Sew many machines, sew little time.
10-26-2021, 12:41 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: South of St Louis
Posts: 822
Sew many machines, sew little time.
It's been a busy couple of weeks, machine-pick-up-wise. My local enabler, er...I mean sister, and I took a road trip to see my Minnesota enabler, er...I mean sister. Plus a lady across the river in IL who runs a free sewing room gave me 3 machines, and then a thrift store find locally.
IL free machines: Singer 185 (my first green machine; hopefully I won't somehow change its color while cleaning it), Necchi, Singer 128 clone
Thrift Store: Singer 401 with original manual, accessories, etc for $10. The machine spins well, but the motor wasn't spinning the machine well, so I cleaned the motor...no change...then I opened up the ceramic-insides button foot control, not for the faint of heart as those little carbon discs are fragile and hard to handle. But it works much better. I normally trust my work, but I won't be using that foot control, makes me nervous because some of the discs were broken and couldn't be used.
Minnesota: Everything else in the picture. Four machines already rehomed (New Home Rotary, Singer 27, two Lotus 66s) didn't make the picture and along with another which belongs to another post about a Kenmore 120-491. I wasn't exactly sure how many machines came home from up north, but I believe they were self replicating during the 9+ hour drive as I unpacked at least 4 machines which I didn't remember packing.
I have already cleaned the 127 in the foreground. I am not suggesting anyone try what I did, but I placed the machine in a foil roasting pan and used Gunk foaming engine degreaser, a kerosene based automotive degreaser. After it dried and received a coat of oil I think it came out OK, and I didn't lose any decals.
And lots of attachments, accessories, etc on top of all the machines.
IL free machines: Singer 185 (my first green machine; hopefully I won't somehow change its color while cleaning it), Necchi, Singer 128 clone
Thrift Store: Singer 401 with original manual, accessories, etc for $10. The machine spins well, but the motor wasn't spinning the machine well, so I cleaned the motor...no change...then I opened up the ceramic-insides button foot control, not for the faint of heart as those little carbon discs are fragile and hard to handle. But it works much better. I normally trust my work, but I won't be using that foot control, makes me nervous because some of the discs were broken and couldn't be used.
Minnesota: Everything else in the picture. Four machines already rehomed (New Home Rotary, Singer 27, two Lotus 66s) didn't make the picture and along with another which belongs to another post about a Kenmore 120-491. I wasn't exactly sure how many machines came home from up north, but I believe they were self replicating during the 9+ hour drive as I unpacked at least 4 machines which I didn't remember packing.
I have already cleaned the 127 in the foreground. I am not suggesting anyone try what I did, but I placed the machine in a foil roasting pan and used Gunk foaming engine degreaser, a kerosene based automotive degreaser. After it dried and received a coat of oil I think it came out OK, and I didn't lose any decals.
And lots of attachments, accessories, etc on top of all the machines.
10-27-2021, 01:06 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: South of St Louis
Posts: 822
Originally Posted by Fabric Galore
You are a brave soul who should be congratulated on tackling all of the restoration and repairs on these machines.
10-27-2021, 01:07 PM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: South of St Louis
Posts: 822
Originally Posted by QuiltBaer
Your machines are beautiful, especially the Singer hand crank in front. I'm trying to find one around here but haven't seen one, so far.
