Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell
10-27-2011, 08:04 PM
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Cadillac, MI
Posts: 6,487
On the Dressmaker, you can remove enough screws to get at the internal parts without doing any damage. Oil everything that looks like it might move except if it looks like it takes grease instead. I have to stand my 301 on end and oil the big bar inside while it's sewing to stop a certain groan. It's quite a trick. I bet a White manual from a similar model would have an oiling diagram.
White is not a Japanese company, but a very old, very well respected American company.
White is not a Japanese company, but a very old, very well respected American company.
10-27-2011, 08:42 PM
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 6,442
White was an American company, but for the time period of your machine, I'm not sure where those were being built. Does it say Japan?
Get the manual out and follow the instructions to oil the machine...doesn't sound to me like there's any reason to tear it apart.
Get the manual out and follow the instructions to oil the machine...doesn't sound to me like there's any reason to tear it apart.
10-27-2011, 08:56 PM
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Payette, Idaho
Posts: 84
Miriam, thanks for the information you gave several pages ago. I was able to get a Service Manual for my "dropped" 401a from one of the links. With that and your suggestions, I am ready to tackle any fixes it may need. jb
10-27-2011, 09:01 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Ft. Myers, Fl
Posts: 582
This is all of the directions in the manual. Hope the scan was good.
Do you know how old the machine is? I swear I saw some numbers on it while I had it out on the table, but couldn't find them again when I went back to look for them. I need to take it out of the bag again. I am a little short of table top space at the moment, and keep shifting the machines around, lol. Probably not the only person with that problem.
Let me try to load this scan so you can see my directions.
Found the number on the bottom....says No. 014261
Do you know how old the machine is? I swear I saw some numbers on it while I had it out on the table, but couldn't find them again when I went back to look for them. I need to take it out of the bag again. I am a little short of table top space at the moment, and keep shifting the machines around, lol. Probably not the only person with that problem.
Let me try to load this scan so you can see my directions.
Found the number on the bottom....says No. 014261
10-27-2011, 09:06 PM
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 6,442
Originally Posted by auniqueview
This is all of the directions in the manual. Hope the scan was good.
Do you know how old the machine is? I swear I saw some numbers on it while I had it out on the table, but couldn't find them again when I went back to look for them. I need to take it out of the bag again. I am a little short of table top space at the moment, and keep shifting the machines around, lol. Probably not the only person with that problem.
Let me try to load this scan so you can see my directions.
Do you know how old the machine is? I swear I saw some numbers on it while I had it out on the table, but couldn't find them again when I went back to look for them. I need to take it out of the bag again. I am a little short of table top space at the moment, and keep shifting the machines around, lol. Probably not the only person with that problem.
Let me try to load this scan so you can see my directions.
Just a guess, and I'm not always a good guesser, I'd say the machine was made sometime in the seventies or eighties...
10-27-2011, 09:24 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Ft. Myers, Fl
Posts: 582
It certainly seems to be a well built machine. Of course, lol, I am the least likely person to judge sewing machines, since I have only recently "made friends" with more than the first Brother that I have had a non-aggression treaty with for years.
My mother was a wonderful seamstress, but she must have taken a dislike to me the day I was born. I'm lucky the woman in the bed next to her had a girl, because I am named after that baby. My dad was gone most of my life, working on construction crews that worked on the big dams, etc, and then, became so ill that he spent the rest of the time in the hospital, where I did not get to see him, and died when I was 14. I was pretty much an inconvenience, except to keep an eye on my brother. We lived with my grandmother, but she died when I was 8.
My gm had a great treadle machine, and I tried sewing on it, without any instructions, but as soon as I showed an interest, poof...she got rid of it. Same deal with the upright piano, lol, so no, I don't play, either. I never learned how to sew, but took up other crafts on my own. But I made up my mind I would learn how to not only sew, but would learn how to quilt. I am determined to take a quilt to our family reunion in 2014, for the family auction. And I seldom give up on anything.
My dh is starting to wonder about me, and my quest for the "right" sewing machine. I have tried to explain to him why I keep looking for another machine, but I don't think he really gets it. I think I am going to hand him the one quilt that I started to replace/repair a square (4x4) on, and see HIM roll it tight enough to get it under the needle and turn it. Then he might really understand. We will NOT discuss my hand sewing, lol.
I am not a complete novice, and have made my dogs some outfits, and some nice beds for them and for friend's dogs. Today I totally drove myself nuts, because I kept making the same dumb mistake on a simple dog bed. Fortunately, I pin them, turn them, pin them, turn them, checking before I sew. I am NOT ripping something the size of a bed, lol. Finally it hit me....turn the piece over, dummy. I did, pinned it in place, but have left the sewing til tomorrow. Some days I wonder where I left my brain?
