Old sewing machines (pic heavy)

[Zingmo]

Sorry I wasn't questioning your credentials Mac, just expressing how I feel having delved a bit deeper into the machines workings. The point of particular concern is just behind the plug socket where the wiring for the motor, light and controller come together. There the live wires are protected only by their inner layer of insulation and lie alongside the support bracket which is of metal and is bolted to the body of the machine. I have opted for now not to rewire the motor itself as the wiring appears to be from 1960 not 1936 and looks in good enough condition. My worry is that if the insulation on one of these breaks down, the chassis of the machine will become live. I have read of people getting shocks from their old singers.

My thought was to attach a big fat earth lead to it much the same as is done on your bathroom radiator so that if there was a circuit made to the chassis, at least the fuse would blow quickly. But it was just a thought and now I'm doing the next thing; asking advice! Would it be better to use an RCD at the plug?


Z

 

[Zingmo]

Would it be better to use an RCD at the plug?

Ok Ignore this bit. The house has RCD protection at the consumer unit and I'm not planning to do any sewing in the garden!

Z

 

[Macaroon]

I've been thinking about your controller whilst out with the dog this afternoon; I'd think it very unlikely that it hasn't been adapted to work with the motor. I'd give it a try when all is back up together, you won't damage anything except perhaps the controller itself which is no good to you anyway. Again, I think it highly unlikely that it won't work. I've had a look at my "black box of bits", and I've got a 240v one here that I'm not likely to use, so in the event of you needing another you know where to come for it. I hope this helps a bit

 

[Zingmo]

I opened up the controller to have a look.


There has been a bit of arcing going on at one of the contacts. You can just see it in the photo. It probably just needs adjusting.
The plug I have bought comes with a controller that was sold as spares or repair so I will compare the two and hopefully be able to use one of them. If not I'll definitely come calling.

No matter which I use I will be left with at least one spare so I will have to start my own black box of bits!

Next question: most of the flat twin cable I can find is sold for auto or marine use. Is that a no-no? Based on Rain's vssmb site, the advice was to use 18 AWG cable which I think is comparable to something with 1mm sq. conductors.


Z

 

[Macaroon]

Cable for marine or auto use will be fine from an electrical standpoint but may be stiff because of the protective coating/insulation. Just go to an electrical wholesaler and get some ordinary domestic .75mm twin; that's all you need and as cheap as chips compared to the alternatives. It'll also be much more flexible and therefore easier to wire neatly into the various bits without kinking, and that kinking is the big cable killer.

 

[Macaroon]

Just to add, I don't see any arcing there that would cause me concern, you'll see some arcing evident on almost any switchgear after use, quite normal and well within the design parameters.

 

[Angst]

hiya....yup as mac said...0.75 twin....i went to my local wholesaler, P.E.S., and got a 50metre drum of it for about 20 quid....i'm now halfway through my second drum lol....

S

Cable for marine or auto use will be fine from an electrical standpoint but may be stiff because of the protective coating/insulation. Just go to an electrical wholesaler and get some ordinary domestic .75mm twin; that's all you need and as cheap as chips compared to the alternatives. It'll also be much more flexible and therefore easier to wire neatly into the various bits without kinking, and that kinking is the big cable killer.

 

[Zingmo]

[video]https://youtu.be/aan5YDwAuwc[/video]

Thanks to all for your advice, tips and pointers!

The 0.75mm² cable looked skinny compared to the original, but then it wasn't insulated with string and india rubber! The replacement controller was badged as being 240v so I have used that. I'm not happy with the strain relief on the bakelite power plug so that will likely be replaced.

I should point out that it's not my hands in the video, but those of my 10 yr old little-un. This was her very first sewing machine experience hence she isn't running it flat out. Just after this I wedged 16 layers of cotton fabric under the foot and it sailed through without even a pause.

I thought I was going to have a nightmare setting up the tension again but amazingly it worked perfectly first time.

Z

 

[Macaroon]

Excellent; good outcome, thanks for posting the update

 

[Angst]

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

excellent; good outcome, thanks for posting the update

 

[chas brookes]

Hi

following on from the excellent talk Sonni gave at the Bushmoot, I decided I would purchase a Singer 201. When I went to collect the one on the left which I had purchased the seller offered me the other one free of charge as it was not working and the case was damaged.
Initially I thought great I have a spare parts donor machine, however on investigation removal of lots of thread and a liberal overnight soaking of sewing machine oil it has come back to life.
I am now the proud owner of a fairly mint 1952 Electric 201 and a 1937 Hand Crank that requires some TLC.
Sonni and Mac were right there is something about the engineering of them and the satisfaction when you get one working again
Sonni and Mac :You_Rock_

Chas

 

[Harvestman]

That's a score!

 

[Macaroon]

Great stuff, you've been really successful with that deal; let us know how you get on in the future, eh?

 

[Angst]

lol chas....just this second pm'ed you...everythings chaos here sorting out from the moot.....looks good well done!

tim_n has also bought one and been playing with it today....and whilst at the moot tony suggested a separate section on the forum for all us sewing machine freaks....great stuff!

hows yours mac?.....sorry i've not replied....the house is literally draped with laundry and damp tents and bivi bags....(actually i've been swanning around the place in my new twodogs wool shirt that marmite and countryman bought for me!)

s

ps....just now got a pm from bush bob who i gave some advice to prior to the moot and hes received his and has already fallen in love lol!

 

[Macaroon]

Mine's really lovely, Sonni; I've had a bit of fun running all sorts of scrap pieces through it, but there are projects a-plenty lined up for this little beauty!!!

 

[chas brookes]

Hi
having just acquired a brace of 201's and an army cot bed with some tears, it seemed a good excuse to try out the machines capabilities. The cot bed had torn in a couple of places along the seams and after puzzling over the best way to fix it, I came up with the idea of using some old car seat belt webbing.
I cut out six pieces to size about 6 inches long and used some contact adhesive to glue them to the rear of the canvas over the splits.
I then used my hand crank 201 to sew the webbing to the cot with some cross stitching for extra strength. The resulting repair turned out very satisfactory and the machine was more than capable of going through two layers of canvas plus the seat belt webbing.
Chas

 

[Harvestman]

Recently Mac offered up an old sewing machine 'free to collector', and me being local to him snapped up the offer. My wife is a very handy seamstress but she has so many projects on that there is an 18 month waiting list for me to get anything done, which usually equates to a growled "Don't even ask". So, my own machine would be the solution.

So today I went to collect. The machine had been extracted from a treadle base and fitted to a new base, a hand crank added, and a case found that fits it. It is in full working order right now, though it needs a thorough cleaning before anything is done with it really. As I'm off work at the moment anyway (driving being the only activity that doesn't hurt) this gives me something to do.

I am now the proud owner of this:

A 1936 model 15/99, with hand crank added.

The little green box contains a set of sewing guides and specialist machine feet for things like hemming, which will be invaluable to a sewing newbie like me.

My wife is deeply jealous, though as she has to teach me how to use it once I have cleaned it up, she will get to play with it too.

So this is a huge public thank you to Mac for his enormous generosity, and an equally public promise that I will be cleaning this up and posting my progress with it. It is intended to see use, as I really don't have the room for it if it isn't going to be useful.

Mac, :You_Rock_

 

[Macaroon]

Just passing some of the good stuff forward........It was a pleasure to see you, Mike, and I'm sure the machine will serve you well; I look forward to seeing some of your projects when you have healed

 

[al21]

Now then folks! I wonder if someone here might be able to help. I have an old hand crank Singer which I would like to get working again. The serial number is 10317744 which I believe give a year of manufacture of 1891, but that's about all I know. There seems to be some knowledgeable folks here, so I wondered if someone might be able to point me towards someone who can help with getting this machine sewing again.

Thanks, Al

 

[Macaroon]

http://oldsingersewingmachineblog.com/category/singer-201-early-and-later-models/
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mac...er-sewing-machine-serial-number-database.html
http://www.tfsr.org/publications/technical_information/sewing_machine_manual/
https://www.universalsewing.com/images2/parts_lists/all/jr980ajq.pdf
http://www.sewalot.com/collection_picture_alex_askaroff.htm
http://vssmb.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/how-to-re-wire-potted-motor-part-1-wire.html
http://shop.sew-classic.com/main.sc
http://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/index.html

Here's a collection of links put together by the Sonni-meister, Angst of this parish, which should see you right. Have a read through these and explore where they take you and if you have any specific questions after that lot, post again here. I hope this'll be of help to you