Nancy,
You got it. If there are other brands that use the sintered bearing/ bushings they also rely on regular usage to keep the oil flowing.
BTW There are other 'self oiling' systems. I had a beautiful green Remington from the 50s that had a built in oil 'tank'. To keep it oiled you needed to push on the top on the tank occasionally and oil was delivered to all areas via tiny copper tubes that ran through the interior of the machine. Cool idea, except it was messy as oil leaked.

Cathy

I have done that and then hit myself up the side of my head...lol its a duh moment. I acquired a singer 758 and I am having problems getting the bobbin to wind evenly..waiting on new bobbins and will try a new needle but I can see a good size nick on the plate...wish I knew the story behind that.

Cathy as I reading your post I was thinking " Oh I would like a self oiler" then I read where it got messy...so many emotions to go through in a second. lol

Cathy,
I'll have to make a note of these numbers. The only other number besides the Kenmore 49 that I'd come up with is the Boye 2½.

Are the needles you're talking about flat shank or round shank, and do you have a pic of them? I'm curious as to what the point to the eye looks like.

Joe

White machine
 

I was antique shopping in Savannah Georgia yesterday and found this White machine. The fly wheel still turns but does not move the needle up and down. They want $38.00 for it. If anyone is close and interested it can be found at 37th and Abercorn Antiques. 301 East 37th St. in Savannah. Here are pictures. Sorry Can't get pictures to download. Will try again in another posting to see if I can get it to work.

Grant,

Lets see, what's that in American ...... 3/8" I think. I used a piece of 3/8" hose to "try" and make one, but I couldn't get the hose over the shoulder of the shaft. What did you use to do that?

Joe

Pictures
 

Sorry, will not let me download pictures this morning. Just keep getting upload failed.

Joe,

I'll take a picture tonight after work. I'll place a CC, 206x13, and15x1 in the pix. The CC, if I remember correctly is a flat shank with a normal point. I looks like the 15x1 but the timing length (top of shank to top of eye) is shorter.

cathy

My son found a Singer sewing machine model #81-2 and we can't locate much info on it. Do any of you know anything about this machine? Any info would be much appreciated.

Joe, I am not sure but luckily the hose I used had those marked on it. I just checked and it seems like it is a 5/16" fuel line hose. The important part is that it is 7.9 mm Inside Diameter.
It was not easy and was tricky and frustrating. I cut the replacement hose to size first. I put the hose on the bobbin winding post and pried from the opposite end with a small screwdriver enough to get the hose over the shoulder. I pushed the hose down using a pair of pliers enough to get it started. I took another small screwdriver and ran it between the hose and shoulder kind of like how they mount tires on a car rim while maintaining pressure on the hose with a socket from a socket set flipped up side down so the opening is down and away from the hose so the bobbin shaft could poke through it as the hose slid down. Once the hose was over the shoulder I used the pliers to work it down into position. This is all after I had removed the old rubber and cleaned up the surface of the shaft where the old rubber was. It did not need any adhesives as the rubber was good and tight on it.[ATTACH=CONFIG]376691[/ATTACH] I hope this helps. Good luck! ~G~