I really appreciate all the help I am getting from the people on the board, and all the great ideas and inspirations from seeing the wonderful quilts and other items. Thanks, everyone.
My mother was a wonderful seamstress, but she must have taken a dislike to me the day I was born. I'm lucky the woman in the bed next to her had a girl, because I am named after that baby. My dad was gone most of my life, working on construction crews that worked on the big dams, etc, and then, became so ill that he spent the rest of the time in the hospital, where I did not get to see him, and died when I was 14. I was pretty much an inconvenience, except to keep an eye on my brother. We lived with my grandmother, but she died when I was 8.
My gm had a great treadle machine, and I tried sewing on it, without any instructions, but as soon as I showed an interest, poof...she got rid of it. Same deal with the upright piano, lol, so no, I don't play, either. I never learned how to sew, but took up other crafts on my own. But I made up my mind I would learn how to not only sew, but would learn how to quilt. I am determined to take a quilt to our family reunion in 2014, for the family auction. And I seldom give up on anything.
My dh is starting to wonder about me, and my quest for the "right" sewing machine. I have tried to explain to him why I keep looking for another machine, but I don't think he really gets it. I think I am going to hand him the one quilt that I started to replace/repair a square (4x4) on, and see HIM roll it tight enough to get it under the needle and turn it. Then he might really understand. We will NOT discuss my hand sewing, lol.
I am not a complete novice, and have made my dogs some outfits, and some nice beds for them and for friend's dogs. Today I totally drove myself nuts, because I kept making the same dumb mistake on a simple dog bed. Fortunately, I pin them, turn them, pin them, turn them, checking before I sew. I am NOT ripping something the size of a bed, lol. Finally it hit me....turn the piece over, dummy. I did, pinned it in place, but have left the sewing til tomorrow. Some days I wonder where I left my brain?
I really appreciate all the help I am getting from the people on the board, and all the great ideas and inspirations from seeing the wonderful quilts and other items. Thanks, everyone.
10-27-2011, 11:54 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
Originally Posted by auniqueview
I don't know how "vintage" my machine is, but the fact that it is all metal, no plastic tells me that's a good start. It is a Dressmaker model 101. I finally pulled it out of the bag, put a needle in, threaded it up, and started it. All the stitches work nicely, bobbin runs smoothly, and the machine is nice and clean. But is started making a squeaking noise. Belt? I didn't run it too long, don't want to damage it, because I finally have one I can get a quilt under without ending up in muscle spasms, lol. Any info on this machine? I bow to all of you, because I have realized that you are better at finding this info than I am, and I used to think I was good at tracking stuff down on the net. Thanks.
10-28-2011, 12:08 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
[/quote]No, I didn't oil it. I have the instruction manual, a real plus. It shows how to open the face at the needle area, no problem, and a bird's eye view of the machine, but I am not sure how to get in there. I am hesitant to start removing screws and bits and pieces, without knowing what I am doing. I REALLY don't want to screw this machine up.[/quote]
When I take screws out of a machine I take only as many as needed to get one part off and when I am done with that part, put it back. I keep a muffin pan handy - put the screws in the pan in the order they come off. Use magnets and sticky notes too. Keep small hands and pets out of the area. Clean what ever you took off and put it back on. If you take off the nose plate there is usually one screw maybe two - some are hinged and don't have screws. There isn't anything else in there you want to remove if you can possibly help it. Then go the tension. Don't remove anything or adjust anything if it works. You can clean it like Muv does in her video on cleaning. Then look at the bobbin area. How much gunk is in there? Get a small brush or a pipe cleaner and clear out any lint. If it is fairly clean just oil it up. If it is gross you might want to take it apart - see a manual for that - again use a muffin pan - take pictures if necessary. Turn the machine upside down. There may be a pan. It usually only has one screw - oil anything that moves. On the top of the machine. Some can open up some just have big holes with covers. Oil anything that moves. If there is dried up gunky oil you will need to clean it with something that will dissolve the oil. That's about as hard as it gets. White is a good sewing machine - worth the trouble. If you want to practice find an old machine for free or cheap and take it apart and put it back together - nothing to lose. If it works then you win. Do you have a friend that can help? It is fun to do it with a friend. You both can learn.
