Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell
10-25-2011, 06:40 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 4,827
OK...I'm up to page 8 and I already have a question. I have a 403A Slant-O-Matic, which I dearly love. I went to the Singer site to try to date her and I found conflicting information. It's my understanding that the Slant-O-Matic series started in 1958, but Singer says that the serial number on my machine dates it at 1951. Please help, I'm confused. Thanks.
~Cindy
~Cindy
10-25-2011, 06:43 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
Originally Posted by tropit
OK...I'm up to page 8 and I already have a question. I have a 403A Slant-O-Matic, which I dearly love. I went to the Singer site to try to date her and I found conflicting information. It's my understanding that the Slant-O-Matic series started in 1958, but Singer says that the serial number on my machine dates it at 1951. Please help, I'm confused. Thanks.
~Cindy
~Cindy
10-25-2011, 06:45 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Outer Space
Posts: 9,319
Originally Posted by BoJangles
Originally Posted by Glenn
Nancy if you send me your email address I will sent you a short clip of the machine in action in the treadle. If you have a red eye with the treadle no modification is necessary except to remove the motor and place in you cabinet. You will need a belt longer than the one on the red eye. I think any singer treadle with same dim as the red eye would work. My 319 fits the back lift hinges on the treadle. You will see an old man working the machine to LOL
Glenn
Glenn
Thank you!
Nancy
10-25-2011, 06:45 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 1,618
Nancy, Glenn and Charlee,
Thank you for your responses. It sounds like the belt motors are easier to deal with. I'm still leary about not really knowing what I'm looking for. The tension on the faceplate is a really good tip. I'm hoping to find one that runs good or doesn't need a lot of work. It seems like people in this area are really in the know about how popular vintage machines are right now. CL is full of "antique" sewing machine offers for 250.00 and up!
Someday, when we don't live in a 2 bedroom apartment, I'll be able to start securing tables for these ladies!
I want to practice piecing on the 66, but I haven't found the accurate 1/4 seam yet. I have a screw on seam guide like what Glenn has. I think I'm going to change it to the narrower foot, then measure, then put the seam guide on and see if that helps it. I won't be piecing anything new until after the new year, so I won't worry about it for a little while. Need to make my Christmas list so hubby knows what parts and accessories I need.
Oh, on thread. I'm learning about the different weights on thread and stuff. I know not to use hand quilting thread in my little Janome, could I use it in the 66? Someone gifted me two HUGE spools of it and I doubt I'll live long enough to quilt that much purple thread by hand.
Do most other types of thread sew good in a VSM? I would rather not create an environment that requires me to adjust the tension. I'm still really scared of that knob!
Thank you for your responses. It sounds like the belt motors are easier to deal with. I'm still leary about not really knowing what I'm looking for. The tension on the faceplate is a really good tip. I'm hoping to find one that runs good or doesn't need a lot of work. It seems like people in this area are really in the know about how popular vintage machines are right now. CL is full of "antique" sewing machine offers for 250.00 and up!
Someday, when we don't live in a 2 bedroom apartment, I'll be able to start securing tables for these ladies!
I want to practice piecing on the 66, but I haven't found the accurate 1/4 seam yet. I have a screw on seam guide like what Glenn has. I think I'm going to change it to the narrower foot, then measure, then put the seam guide on and see if that helps it. I won't be piecing anything new until after the new year, so I won't worry about it for a little while. Need to make my Christmas list so hubby knows what parts and accessories I need.
Oh, on thread. I'm learning about the different weights on thread and stuff. I know not to use hand quilting thread in my little Janome, could I use it in the 66? Someone gifted me two HUGE spools of it and I doubt I'll live long enough to quilt that much purple thread by hand.
Do most other types of thread sew good in a VSM? I would rather not create an environment that requires me to adjust the tension. I'm still really scared of that knob!
10-25-2011, 06:50 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
Originally Posted by mpeters1200
Nancy, Glenn and Charlee,
Thank you for your responses. It sounds like the belt motors are easier to deal with. I'm still leary about not really knowing what I'm looking for. The tension on the faceplate is a really good tip. I'm hoping to find one that runs good or doesn't need a lot of work. It seems like people in this area are really in the know about how popular vintage machines are right now. CL is full of "antique" sewing machine offers for 250.00 and up!
Someday, when we don't live in a 2 bedroom apartment, I'll be able to start securing tables for these ladies!
I want to practice piecing on the 66, but I haven't found the accurate 1/4 seam yet. I have a screw on seam guide like what Glenn has. I think I'm going to change it to the narrower foot, then measure, then put the seam guide on and see if that helps it. I won't be piecing anything new until after the new year, so I won't worry about it for a little while. Need to make my Christmas list so hubby knows what parts and accessories I need.
