In front of a more full size Vindex Special, is another little 3/4 machine that followed me home:
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But, miriam, you said my Leader by National couldn't be 3/4 size no matter how tiny she is because she has a nice work area to the side of the needle which makes the bed longer - now you have her twin, though mine has lived a more protected life, obviously. :o

"But, miriam, you said my Leader by National couldn't be 3/4 size no matter how tiny she is because she has a nice work area to the side of the needle which makes the bed longer - now you have her twin, though mine has lived a more protected life, obviously."

blows my mind!!!
I wonder if it had a crank knob stuck on that wheel?
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Nice collection. I've never seen any like the green and tan Singers.

Those are tough little beasts. Heavy so they don't dance all over the place - built about like a Singer 99 inside. I've seen them on CL around here for about $65.

What a great collection. Do you like treadles also or just the 3/4?

I like all kinds of old sewing machine! I just happen to have a bunch of those little machines right now so I though I would feature them. I loved sewing on my little Spartan until I gave it to my GD - she LOVES that machine.

I love reading about you guys, and your love of the old machines.. Had a rough day, but you guys are way too funny.. I am terrified to take apart my machines.. It's a real fear.. I have a Singer 99 that really should be rewired.. Why the fear? I wanted to change the bobbin winder assembly with another that I bought on Ebay.. The tiny pin on mine was broken off before I got it.. The one I got on Ebay is a krinkle finish, and mine isn't.. I took mine apart, and of course the spring sprang.. I paniced, and decided not to mess with the other.. So.. I have a mismatched assmebly, and it just gives it character.. I think I will still change the wires on the 99.. She is very pretty, and capable..

ON those you just order the motor, wires and foot pedal from sew-classic and it is one screw. Nothing springs out at you.

Barri1:
Sorry to here you had trouble with your first repair. I have a series of pictures about the other style bobbin winder (long bobbin, shuttle type) and I am on vacation currently.....bit if you like I can put together a little photo essay on your bobbin winder when I get home. We should be able to help you get her back to all shiny black as intended. Good to hear she is still working for you though.
Dan.

Muv has a wonderful tutorial on winding the bobbin then putting it in the shuttle and making it sew. It is in the sticky links but in case you can't find it, here is a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4PhA..._order&list=UL and here is the link to the sticky http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...v-t167789.html enjoy.

Maybe this will help you. Just scroll down until you find your particular bobbin winder:
http://www.tfsr.org/pub/technical_in...bin_winder.pdf

I'm working on a 66 that has a frozen part so I thought that I would exchange it for a bobbin winder on one of my other machines but it seems that every bobbin winder that I tried had at least one part that was frozen. I'm to the point that I might buy one of those 'side-winder' bobbin winders so that I can use my machine without a bobbin winder.

I have that same 128 - I turned it into a hand crank. The pattern is La Vincendora. I love it - turns beautifully and runs so smooth!

I did that with mine too! It was used as a play prop for Fiddler on the Roof.

I just picked up my first 99K machine and it came without a base I read somewhere that they have to be in a base to operate is the true?

They do work best in a base or a cabinet - turns a lot better with the bobbin thing off the table and they only have 3 legs so are a bit wobbly.

Oh Mary not sure if you are still a member i am catching up on all the vintage messages as I too have caught the vintage bug-you Hubby did a awesome job, very,very nice.

Huge thank-you for providing all the great advise and u-tubes videos. I am learning so much.

somebody know what this little long bobbin machine is called? I stuck a hand crank on it - works very smooth and quiet. [ATTACH=CONFIG]371741[/ATTACH]

One of these popped up on CL in great shape for $20 but too far for me to pick up - now it's on the list. You sewing machine people are terrible for my budget... ;) SO cute.

I have yet to see one in great shape that works right. Most people with one that looks great have neglected something or they would still be using it... I just fixed one with a tension someone took apart and reassembled with the disks spooned. I've seen the tension spring pulled around to the wrong side of the tension. I've seen very linty bobbin areas. You name it - those machines that 'look' good might have something you will need to fix... I love it - it is part of the puzzle.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]371881[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]371882[/ATTACH]I call them the twins.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]371885[/ATTACH]Here is my one and only vintage machine ...so far. It's a Singer 99.

If I only had one vintage machine - that might be it... BTW what is it setting in?

