Featured Fixing a Sewing Machine for a Friend :P 1900s New Home V.S.

My friend who gave me the 1906 tambour desk-cabinet to fix gave me something else to tinker with yesterday. I thought I'd share it here.

This battered old sewing machine had been in her family, probably since new. It belonged to her grandmother, who, like my grandmother, was a dressmaker. My friend is moving house and is eager to have this machine in her home for decoration, and for occasional use.



The machine had a number of issues with it.

1. The slide-plates were rusted shut.
2. It needed a lot of oil.
3. The machine has parted company with the base. So I gotta screw that back together.
4. The whole machine was really dirty (it had spent decades in a garage).
5. It had only one bobbin and shuttle (nothing I can do about that...)

First step was to open the tomb and get the bobbin and shuttle out. I used a hammer and screwdriver to whack the slide-plates off. It was VERY difficult. Once the plates were off and I determined that the machine DID have a shuttle and at least one bobbin (one and only, sadly), then I decided it'd be worth trying to fix it.

Next step was to remove the needle-plate and the other slide-plate (which was even harder than the first one!)



Once the plates were off, I gave them all a good clean - I dug loads of lint out of the area around the feed-dogs, then I cleaned all the grooves and runnels so that the plates would slide smoothly open and shut. Scraping off all the rust on the front slide-plate told me the machine was a New Home. That was nice



The crank was held on by two big screws. I removed the crank and pulled it apart, cleaned it and put in fresh oil.



Fixing the bobbin-winder was a huge pain in the ass. The old tire had completely dried and cracked and...eugh. I removed it but I didn't have a spare, so I built up layers of heat-shrink tubing and rubber O-rings to get an approximation of a new bobbin-winder tire. It's not perfect, but it'll do the job and it'll last. Cleaning the bobbin winder was not fun.



I filled the bobbin, threaded the machine, put in a new needle, loaded the shuttle and took it for a spin on a piece of paper. It sews, but the thread-tension is all screwed up (probably because I had to fiddle with the shuttle tension-screw to fix it) but I'll get it right sooner or later.

Still a lot to do...

 

You are a very handy friend to have!

 

Still doing a lot of cleaning and removing rust. Then I gotta sort out the base...That'll be fun...not! And tricky...

All in all, I'm enjoying this, though. It's a nice challenge and it's fun to tinker with stuff.

 

Once again, you sound like a very good friend, Shangas.

Here's a Victorian trade card for New Home sewing machines, circa 1890s. Thought someone might find it interesting, though it doesn't show a machine, just a stand and box.



I have a stand, with the wood top and drawers, very much like what's shown in the image.

 

Love that card, Pat!

 

Isn't it charming? I really like it, too.

 

Still a LOT of sanding to do...

 

Doing a sewing-test on this, I couldn't figure out why the tension is all buggered up. Then I realised I had the tensioner on upside-down! (d'oh!!).

Flipped it up the right way. Now gonna see what happens... Fingers crossed...

 

Quite the project and great work!

 

Thanks. It's going good so far. Just gotta get the screws to fix the thing back to the base...

 

I have three treadle machines - Mom's and two aunts. One, my son uses for a tv stand. One is a plant stand and one is waiting for me to use it. Fortunately, we have a place in town that repairs treadle machines. I learned on it and find it easier to use than the electric one.

 

Why on earth would you have to repair it? These things never break down!!

 

But they do rust and belts rot.

 

Belts can be replaced at home. It's easy. There are DIY tutorials all over the 'net.

Antique sewing machines are nigh indestructable. Unless you physically cracked the thing in half, it'll sew until doomsday.

 

You must've missed the rust issue.... Check the thread...no pun intended.

 

I read the rust. But if a machine is heavily rusted, no technician will be able to revive it. At least not for a reasonable price.

 

That's why the friend was doing it.

 

If by 'friend' you mean me, then probably, yeah! I know the local sewing shop does repairs for like $300+. And that's on MODERN machines. I'm scared to think what they'd charge for an antique relic like this. They probably couldn't manage it.

 

Ah! Sorry! Forgot it was you!

 

Finally adjusted the tension on this crazy shuttle. The machine should sew PROPERLY now