Would you think this could be saved?
 

Here is a Franklin Sewing Machine that a friend asks my husband to take a look at and see if anything could be done to make it workable again. Well, after many hours of using lots of different products and plenty of elbow grease he was able to turn it into something of a beautiful machine. It was so rusted when he got it that I didn't see how in the world he could get it to work. The hand wheel would not turn, bobbin area was rusted and other parts were unmovable, but somehow he has gotten it to work. I haven't tried to sew anything on it because I do not know how to thread the bobbin but the main thing is that it does work and the decals are in pretty good shape. I have a movie of the machine running but I am not sure I can post it on this forum. Is this a work of art or not?

Go to the sticky Repairing the old shellac at the top and go to the first page and you will see my Franklin and what I did to bring it back to life.

WOW! What a difference a little love, patience & (lots of) elbow grease makes! That's a real change from what he was handed in that box!!!

I am speechless!

Wow, you'd never know it was the same machine!
There seems to be something sacrilegious about letting that happen to a machine! :)
I suppose a non-sewist wouldn't think so though lol

Beautiful job. That bobbin slide screams WHITE. So look up old White Info of threading and care. Many companies made Franklins

leonf is right of course, that is a White slide plate. What it means in some sort of realistic terms is that the machine is post 1924 when White acquired Domestic. (Domestic had been making the Franklin for Sears, so White became the supplier.) And... it appears to be a White FR which was made into the 30's. So that sort-of dates it. =) You -should- be able to thread it from a threading diagram for a White FR.

Nicely done. Really. Great looking machine. I hope you get it sewing soon. One of the best for hems.

Wow! One would never guess it is the same machine shown in the first picture. Congratulations to your Hubby for a job well done.

Congrats on a job well done!

Wow! That's amazing! Good job!