'White' Family Rotary cleaning help needed, please
 

Hello all,
The finds that FreeCycle can yield!

I have acquired a lovely 1913 White Family Rotary machine in a beautiful cabinet;attachments, bobbins, everything is there.The 'giver' was a wonderful person who posted this machine on FreeCycle a few months ago. She received so many calls in such a short time that she just didn't feel right about letting the machine go. It belonged to her great-grandmother. When I get her bath done I'll post photos and a bit of her history. But for now...

These girls are very different from the Singers, which I feel totally comfortable pushing up my sleeves, opening them up and going in. But the face plate on this White has lots of stuff connected to it. I don't want to open up a Pandora's Box. For now, I have cleaned as much of the presser foot and needle bars that I safely can. I have tried searching for information on how to clean the inside of antique White Family Rotary machine. Either I was way to tired last night or my search skills have gone in the tank. Is anyone familiar with these machines and where information about when I take off the face plate to clean inside.

Oh, one of the drawers is locked and I don't see the key. Any ideas how to free the drawer?

Many thanks,
best,
d

If she moves, don't pull that faceplate! I did on a rusty one I had there were problems getting it back together. I finally did, but it was a BEAR! (Well...I didn't, but the spousal unit turned the air blue in his efforts!! :D He also threatened me if I ever did that again with a machine like this!) Treadleon has a large "White" following...maybe ask there? (I didn't....just tore in like I knew what I was doing...but didn't!)

As for the locked drawer? Use a small screwdriver. Most treadles take either a triangular or square key to open.

I actually thought my Whites were easier to get at all the stuff in the "head" part than the Singers. The "head" came off with a couple of screws. There are pictures on Treadle On. I didn't remove anything from the head itself except the tensioner, the small caps on the top covering the needle and presser bars, and the small thread guide on top when I cleaned mine. I took off the small parts like the spool holder to clean separately. Everything else stayed on, including the hand wheel--those weren't really made to come off. I had one that was in pretty poor shape, so I did go through a whole kerosene soak, scrubbing the parts that I could reach. The kerosene looked like motor oil when I was done. This may not be necessary if your machine hasn't been kept in terrible conditions for 80 years!

As a word of caution, I have found that the finish on the machine was a lot more fragile than that of my Singers, so be careful of the decals.

Thanks ladies. I did hop over to Treadle On and read his musings on the topic. Didn't sound terribly problematic once you know the secret - getting the arm at 1:00. Either way, I have cleaned the presser foot and needle bar as best I can. The machine moves freely and smoothly at this point, so the dog continues to nap :-)

The needle appears cemented in there once that comes out, it will be a matter of putting her back into her dorm, putting on her belt, learning to thread her and we're off.

best,
d

*tap...tap...tap* Waiting for pictures *tap...tap...tap*

:D

For the locked drawer, reach into the drawer below and lift up on the bottom of the drawer and it will come out if it is like the one I just bought.