Old sewing machines (pic heavy)

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ozzy1977

Full Member
Jan 10, 2006
8,558
3
46
Henley
I have been given a late Jones family cs, only problem is the bobbin winder has snapped in 2, apart from that it runs nice and smooth. I have looked but havnt found a new bobbin winder, any ideas?
 

Harvestman

Bushcrafter through and through
May 11, 2007
8,656
26
55
Pontypool, Wales, Uk
Just had a call from the sewing machine repair place where my machine was left for servicing:

"I'm sorry sir, but we have been ordered by the boss not to repair your machine, because these antique machines should be for ornaments only"

:togo::yikes:

I could tell from her voice (and a conversation that I had with her previously) that the woman calling me didn't believe a word of it either. I know she uses an old machine herself, as she was praising its ability to go through leather and thick canvas and denim.

Her boss is an idiot, and has lost my custom.
 

Harvestman

Bushcrafter through and through
May 11, 2007
8,656
26
55
Pontypool, Wales, Uk
Update on this. Have now collected my machine from the repair people, who were all very embarrassed and muttering about the boss costing them customers. They were very apologetic.

I have since spoken to a man in Cardiff who repairs old machines, and he wants me to call him next week when he is free. SO it will be a while longer before mine is working.

I have serious machine envy of the machines posted on here, and want mine to return to the land of the functioning.
 

TurboGirl

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2011
2,326
1
Leicestershire
www.king4wd.co.uk
It is one of the arms that hold the bobbin in place when filling, drive end if I remember right
And is it a lower bobbin thingy near the base of the machine? I know singer moved their up in later models, not sure about the Jones CSs though... if you take a pic, I might be able to source a spare for you?

Poor Harvestman, that stinks.... what a complete div that repairman must be to not be able to repair one of these auld gals! He obviously doesn't want the custom.... go figure, eh?!

I've got mine finished and oiled today... it means so much to me as its the first flying shuttle I'd seen for years, found by my Eldests neighbour abandoned in a shed and it kickstarted this fascination for me with Steves treadle which is the model up from this :) I'm going to take it to meets to use to repair my bush bros kit in the back of the disco.... she'll earn her keep for sure and no doubt, outlast me ;)
993068_10200839590846520_1163026979_n.jpg


And here she is sitting with her big bro... she is actually a wee bit smaller in the harp and bed width and I think the head of the machine is a bit shorter too. They certainly take different needles- the Medium CS is on standard industrial flat shanks whereas the Family CS uses a small round shank (DBx1). Waiting for them off the Bay before I can test her on fabric but the mechanism is running beautifully now she's fully oiled :)
1013172_10200839624887371_2093352540_n.jpg
 

ozzy1977

Full Member
Jan 10, 2006
8,558
3
46
Henley
Just had a reply from Helen Howes and she has one, with a new tyer fitted for not a lot but thanks for the offer. She also has round shanked needles which this machine will need
 

TurboGirl

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2011
2,326
1
Leicestershire
www.king4wd.co.uk
Mine is one of the later ones, less ornate and more square
Ahhh, doubt this one would fit then... which is great as I'm hoping to keep the spares off it for mine ;) Its the smaller round shank DBX1 needdles on the Family CS I believe, I hope it doesn't prove to be the Family CS's achilles heel... being finer and round, it'll probably not handle leather and thick stuff so well as the Singers and Medium CS. No doubt we'll find out soon enough!
 
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Mesquite

It is what it is.
Mar 5, 2008
27,928
2,960
62
~Hemel Hempstead~
And here she is sitting with her big bro... she is actually a wee bit smaller in the harp and bed width and I think the head of the machine is a bit shorter too. They certainly take different needles- the Medium CS is on standard industrial flat shanks whereas the Family CS uses a small round shank (DBx1). Waiting for them off the Bay before I can test her on fabric but the mechanism is running beautifully now she's fully oiled :)
1013172_10200839624887371_2093352540_n.jpg

They do look good together Sall and you've done a grand job on the treadle. That woodwork hasn't looked so good for years :notworthy:notworthy
 

TurboGirl

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2011
2,326
1
Leicestershire
www.king4wd.co.uk
They do look good together Sall and you've done a grand job on the treadle. That woodwork hasn't looked so good for years :notworthy:notworthy
I was so excited, I had to msg my favourite woodworker- subject 'I got WOOOOOD!!' ;)

It showed how well she'd been cosseted by your family, lovey, the dirt lifted off and it took a polish really quick and deeply :)
 

bigroomboy

Nomad
Jan 24, 2010
443
0
West Midlands
Here is my Alfa, a Spanish copy of a Singer

2013-07-09 10.10.44.jpg

Works very nicely and only £20 at a car boot last year! The only thing I wish these old machines had is zig zag.
 
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TurboGirl

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2011
2,326
1
Leicestershire
www.king4wd.co.uk
A leather needle, have a google :) They're the industrial standard with a flat shank and a good one is worth 10 bad uns, minus the cursing ;) They might give the specifications on the eye but I would suspect it'd struggle with thick thread, try the bay for leather thread for machines. Heyyy, where pics?!!! Bet she's lovely :)
 

wanderinstar

On a new journey
Jun 14, 2005
1,346
9
71
Yorkshire/Lancs Border
Have ordered some Scmect needles, probably wrong spelling, and some Gutterman thread from a shop in Lincolnshire. I am looking for a hand crank mechanism for when the motor turns up its toes. Don't suppose you have one Sal, do you?
 

TurboGirl

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2011
2,326
1
Leicestershire
www.king4wd.co.uk
Have ordered some Scmect needles, probably wrong spelling, and some Gutterman thread from a shop in Lincolnshire. I am looking for a hand crank mechanism for when the motor turns up its toes. Don't suppose you have one Sal, do you?
It's a common and brilliant machine and I think theres various models fitted with the hand cranks, I havent got one but you might be able to pick up a siezed machine off the bay for small money, lots of spare parts :)

Schmetz or something, they're good needles :)
 

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