Friday, November 29, 2013
Dressmaker 650 - built Ford tough
These old sewing machines are nearly indestructible. Take this cast iron Dressmaker 650. I could probably run over this thing with my 6,600 pound Ford F250 4x4 and it would still work. Little bits might snap off or bend and it wouldn't look pretty but it is so beefy that it would probably still work.
Another banner day at Goodwill - although 'banner' may be a little strong
Thinking in a normal person's terms, snagging three sewing machines in one day would be a banner day. Or a worst nightmare maybe for the spouse of someone bringing home three sewing machines in one day. I guess it depends on your perspective. For me it was a pretty normal haul.
Today being Black Friday, the Goodwill stores in our area had a 50% off sale on any item that had a colored tag. I'm weak, I just couldn't resist. The first Goodwill had a Singer 6212C. I'm not sure if it works yet but it is fairly new so it shouldn't be a problem. Strange thing is, on most of my sewing machine purchases, the lamp on nearly every one of them still works. No extra charge for that tidbit of information. Here's the Singer.
Today being Black Friday, the Goodwill stores in our area had a 50% off sale on any item that had a colored tag. I'm weak, I just couldn't resist. The first Goodwill had a Singer 6212C. I'm not sure if it works yet but it is fairly new so it shouldn't be a problem. Strange thing is, on most of my sewing machine purchases, the lamp on nearly every one of them still works. No extra charge for that tidbit of information. Here's the Singer.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Kenmore's Finest... back in 1949 - Kenmore 117.959
I have a JPG file of an old Kenmore ad that states the model 95 was Kenmore's Finest. Well, what was once the finest machine Sears sold some 64 years ago is now an outcast Goodwill relic.
I was browsing the aisles at the immense Seattle Goodwill by I-90 and came across a small chair that had a couple drawers that slid out to the side. I thought to myself that it looked a lot like a sewing cabinet chair. I slid out one of the drawers and, lo and behold, there were some old Kenmore attachments and an owners manual. I thought it strange that someone would donate just a sewing cabinet chair to Goodwill and not the whole machine.
Just about then my wife asked, "Did you see the sewing machine over here?" She was just on the other side of the shelf unit I was at, so the sewing machine and chair had gotten separated by about 8 feet. I went over to the machine, looked at the cabinet, looked at the chair, looked at the cabinet again. Yep, they go together.
I just couldn't pass up this little treasure trove of history, all in one neat little package, and one neat little price of $12.99 plus tax.
I was browsing the aisles at the immense Seattle Goodwill by I-90 and came across a small chair that had a couple drawers that slid out to the side. I thought to myself that it looked a lot like a sewing cabinet chair. I slid out one of the drawers and, lo and behold, there were some old Kenmore attachments and an owners manual. I thought it strange that someone would donate just a sewing cabinet chair to Goodwill and not the whole machine.
Just about then my wife asked, "Did you see the sewing machine over here?" She was just on the other side of the shelf unit I was at, so the sewing machine and chair had gotten separated by about 8 feet. I went over to the machine, looked at the cabinet, looked at the chair, looked at the cabinet again. Yep, they go together.
I just couldn't pass up this little treasure trove of history, all in one neat little package, and one neat little price of $12.99 plus tax.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Universal Admiral Class 15 Clone
I have two old black Universal class 15 clones, one a DeLuxe and the other an Admiral. There are some subtle differences, like a feed dog drop feature and the Singer-style stitch length lever on the DeLuxe. I wonder which one is older. I'd guess the DeLuxe is, but I'm not sure. The two machines have very similar decals.
Here's the DeLuxe.
And the Admiral.
Here's the DeLuxe.
And the Admiral.
Spring Cleaning - in November
I don't know if it was because of the nice young lady that runs "My Sewing Machine Obsession" blog (Elizabeth), or if I'd just had enough of my basement, and more specifically, my "work bench" that got me to do some straightening up. Elizabeth had just blogged how she cleaned up her work area. That may have been just the nudge that made me do something about my sewing machine dungeon.
My "work bench" has been a 3-foot square folding card table (from the 50s I'm sure, with the little tubular steel legs that fold up). When I'd put the pedal to the metal on a machine and it got going full-tilt, the table would also be doing its own little jig. Things would rattle off the table and onto the floor. It was getting annoying.
Back before my sewing machines started reproducing on their own (it seems), most of them fit onto a super-heavy-duty-industrial-strength steel table (phone company surplus from 30 years ago, back when sturdy really meant something). Well, now that table could be put to better use as my work bench, and I'd put the sewing machines on a newly-freed-up storage rack. Brilliant. On a rare occasion I actually have a good idea.
Here's a before shot of the steel table and general area. I guess you can't even see the table buried under the clutter...
My "work bench" has been a 3-foot square folding card table (from the 50s I'm sure, with the little tubular steel legs that fold up). When I'd put the pedal to the metal on a machine and it got going full-tilt, the table would also be doing its own little jig. Things would rattle off the table and onto the floor. It was getting annoying.
Back before my sewing machines started reproducing on their own (it seems), most of them fit onto a super-heavy-duty-industrial-strength steel table (phone company surplus from 30 years ago, back when sturdy really meant something). Well, now that table could be put to better use as my work bench, and I'd put the sewing machines on a newly-freed-up storage rack. Brilliant. On a rare occasion I actually have a good idea.
Here's a before shot of the steel table and general area. I guess you can't even see the table buried under the clutter...
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Even the best machines have their drawbacks - Pfaff 130
We sewing machine nut-types hear a lot about sewing machines having all metal construction, steel gears, et cetera. I for one like those types of features, so when I was poking around in my latest project, a Pfaff 130, I was more than a little startled to see not one, but two gears that were not steel.
I didn't get photographs of the two offending parts but I can tell you where they are. A white colored nylon gear runs off the upper main shaft and provides the movement for the needle zig zag swing. The gear can be seen if you pull off the back cover of the machine. The second non-steel gear is on the rotary hook shaft. I don't know the technical term for the gear material but I'd call it a fiber gear. It is a brownish color. I did an online search and came up with "Linen Phenolic", which might be what it is.
The two non-steel gears are to me a drawback (albeit a small one) of the Pfaff 130. Then of course there is also the fiber timing belt that drives the lower shaft of the sewing machine. I can fully understand and appreciate that Pfaff chose those materials for the gears and timing belt because of the unique qualities of the materials but it wouldn't be my first choice in a machine that will last several lifetimes only if those parts can withstand the aging process.
I didn't get photographs of the two offending parts but I can tell you where they are. A white colored nylon gear runs off the upper main shaft and provides the movement for the needle zig zag swing. The gear can be seen if you pull off the back cover of the machine. The second non-steel gear is on the rotary hook shaft. I don't know the technical term for the gear material but I'd call it a fiber gear. It is a brownish color. I did an online search and came up with "Linen Phenolic", which might be what it is.
The two non-steel gears are to me a drawback (albeit a small one) of the Pfaff 130. Then of course there is also the fiber timing belt that drives the lower shaft of the sewing machine. I can fully understand and appreciate that Pfaff chose those materials for the gears and timing belt because of the unique qualities of the materials but it wouldn't be my first choice in a machine that will last several lifetimes only if those parts can withstand the aging process.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Singer 920, you growl too...
I shouldn't have expected any different from the 920 once I started working on it. Especially right after getting the 900 going. I really think it is just the electronic controls for the motors that causes the growl. It isn't unbearable by any means but it certainly is louder than a silky smooth vintage cast iron Singer 15-91.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Singer 900, why do you growl at me?
I'm not sure how popular Singer 900 sewing machines are. Looking at this one, it seems to be very well built, with typical Singer quality in many places (but then there are other places that are lacking a bit). When I first plugged this one in and fired it up, it growled. Wow. What a noise. I'm thinking it is because it has an electronic motor control and running at slow speed seems to make the various parts vibrate loudly. However, once I oiled it up, the growling subsided substantially. It is now a fine running machine.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Elna Transforma - the little sibling to the Supermatic
This here photo below shows the native form of the elusive friction drive tire on an Elna Transforma sewing machine. The highly technical term for this phenomenon is "flat spot". Ah, the dreaded flat spot.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Montgomery Wards Simplicity - Happy Times
You're thinking, "Huh? What's he so happy about?" Most people wouldn't be too happy about a sewing machine that took the better part of a day to get to stitch properly. My Happy-ness is in this next photo:
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Singer 403A Completes The Set
I can finally stop my seemingly endless search for Yet Another Sewing Machine (YASM). Ok, I suppose I can't go so far as to say I'm cured of YASM, but having a complete set of a particular model run of sewing machines is something we 'nuts' strive for.
For those that, when they hear the numbers 401 - 403 - 404 and don't have a clue to what those numbers mean, I'll clue you in. What I'm referring to is when Singer was producing what many think are the quintessential sewing machine family, the Singer slant-needle 400-series.
The model 401 was the top of the line Singer in the late 50s. It could do it all, and it could do it without having to pull one cam and insert another. Scads of stitch options (not sure how many but somewhere between 10 and 100) were available merely by turning a couple knobs on the front of the machine. And it could take cams as well. The 403 was the lower-priced variant that only took cams, no built-in stitches were to be had. The 404 was the straight-stitch variant that was for those looking for no frills, or possibly for use in school home-ec classes.
I have no clue how Singer managed to come up with the numbering scheme they used for sewing machines back then. When I'd mentioned 401, 403 & 404 to my wife and daughter, they immediately asked, "What, no 402?" All I could say was, I have no clue why. And Singer made things more convoluted when they introduced the 500-series. There's a 500 (successor to the 401) and a 503 (successor to the 403). Ok, so the 403 and 503 make sense, but where's the 501, 502 and 504? I just don't know.
Well, now that the (very lengthy) preamble is out of the way, here's the subject of today's blog:
The machine pictured above is the illustrious Singer 403A, the "cam-only" version of the 400-family. I had picked up a 401 some years back and not too long ago I found a 404, so this 403 rounds out the 400-series collection.
It came in a portable Singer case that has seen better days, but I think is salvageable with a fair bit of elbow grease, some warm soap and water, and maybe a little glue.
And it even came with a bunch of attachments and 9 cams.
Not a bad haul, I'd say. The only down side is that the stitch length knob is missing, but there may be one waiting for me on that popular auction site...
For those that, when they hear the numbers 401 - 403 - 404 and don't have a clue to what those numbers mean, I'll clue you in. What I'm referring to is when Singer was producing what many think are the quintessential sewing machine family, the Singer slant-needle 400-series.
The model 401 was the top of the line Singer in the late 50s. It could do it all, and it could do it without having to pull one cam and insert another. Scads of stitch options (not sure how many but somewhere between 10 and 100) were available merely by turning a couple knobs on the front of the machine. And it could take cams as well. The 403 was the lower-priced variant that only took cams, no built-in stitches were to be had. The 404 was the straight-stitch variant that was for those looking for no frills, or possibly for use in school home-ec classes.
I have no clue how Singer managed to come up with the numbering scheme they used for sewing machines back then. When I'd mentioned 401, 403 & 404 to my wife and daughter, they immediately asked, "What, no 402?" All I could say was, I have no clue why. And Singer made things more convoluted when they introduced the 500-series. There's a 500 (successor to the 401) and a 503 (successor to the 403). Ok, so the 403 and 503 make sense, but where's the 501, 502 and 504? I just don't know.
Well, now that the (very lengthy) preamble is out of the way, here's the subject of today's blog:
The machine pictured above is the illustrious Singer 403A, the "cam-only" version of the 400-family. I had picked up a 401 some years back and not too long ago I found a 404, so this 403 rounds out the 400-series collection.
It came in a portable Singer case that has seen better days, but I think is salvageable with a fair bit of elbow grease, some warm soap and water, and maybe a little glue.
And it even came with a bunch of attachments and 9 cams.