Oh, on thread. I'm learning about the different weights on thread and stuff. I know not to use hand quilting thread in my little Janome, could I use it in the 66? Someone gifted me two HUGE spools of it and I doubt I'll live long enough to quilt that much purple thread by hand.
Do most other types of thread sew good in a VSM? I would rather not create an environment that requires me to adjust the tension. I'm still really scared of that knob!
Thank you for your responses. It sounds like the belt motors are easier to deal with. I'm still leary about not really knowing what I'm looking for. The tension on the faceplate is a really good tip. I'm hoping to find one that runs good or doesn't need a lot of work. It seems like people in this area are really in the know about how popular vintage machines are right now. CL is full of "antique" sewing machine offers for 250.00 and up!
Someday, when we don't live in a 2 bedroom apartment, I'll be able to start securing tables for these ladies!
I want to practice piecing on the 66, but I haven't found the accurate 1/4 seam yet. I have a screw on seam guide like what Glenn has. I think I'm going to change it to the narrower foot, then measure, then put the seam guide on and see if that helps it. I won't be piecing anything new until after the new year, so I won't worry about it for a little while. Need to make my Christmas list so hubby knows what parts and accessories I need.
Oh, on thread. I'm learning about the different weights on thread and stuff. I know not to use hand quilting thread in my little Janome, could I use it in the 66? Someone gifted me two HUGE spools of it and I doubt I'll live long enough to quilt that much purple thread by hand.
Do most other types of thread sew good in a VSM? I would rather not create an environment that requires me to adjust the tension. I'm still really scared of that knob!
10-25-2011, 06:59 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 6,442
You don't want to use hand quilting thread in ANY machine because of the wax coating...it'll gum up the tension discs. I know how you feel tho, I have a collection of hand quilting threads (no purple tho! :lol: )
I used to be scared of the tension knob myself. I think because of Mama, when she was teaching me on her Featherweight gave me a stern "Don't TOUCH that!". :lol: There hasn't been a dealer that I've talked to either that didn't say, "If the bobbin tension needs adjustment, bring it in!". Now I'm fearless! I adjust the top first, and if that doesn't work for me, I center the top tension and go after the bobbin! ;)
I used to be scared of the tension knob myself. I think because of Mama, when she was teaching me on her Featherweight gave me a stern "Don't TOUCH that!". :lol: There hasn't been a dealer that I've talked to either that didn't say, "If the bobbin tension needs adjustment, bring it in!". Now I'm fearless! I adjust the top first, and if that doesn't work for me, I center the top tension and go after the bobbin! ;)
10-25-2011, 07:03 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 2,609
Originally Posted by lee231
The adjustment is from the backside, under the arm, the hole behind the needle bar, needle bar has to be aligned with the hole. Wait for Glen to say how to make the adjustment. b/c I don't know.
Originally Posted by miriam
cocked needle bar
10-25-2011, 07:11 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 2,609
Originally Posted by Charlee
You don't want to use hand quilting thread in ANY machine because of the wax coating...it'll gum up the tension discs. I know how you feel tho, I have a collection of hand quilting threads (no purple tho! :lol: )
I used to be scared of the tension knob myself. I think because of Mama, when she was teaching me on her Featherweight gave me a stern "Don't TOUCH that!". :lol: There hasn't been a dealer that I've talked to either that didn't say, "If the bobbin tension needs adjustment, bring it in!". Now I'm fearless! I adjust the top first, and if that doesn't work for me, I center the top tension and go after the bobbin! ;)
I used to be scared of the tension knob myself. I think because of Mama, when she was teaching me on her Featherweight gave me a stern "Don't TOUCH that!". :lol: There hasn't been a dealer that I've talked to either that didn't say, "If the bobbin tension needs adjustment, bring it in!". Now I'm fearless! I adjust the top first, and if that doesn't work for me, I center the top tension and go after the bobbin! ;)
10-25-2011, 07:13 AM
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 231
Originally Posted by quiltdoctor
Originally Posted by Charlee
That's terrific Jan! Congrats on the ribbon, are you going to post pics? :)
Texas Jan
That is a work of art.
What does needle turn mean?
10-25-2011, 07:27 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 1,618
I'm going to have to make a jewel toned quilt with a lots of purple so I can use up some of that thread then! No HQ thread in the machine. Okie dokie. I know some, like the ones I prefer, are coated, but this thread didn't seem like dental floss like some of my others. It can go in the collection as I am amassing some thread colors!
I love this thread. I have already had such a great time playing on my machine. I'm learning so much!
Thanks guys!
I love this thread. I have already had such a great time playing on my machine. I'm learning so much!
Thanks guys!
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