Originally Posted by miriam

nice rig!!!!! I'd love to find one like that around here.

Originally Posted by quiltdoctor

Yep that is the one. Mine was electrified. I can't see any sign by way of scratches or use marks that my cabinet ever was completely outfitted to be a treadle machine. She was made in 1948 (my birth year) AH701263. She has had quite a bit of use. I will restore the cabinet if it ever cools down enough here in Texas. Here are her before pictures. I paid $50.00 for her in a garage sale.

Texas Jan

Originally Posted by jljack

Not long ago the question of when the first FW 221s came out was asked. I was just looking at the serial number records, and it looks like the first run started Oct 1933. For 2 years before that, at least, there are no 221s listed.

Originally Posted by SerendipiD

I am very new here,

Now, I have the problem of... my plastic machines just don't give me the satisfaction that this one does - so I'd love to find an old machine that does a zig-zag (love the look of the 301s, but I don't think they do it). Does anyone have any recommendations for me?

THanks!
D~

Originally Posted by miriam

If you can assemble a quilt you can do this: I would take the whole thing apart - yup take it apart. No kids. No pets. No DH. 'o/ Keep a muffin pan around and put the parts in it in order as you take it off. Use the tension diagram in the manual. A lot of the old manuals have instructions to take the tension apart and put it back together. (The first time I did one I was very nervous - I shook the whole time.) Just go slow - look at it carefully as you go. Clean EVERYTHING real good and put it back together according to the diagram. I amaze myself every time I do one. I don't even need the diagram anymore. I just routinely clean the tension when I get an old machine. Dried up oil can cause drag and rust or burrs can break threads - dust bunnies need to come out all makes the tension messed.. Hey if nothing else you can run some dental floss through there and pick up some of it. I just like the feel of it when I've taken it apart and cleaned it. Keep another machine right next to you so you can look at it as you reassemble. Here is an expanded diagram. It is the only one I know of with the picture of the pin. It is from sewclassic's catalog - I hope Jenny doesn't mind. http://shop.sew-classic.com/Tension-...572-125417.htm I posted it a couple pages back as well. If it doesn't go back together right take it apart and do it again. Pay attention to how that spring goes when you take it apart and in the diagram and in the other machine you have next to you. You can do this. You have made quilts. You have cooked. Go slow and don't worry it has been done before. If it is any help the service manual has about the same instructions as the owner's manual. They must have meant for the owner to take that tension apart on occasion. I do have one that doesn't work. It needs some adjustment on the presser lever. I haven't done that - the machine isn't turning and needs a total spa treatment some time.

Originally Posted by Lostn51

Take the motor off and flip it over so that the oil can drain out of the holes. You might need to shake the snot out of it every once in a while but if you leave it upside down for a day or two it should drain out. It will however smoke like the dickens when you get the rascal back on and running again until all of the oil is out.

Billy

Originally Posted by hootnannie

I'm always looking at CL and wish I could afford this beauty. I've not seen a cabinet like this before... gorgeous!!
http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/atq/2472363807.html

Originally Posted by Kathie S.

I had issues with my FW also. I got discouraged and sold it to Nancy for what I paid for it. Nancy, being the wonderful person that she is, would not stop working on it until she found out the problem. She took a flashlight and tweezers and worked on it for a long time and found a long hair in the bobbin area. That fixed the tension problem. Kathie

Originally Posted by jtapp9

So, do you ever really get a perfect tension on the old machines? I have a black 301 that I LUV. I use it but the tension has always been a "tad" off. There is always a tiny bit showing either top or bottom. And my top tension will be awful if I do anything other than between 0-1

I have a tan 301 that i'm not so in love with. Doesn't sound the same as the black one and I just can't bond with it yet. I can NOT get the tension even remotely good on this one. It's "ok" but not right. I'm tempted to pop it in the cabinet and use it just to be using it and hoping it works out some on it's own. I'm seriously thiking of sending it to Billy in a few months for a makeover. I love red. Maybe I would LUV it in red :)

Now I know why I would always hear my mom bit*hing about the tension :oops: