ArchaicArcane

I've read that it's about 15 mins with the tool, and about an hour without, and the risk of damage if you don't use the tool. It sounds well worth renting the tool, if he'll send it to me.

I suspect it is all my fault. But thanks for the benefit of the doubt. The machine didn't seem like it had ever been worked on other than being taken in for service, and in 85, I'd guess the pulleys were still available (since the elna dealer here said that they hadn't been available for 15 years.)

That was actually between the top tension disks. It was wedged in so far I didn't see it the first time. It was only after I removed the tension assembly from the machine that I saw it. I think it looks bigger in the image, it looks like thick thread sitting on my desk.

Straight stitching is fine, very pretty stitches. It's weird because both of my vintage "swing needle" machines do this when zigzagging, but not the newer ones, and of course not the straight stitch only machines.

The supermatic I have has no built in stitches. The machine was transported in the back of the car. It did fall down, but nothing seems to have been misaligned.

I seem to be finding the same thing.

The first time I threaded the bobbin, I had a similar problem. I found in my case that it was because I hadn't gotten the thread completely under the tension spring, and it popped out. I seem to prefer the bobbin you describe, but so far, in testing, I haven't seen any difference. I'm sure some will come to light as soon as I start sewing with it regularly.

I haven't had it pop out yet, I'll be sure to be on the watch for it.

I hope I start to enjoy this machine soon, so far it's been a little frustrating, partly I'm sure because I've been trying to get the "perfect" stitch out of it, and partly because I've rehabbed a lot of machines in the last few months, and it's the only one that's defied me consistently. Enough so that I actually stopped using my sewing room for sewing for the last week, and devoted my time to building wood boxes for the machines and attachments instead.

Oh well, I've been meaning to build the boxes for a while, so maybe once I'm finished them, I won't have any more excuses.