...) So when one of my machines gets a make over, I'll just get out the cosmetic case and be ready for it. Now I have to figure out where the screw drivers are going to live. I had a very nice tool box and a few years ago someone broke in. It was one of the things they took. They left the tools Phil had in an old sewing machine case and in 5 gallon buckets.

Two more weeks... until Ray's class. I can't wait. AND I have a lot to get ready. Phil just told me I should clean all those machines before I go.


miriam 04-14-2012 02:20 PM


Originally Posted by Mizkaki (Post 5141016)
Miriam,

Phil is right. Do clean them cosmetically before you go or do it after you get home. Also don't worry about oiling and greasing them as you can do that at the class. You after all are paying for his time to teach mechanical things not cleaning and dusting techniques.
I saw one person years ago waste most of the last day of class cleaning decals on a very old German hand crank and it still didn't sew since she ran out of time to work on it. I hope she was paying a lot of attention during the 1 1/2 days of the lecture.
Don't get me wrong, he is still teaching on the last 1 1/2 days, just not a lot of straight lecturing. The last 1 1/2 days are to practice what you learned on the first day & a half. You also get to see and learn from the problems that the other students are having on their machines and that can be a lot.

Cathy

I'm doing both classes. Do I still have enough machines or do I need to take the old ladies, too?
Yeah, I was thinking I don't want to do stuff I already know when I'm there. I'm thinking I should take snacks.

Mizkaki 04-14-2012 02:54 PM

Miriam,

On the first class that I took I carried in a huge tub with every thing I could imagine that would ever be needed. Boy was that an over kill. But I would do it again as in the second class I took, there was nothing furnished except snacks.

Each class and each host is different.
I furnish:
*drinks and snack for each day
*a bucket of screw drivers, hemostats and scissors for the students to use
*rags (cut up flannel sheets as they are the best thing since clean undies VBG)
*netting strips for things like "flossing" the tension disks
*put out small containers for trash such as thread and dirty rags
*put out smaller containers to contain the parts coming off machines
*have available an air compressor to blow out the dust bunnies (outside usage only)

Take your usual tools, but don't go out and buy any new ones, yet. Ray has tools to lend and tools for sale. I usually buy something new from him each year. I have a tool addiction.
It is a good idea to bring a lamp/ light some classrooms are dark. Ray will have extension cords for the machines and lights. ALSO Wear clothes that can get dirty as they will (no fashionistas).

I think you are set with the machines that you have mentioned.

Cathy



Originally Posted by miriam (Post 5141025)
I'm doing both classes. Do I still have enough machines or do I need to take the old ladies, too?
Yeah, I was thinking I don't want to do stuff I already know when I'm there. I'm thinking I should take snacks.



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