Mine-Mine-Mine! 1917 96-10

About two weeks after getting the 331K4 the motor demonstrated a rather urgent need for maintenance.  Rather than be without the 331 while the motor was down I did what any proper sewing machine addict would do, I went out and got another industrial machine.  Behold the 96-10.

We Are Buying a House. So Here Come the Industrials - Singer 331K4

Well, first off I guess I should say this one isn't actually coming home with me.  It's staying in New Mexico with the Boy Scouts.  That leads to the reason I haven't been keeping up with the blog.  I'm working as the Back Country Wardrobe Specialist at Philmont Scout Ranch this summer.  I maintain the wardrobe for around 140 interpretative history program counselors who populate 17 back country camps ranging in time periods from 1831 to 1953  at the ranch.

I'm so Weak, I Admit It. 1927 15-30 in a No 24 Open Side Cabinet

First off, I got a job at Philmont Scout Ranch this summer, so it's not like I've got time for more machines.  That's why I haven't been blogging the last month.  Too busy getting my act together to get out to New Mexico at the end of the month.

But how do you say no to this -

First Alternative Method - Cleaning the 1923 66-1

I've received tips on different methods for metal bits on the machines (rather than just dremelling the heck out of everything).  Since the 1926 66-1 was already sitting in the middle of the kitchen, I thought, "Hey! let's have some fun."

They're Everywhere - Another 66-1

I was happy, really.  I had just gotten the 1883 IF cleaned up.  I had someone give me another Singer treadle.  And though it wasn't the correct one for the IF, I figured I could make it work.  Then, dangit, then this shows up on Craigslist today for $50.

New Family Needles Again

I came into a variety of substitute needles for the New Family.  None are an exact match for the original.  I thought I would give a run down on what I've tried so far.

As a disclaimer, this is all very unscientific.  Measurements were taken using my son's school ruler.  Also the ISMACS chart lists lengths as "to point".  This might be causing mis-measurements on my part as in the majority of documents I've seen lists the "point" as the entire distance from the eye to the tip of the needle.  So I could be completely wrong in using "point" measurements from ISMACS as being end to end length.

Yep it Took a While - Cleaning the 1883 IF

On Sunday I was looking at the 1883 and thought, you know I could clean it up a little.  So I broke out the Singer oil and started going over it.  Then I noticed how icked up the thumb screws were, so I pulled them off to dremel.  Then the throat plate and bobbin cover.  Then... well next thing you know I had this.

This One is Going to Take Some Work. 1883 Improved Family

So I saw this guy sitting on Craigslist about three weeks ago.

What Happens with Sewing Machines After I Clean Them Up

I do actually use the machines I have, really.

It is ALIVE! Cheating to Get the New Family Running

I ordered some kinda-sorta 12x1 needles off Ebay Monday night.  I thought I could be patient for them to get here.  I was wrong.

More Reading about Singer MFG Co and Isaac Singer

Two books to recommend for people who like sewing machines (Singers specifically) and history.  Both are available from Amazon (Kindle Unlimited if you have it). Click on the images to go to the Amazon page for each.

 

Don Bissell's book gives a great overview of the growth of the Singer MFG Co.

Alex Askaroff's book is the swashbuckling, though not always flattering, tale of Isaac Singer, the man.  

A Quick Drive (7 hours) to Pick Up an 1879 New Family

Once having the Improved Family of course I began looking around for a New Family.  My search ended rather quickly.  A couple in upstate New York posted one from 1879 on Craigslist for the princely sum of $65.

Even More Singer Goodness - 201-1 Belt Cover Located for Black Swan

Another awesome find on the interwebs arrived.  After a year of part time searching I finally located the final part to complete Black Swan.  If you haven't read about Black Swan, she is a Singer 201-2 that I converted into a treadle machine.

More Exciting News - Straight Leg Treadle Iron is Complete.

The Treadle Fairy Does Exist! Her Name is Melody.

Some Light Reading - 1951 Cabinet Catalog and 1952 301 Brochure

I mentioned previously that when I bought the 301 it came with some of the original documentation.  The user manual is available at ISMACS so I won't be posting that.  But I haven't seen the 1951 cabinet catalog anywhere.  Also I haven't seen a complete good copy of the original 301 sales pamphlet.  So here we go.