Lovely machines Everyone.....Here is my lil lady I am trying to turn into a hand crank. I have already removed her motor, there are two holes left under her spoked wheel.

Dee,

To the best of my knowledge there is no handcrank available for the National made machines unless it comes from an old donor machine. The currently available after market handcranks are fitted to a machine by being positioned on the 'motor boss' that is under the handwheel. The Nationals do not have this style motorboss as a part of their casting.

Cathy

Dee, what a nice looking machine!

Nancy

Miriam, that is a model 128, probably from the 1940's/50's. I don't think the early 128/28's had the godzilla finish. The earlier 128's/28's were usually the La Vincendora decals.

Everyone has some really cute little 3/4 sized machines. I love the wooden case with the drawers on either end Mary's husband made! Mary can I copy that idea! I need to make a case for a Spartan - at least I will ask hubby to make it!

Nancy

Cathy I was afraid you were going to say that, if I were to bore another hole could I make it work?

NO - the machine is at an angle and the HC has to go straight - You have to get it tight enough to not flop around and mar the machine.

Dee,

There are a number of things that have to match up to make this work. The center of the HC must line up with the main shaft (if the handwheel is in alignment with this shaft). The HC body must be far enough away from the handwheel so as to not rub it. The handwheel must have spokes or be notched to take the finger of the HC. The usual method of securing the HC to the body of the machine is to bolt through the motor boss, with the ridges of the boss keeping the HC from twisting side to side (and it will twist if not secure). There are probably a few other things that I not thinking of right now.
Having said all of that, if an adaptor was made to bolt securely to the machine body and the HC was secured to the adaptor, and the spacing from HC to handwheel was proper (possibly adjustable with the adaptor thickness), then it may work.
I once saw a setup like I described done to allow a class 31 Singer be handcranked. Why someone wanted to do that I don't know, but it did work.

Cathy

Those Class 31 Singers should turn nice & easy on a HC or a treadle. There was a lady at Ray White's class made a free standing hand crank out of a knife sharpener crank. She added some wood and a peg to make it work on any spoked wheel sewing machine. The height was adjustable. You may be able to attach something like that to the base your machine is setting in.

Miriam,

Was that knife sharpener HC geared so that you turned it clockwise and it turned the handwheel counterclockwise?

cathy

I think it might have been. She had a really cool rig. She bought the knife sharpener and then build something for it to go on. I think if you mounted it on an adjustable frame it would be even better.

Hi Miriam, I'm sowing my 3/4 size New Home Ideal machine. It's a 1928 No 3. I'm sure the 3 stands for 3/4's size machine.[ATTACH=CONFIG]374187[/ATTACH]

AWE cute. I picked up a 3/4 size Minnesota not too long ago - looks much the same. I haven't had time to test it out. It looks like they could be cousins.

you can almost see the balance wheel - I made a little cover - I had a piece of quilted fabric and an embroidered doily for a pocket and some ribbon around the edges and for ties... It is covering a little Singer Spartan.
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I have to tell one on Cinderella. Someone came to my shop to buy a machine and saw my Cinderella machine. They wanted to know how much I wanted. I told them I would have to ask my DGD if it could sell it or not. So I called and asked DD to ask Miss L if it was ok if I sold Cinderella. There was a very short pause and I heard her say, "To me???" So Cinderella is waiting for DDs permission to let Miss L have Cinderella. In the mean time Miss L visits Cinderella every time she stops by... Actually she is making sure Cinderella is still there....

I'm new to QB and loving the antique stories and pictures. Recently, I've joined the ranks of sewing machine collectors. My first, a converted OEM hand crank 128, got me hooked. Study convinced me I needed a 201, a 15, 66, and 99. I've found them, and others, much to my bank account's demise. Actually, they are not the major investment, shipping is the major cost for us rural collectors. Believe me or not, my 201 cost 29.95 and only required reversing the needle. My 15 cost $0.99 plus much more shipping and handling then required and a heated discussion with the seller. The 15 only required a male electrical plug. Of course, I've oiled, adjusted and enjoyed each until the next acquire. I have a 128 lever in nice bee-hive case looking for new wires. I've tried it out and not much will be required, however, like the seller posted, "It looks dangerous." We'll fix that. Anyway, thanks for the postings, I am really enjoying them. - Ron