Old sewing machines (pic heavy)
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TurboGirl
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Helen Howes not got one? I don't suppose the charity rebuilders will, not being a singer.... Is it the cast between the bobbin and tail?
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.
"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.
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.
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!)
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 
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
TurboGirl
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
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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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
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
TurboGirl
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I was so excited, I had to msg my favourite woodworker- subject 'I got WOOOOOD!!'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
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
Here is my Alfa, a Spanish copy of a Singer
Works very nicely and only £20 at a car boot last year! The only thing I wish these old machines had is zig zag.
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!)
Innit
thats a super colour on your machine, I know women who would gladly catfight over that!
SWMBO loves the colour so its always out on display. I think its from 1940s and the colour really fits that.
I have a 1900 Singer 28k. My questions are, can I use the same 1mm thread that I use for hand sewing. The next question is what type of needle would I need for sewing leather.
TurboGirl
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
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
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
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!)
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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