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Fixing a Sewing Machine for a Friend :P 1900s New Home V.S.
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<p>[QUOTE="Shangas, post: 63346, member: 360"]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. </p><p><br /></p><p>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. </p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/11415593_1618659241725889_1187495002755149559_o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>The machine had a number of issues with it. </p><p><br /></p><p>1. The slide-plates were rusted shut. </p><p>2. It needed a lot of oil. </p><p>3. The machine has parted company with the base. So I gotta screw that back together.</p><p>4. The whole machine was really dirty (it had spent decades in a garage). </p><p>5. It had only one bobbin and shuttle (nothing I can do about that...)</p><p><br /></p><p>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. </p><p><br /></p><p>Next step was to remove the needle-plate and the other slide-plate (which was even harder than the first one!) </p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/10340138_1618659418392538_6486631755781485241_n.jpg?oh=e7b64c9048cc4658d7442772d00ea406&oe=562F001B&__gda__=1445781053_99bcbc26a9b43dbf595fef4429a44312" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>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 <img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/smile.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":)" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/11401447_1618659448392535_6512259484093181798_n.jpg?oh=302d9014c370ccb5b95f54910c24c7a0&oe=56310E3C" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>The crank was held on by two big screws. I removed the crank and pulled it apart, cleaned it and put in fresh oil. </p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t31.0-8/11402472_1618659491725864_2108390296441592743_o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>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. </p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/11062070_1618659515059195_1858317486032505801_o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>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. </p><p><br /></p><p>Still a lot to do...[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Shangas, post: 63346, member: 360"]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. [IMG]https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/11415593_1618659241725889_1187495002755149559_o.jpg[/IMG] 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!) [IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/10340138_1618659418392538_6486631755781485241_n.jpg?oh=e7b64c9048cc4658d7442772d00ea406&oe=562F001B&__gda__=1445781053_99bcbc26a9b43dbf595fef4429a44312[/IMG] 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 :) [IMG]https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/11401447_1618659448392535_6512259484093181798_n.jpg?oh=302d9014c370ccb5b95f54910c24c7a0&oe=56310E3C[/IMG] The crank was held on by two big screws. I removed the crank and pulled it apart, cleaned it and put in fresh oil. [IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t31.0-8/11402472_1618659491725864_2108390296441592743_o.jpg[/IMG] 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. [IMG]https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/t31.0-8/11062070_1618659515059195_1858317486032505801_o.jpg[/IMG] 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...[/QUOTE]
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