Not a bad haul, I'd say. The only down side is that the stitch length knob is missing, but there may be one waiting for me on that popular auction site...
Friday, September 13, 2013
Ciphering for dummies
I was doing some ciphering (Jethro Bodine of Beverly Hillbillies fame is one of my childhood heros, and he was a ciphering fool) on my latest eBay sale, and it's not pretty. I got one bid on my sewing machine, so it sold for the starting price of $34.95. Could have been better but not bad, I thought. So then I started to break down my costs versus my percieved $34.95 profit.
Shipping to Maine was $47.72 for the 41-pound box containing the sewing machine and goodies (no fancy "express" or "priority", just plain-jane shipping). I charged a flat $13 handling fee to cover the box (I purchase heavy duty double wall boxes, especially appropriate for this cast iron beauty), packing peanuts, bubble wrap, plus the package of needles and thread I provide the buyer. Those actual costs are about $12.20 but I figure I can legitimately charge 80 cents for my labor packing the machine up and driving it to the post office. I suppose I actually lose money on my 80 cents too, with gas prices the way they are, but I digress.
The final shipping/handling fee was $60.72 ($47.72 + $13.00). The eBay/PayPal fees were $12.64, based on the $95.67 total price ($60.72 + $34.95). So, what did I make on this sewing machine?
* $95.67 came into my PayPal account from the buyer.
* $47.72 went out to pay USPS shipping from the West coast to the East coast.
* $12.64 went out to eBay/PayPal for their fees.
* $12.20 went out for the box/packing peanuts/needles/thread.
* $14.11 I paid for the machine at Goodwill.
I netted $9.00 in my pocket for a nearly-$100 transaction, not counting the hours I spent cleaning and oiling the sewing machine, and the labor and gas money expended to procure and ship the thing. I should have left well enough alone and not delved into this. I never did figure this sewing machine hobby to be a money-maker but it would be nice to break even.
Shipping to Maine was $47.72 for the 41-pound box containing the sewing machine and goodies (no fancy "express" or "priority", just plain-jane shipping). I charged a flat $13 handling fee to cover the box (I purchase heavy duty double wall boxes, especially appropriate for this cast iron beauty), packing peanuts, bubble wrap, plus the package of needles and thread I provide the buyer. Those actual costs are about $12.20 but I figure I can legitimately charge 80 cents for my labor packing the machine up and driving it to the post office. I suppose I actually lose money on my 80 cents too, with gas prices the way they are, but I digress.
The final shipping/handling fee was $60.72 ($47.72 + $13.00). The eBay/PayPal fees were $12.64, based on the $95.67 total price ($60.72 + $34.95). So, what did I make on this sewing machine?
* $95.67 came into my PayPal account from the buyer.
* $47.72 went out to pay USPS shipping from the West coast to the East coast.
* $12.64 went out to eBay/PayPal for their fees.
* $12.20 went out for the box/packing peanuts/needles/thread.
* $14.11 I paid for the machine at Goodwill.
I netted $9.00 in my pocket for a nearly-$100 transaction, not counting the hours I spent cleaning and oiling the sewing machine, and the labor and gas money expended to procure and ship the thing. I should have left well enough alone and not delved into this. I never did figure this sewing machine hobby to be a money-maker but it would be nice to break even.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
More Fantasia
I got the Fantasia all back together and was testing the different stitches. I got to the buttonhole settings and noticed the stitch length forward and reverse were different lengths so tried adjusting with the small screw on the back of the machine........ One of the few plastic pieces in the machine happens to be the eccentric cam to balance forward and reverse stitch length for the buttonhole. I'll give you one guess as to what happened.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Fantasia model F7500E
I picked this up a couple months back and wanted to get it cleaned and oiled so I could start using it as my everyday machine, the few times I really do use or need a sewing machine.
New Home 6000 - the final chapter... maybe
Things aren't looking too promising for this old girl. The feed dog stepper motor drive circuit seems to be flaky. Getting to this point though was a bit of a chore. First I was thinking the stepper motor itself was cutting out, so out comes the stepper motor:
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