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Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell

Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell

Old 04-11-2012, 05:10 PM
  #33451  
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I have a real hankering for a Singer 31, too. Must be in the air. Meanwhile I have not made much progress on building my workshop....TWO different contractors have come around, discussed, said they'd send estimates and have never been heard from again.....I keep telling myself that once my garage is a workshop/sewing room, I will get a 31....
Laura

And today, I told dh I really would like to see what the 31-15 does. Anyone here have the knowledge to tell me if the motor and all would be safe to use if I share photos? Or be able to point me in the right direction?

best,
d[/QUOTE]
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Old 04-11-2012, 05:28 PM
  #33452  
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Originally Posted by Whigrose View Post
Gosh, I miss you guys and gals. I'll be back on more after the weekend.

A big friendly 'Welcome chris-quilts'. You'll love it here. We all acknowledge there IS a 12-step program for people like us. We just don't want to hear about it. :-)

I'm a bit nervous - tomorrow we are driving an hour away to have dh fitted for his tux.He suggested we go gunkholing on RT 1 where there's tons of antique shops and malls. Even the shop that had the 127 La Vinc... in the bentwood case. If it's still there, I KNOW he won't leave this time without it.

My name is d and I don't need another machine_ maybe, well, it isssss nice. No. Um... ~giggle~

Once this wedding is beyond us, I have so much 'Glenn work' to do.

And today, I told dh I really would like to see what the 31-15 does. Anyone here have the knowledge to tell me if the motor and all would be safe to use if I share photos? Or be able to point me in the right direction?

best,
d
Mizkaki is my "go-to girl"!! Either Cathy or Miriam...
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Old 04-11-2012, 05:52 PM
  #33453  
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It has a motor - bigger than your washing machine motor. It has a belt. The belt goes on a pulley. That is about it - no internal wiring on those machines. The light would be an add on. I would look at the wires - if nothing is frayed, I'd plug it in and turn it on with one hand on a circuit breaker. See if any sparks fly out of it I guess. There are places that overhaul motors. Just un-hook it and haul it in to a place. They can clean it up if nothing else. You can kind of look and see how gunky it looks. There isn't a whole lot to the wiring system on them. Other than that, I don't know how you tell if the motor is ok or not on those big honkers. Maybe Joe knows.
edit: there might be a switch on the table - wiring run from the motor to the switch - check that.

Last edited by miriam; 04-11-2012 at 05:57 PM.
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Old 04-11-2012, 06:02 PM
  #33454  
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Originally Posted by Whigrose View Post
Gosh, I miss you guys and gals. I'll be back on more after the weekend.

A big friendly 'Welcome chris-quilts'. You'll love it here. We all acknowledge there IS a 12-step program for people like us. We just don't want to hear about it. :-)

I'm a bit nervous - tomorrow we are driving an hour away to have dh fitted for his tux.He suggested we go gunkholing on RT 1 where there's tons of antique shops and malls. Even the shop that had the 127 La Vinc... in the bentwood case. If it's still there, I KNOW he won't leave this time without it.

My name is d and I don't need another machine_ maybe, well, it isssss nice. No. Um... ~giggle~

Once this wedding is beyond us, I have so much 'Glenn work' to do.

And today, I told dh I really would like to see what the 31-15 does. Anyone here have the knowledge to tell me if the motor and all would be safe to use if I share photos? Or be able to point me in the right direction?

best,
d
Well, I think we are suppose to do the serenity prayer before you say:
My name is d and I don't need another machine_ maybe, well, it isssss nice. No. Um... ~giggle~
Oh and btw I fell off the wagon already - won a 306 on GW this evening... I can't remember what color it is or what I paid - I just know I had to have it. I hope it's all there...
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Old 04-11-2012, 06:11 PM
  #33455  
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Sounds like intervention time if you can't even remember the color of the machine or what you paid for it.
Slowly say: MY name is __________ and I haven't bought a machine today. But it's still early so help me avoid the temptation. Failing that, let the machine be reasonably priced.
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Old 04-11-2012, 06:12 PM
  #33456  
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Originally Posted by chris_quilts View Post
sounds like intervention time if you can't even remember the color of the machine or what you paid for it.
Slowly say: My name is __________ and i haven't bought a machine today. But it's still early so help me avoid the temptation. Failing that, let the machine be reasonably priced. :d:d:d
rotflmao

Last edited by Charlee; 04-11-2012 at 06:19 PM.
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Old 04-11-2012, 06:16 PM
  #33457  
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Originally Posted by chris_quilts View Post
Sounds like intervention time if you can't even remember the color of the machine or what you paid for it.
Slowly say: MY name is __________ and I haven't bought a machine today. But it's still early so help me avoid the temptation. Failing that, let the machine be reasonably priced.
Ok folks, I vote chris_quilts in. You?

Too flipping funny.

best,
d
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Old 04-11-2012, 06:19 PM
  #33458  
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Originally Posted by miriam View Post
It has a motor - bigger than your washing machine motor. It has a belt...
miriam,
Thanks. got all that.
When the machine was given to me by the theater folks, they said it was in the building and they never used it. I have no idea how long it has sat or what it looks like inside the machine itself. Outside, looks good but that doesn't always tell the whole story, as we well know.

After this weekend, the gloves are off.

best,
d
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Old 04-11-2012, 06:21 PM
  #33459  
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This Sigma should take a standard 15x1 needle with the flat to the right. It threads left to right.
The picture looks like everything is there. The needle clamp surrounds the needle bar and applies pressure
to the needle to hold it against the inside of the groove that it sits in. Make sure that the needle's flat side
is to the right so that it presses against the inside of the groove.

If you are still having a problem, please post a closeup picture of the needle clamp.

Cathy


Originally Posted by rosie99 View Post
Thanks for the welcome. A little more explanation on the problem with Sigma needle. First of, I'm not sure what needle goes with it as I can find very little info on Sigma machines. But 15's were with it. It seems like the slot for the needle is quite deep and the needle clamp screw and collar to hold the needle does nothing to holdhe needle t in place. Maybe the wrong needle clamp? I would really like to get this operational as everything else "seems" to be fine. It vertical bobbin and you can drop the feed dogs. Any suggestions on the machine would be appreciated.

Jackie
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Old 04-11-2012, 06:47 PM
  #33460  
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D,

The clutch motors that came on the 31-15 and -20 machines are pretty sturdy motors.

Since it has been sitting for years you can expect a lot of dust in the inner workings. This will
smell and maybe even smoke lightly when first run.

Personally the first thing I'd do is to very carefully check the wiring from the wall plug to the off-on switch and from the switch to the motor.
The motor is probably very dry so will need oil. A drop or two on each end of the main shaft to start. Look for an oil reservoir with wicks, it it has one this needs to be filled and the wicks primed by dripping oiling along their length.
Then I'd take a paint brush and dust off every part of the motor that I could reach.

Cathy


Originally Posted by Whigrose View Post

And today, I told dh I really would like to see what the 31-15 does. Anyone here have the knowledge to tell me if the motor and all would be safe to use if I share photos? Or be able to point me in the right direction?

best,
d
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