When I take screws out of a machine I take only as many as needed to get one part off and when I am done with that part, put it back. I keep a muffin pan handy - put the screws in the pan in the order they come off. Use magnets and sticky notes too. Keep small hands and pets out of the area. Clean what ever you took off and put it back on. If you take off the nose plate there is usually one screw maybe two - some are hinged and don't have screws. There isn't anything else in there you want to remove if you can possibly help it. Then go the tension. Don't remove anything or adjust anything if it works. You can clean it like Muv does in her video on cleaning. Then look at the bobbin area. How much gunk is in there? Get a small brush or a pipe cleaner and clear out any lint. If it is fairly clean just oil it up. If it is gross you might want to take it apart - see a manual for that - again use a muffin pan - take pictures if necessary. Turn the machine upside down. There may be a pan. It usually only has one screw - oil anything that moves. On the top of the machine. Some can open up some just have big holes with covers. Oil anything that moves. If there is dried up gunky oil you will need to clean it with something that will dissolve the oil. That's about as hard as it gets. White is a good sewing machine - worth the trouble. If you want to practice find an old machine for free or cheap and take it apart and put it back together - nothing to lose. If it works then you win. Do you have a friend that can help? It is fun to do it with a friend. You both can learn.
10-28-2011, 12:48 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Ft. Myers, Fl
Posts: 582
The Dressmaker is beautifully clean. There was a little oil in the bottom of the bag it came in, but I cleaned that up with just a paper towel and some white vinegar. I wiped the exterior of the machine off, but it is really clean. It came with the bag, one bobbin, in the case, full of white thread, lol....a needle box with three regular needles, a twin needle. No extra bobbins. I am wondering if the bobbins I have that came with the Singer clone will fit it? I got 7 with that, all metal. There was a small bottle of oil with it, but I just bought a fresh bottle yesterday, because I figure I will need it for the 15. The bobbin area was all clean, no lint build up. It runs smooth, but must need oil, because it does have the squeak.
The thrift store, which my dh tells me is connected with a local church, had several machines for sale. There were two others that I looked at, in hard plastic cases, heavier than this, but I liked the fact that I could life this one, and it came in this soft case. And the machine is metal, not plastic. No vintage vintage machines there. I suspect, from the other items up on the shelves that are out of reach, and not for sale, that should a nice old Singer or such show up, it would not be offered for sale. Who ever is running the place is not selling the really great stuff like the flyer wagons, the old pedal cars, baby carriages, etc. There are some Native American items up there I would love to have a chance at....yeah, fat chance, lol.
The thrift store, which my dh tells me is connected with a local church, had several machines for sale. There were two others that I looked at, in hard plastic cases, heavier than this, but I liked the fact that I could life this one, and it came in this soft case. And the machine is metal, not plastic. No vintage vintage machines there. I suspect, from the other items up on the shelves that are out of reach, and not for sale, that should a nice old Singer or such show up, it would not be offered for sale. Who ever is running the place is not selling the really great stuff like the flyer wagons, the old pedal cars, baby carriages, etc. There are some Native American items up there I would love to have a chance at....yeah, fat chance, lol.
10-28-2011, 12:55 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
Originally Posted by auniqueview
The Dressmaker is beautifully clean. There was a little oil in the bottom of the bag it came in, but I cleaned that up with just a paper towel and some white vinegar. I wiped the exterior of the machine off, but it is really clean. It came with the bag, one bobbin, in the case, full of white thread, lol....a needle box with three regular needles, a twin needle. No extra bobbins. I am wondering if the bobbins I have that came with the Singer clone will fit it? I got 7 with that, all metal. There was a small bottle of oil with it, but I just bought a fresh bottle yesterday, because I figure I will need it for the 15. The bobbin area was all clean, no lint build up. It runs smooth, but must need oil, because it does have the squeak.
The thrift store, which my dh tells me is connected with a local church, had several machines for sale. There were two others that I looked at, in hard plastic cases, heavier than this, but I liked the fact that I could life this one, and it came in this soft case. And the machine is metal, not plastic. No vintage vintage machines there. I suspect, from the other items up on the shelves that are out of reach, and not for sale, that should a nice old Singer or such show up, it would not be offered for sale. Who ever is running the place is not selling the really great stuff like the flyer wagons, the old pedal cars, baby carriages, etc. There are some Native American items up there I would love to have a chance at....yeah, fat chance, lol.
The thrift store, which my dh tells me is connected with a local church, had several machines for sale. There were two others that I looked at, in hard plastic cases, heavier than this, but I liked the fact that I could life this one, and it came in this soft case. And the machine is metal, not plastic. No vintage vintage machines there. I suspect, from the other items up on the shelves that are out of reach, and not for sale, that should a nice old Singer or such show up, it would not be offered for sale. Who ever is running the place is not selling the really great stuff like the flyer wagons, the old pedal cars, baby carriages, etc. There are some Native American items up there I would love to have a chance at....yeah, fat chance, lol.
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