First up the cabinets:

Making Stitches with the Improved Family

Before we start can you see what's wrong with the first IF picture I posted?

You Will be Assimilated - 66-1

Yes I've gone and done it.  I cleaned up the 66-1.  Look a Red Eye! ooh aah.

The Super Exciting News - Straight Leg Treadle is Back on the Active Roster!

A little over a week ago I teased that I had some exciting news.  Here it is.  YAY!

Well That's Out of the Way - 301

I have been looking for a rotating vertical hook for over a year now.  I was always thinking I would end up with a 115 or a 95.  I never really considered a 301.  Personally I found the pricing on 301s to be approaching the ridiculousness of 221s.  Also they are getting to be "too new" for my taste.  I have the 401 and 403 mainly because they were all but given to me and to have a zig-zag capability.  The 301 doesn't have zig-zag so that was another reason not to chase one.

Well yesterday this popped up on Craigslist.

27-3 Back Together. Finally.

Well it only took a year, but here it is.  The 27-3 from 1908 is cleaned up and back together.

Working on the IF

Spent the day cleaning on the IF.  That and putting away Christmas decorations.  The original pitman was busted up pretty good so I checked with a friend to see if he might have one.  He did and excitedly I went to retrieve it.  Neither of us thought to check the length.  D'oh.  His was a 14" pitman, not the 15 3/4" I need.  I figured that out once I got it on and saw the pedal at the top of its stroke while the crank was at the bottom of its.  $#!+.  So I'm going to work on the TreadleOn hybrid now.  I also broke down and bought a 15 3/4" off Ebay.

Respect for the Dead. 15-91

I visited a friend today in search for parts for the IF.  While digging through I mentioned that I needed a IF or Model 15 presser assembly.  He whipped this little lady off the shelf and said, "There you go."

Adventure! 1884 Improved Family

In the previous post I mentioned that we had been on the road over the holidays.  We had driven down to Florida to visit with the wife's family there.  We left Connecticut on Dec 24th, drove down the coast, stopping off to visit the Wright Brother's Memorial on the North Carolina Outer Banks.  We headed back on 31st and went inland up through Knoxville to avoid I95.  We got home New Year's night.  No where during that time did I take a few minutes to check to see what was posted on Craigslist on the route.  If I had I would have seen this right on our way in Lexington.

 

My Wife is so Awesome! Singer-Kilbowie Shipping Crate!

Wow.  This is a truly 'back of the rack' find. I had seen it on Craigslist and kinda mentioned it in passing to the wife.  I mean it's just an old box right?  But people growing up in the 70s and 80s might remember Peaches Record Stores and those Peaches shipping crates to put albums in?  I mean it kind of reminded me of those.  While probably not something that younger folks could relate to, I thought it was interesting in a nostalgic way, but not something I would buy for myself.

The wife snuck out one day with other plans.  On Christmas morning (January 2nd actually, we were on the road during the actual holidays) our son disappeared  towards the end of gift unwrapping and showed back up with this huge package.  They were both surprised when I couldn't guess what it was.  I really had no clue that she would get it.

My Sister is so Awesome! 401A

I have a lot in common with my sister in Oklahoma.  We both like motorcycles and we both like sewing machines, Singers especially.  While my sister is able to keep herself in check and not overload her living space with them, I seem to have missed that part of the family genetic makeup.  So when she said she had a machine up in her attic that she was looking to get rid of I was like "WHAT!?  How do you bring yourself to part with a sewing machine?  I'll take it! Me-me-me-me-me!"

After going with the scout troop to Philmont in New Mexico we swung through Oklahoma on our way back for our summer visit.  Her husband pulled the thing out of the attic and had it waiting for us in the garage when we got there (like me, she married well).

Now here is the mental picture for you.  Three people with two weeks of back country camping gear in a Prius.  Then add a Singer 401 in a Parklane cabinet.  It was a wee cramped from Oklahoma back to Connecticut.

Okay, back in the swing. 15-91 (Anna)

Here's the first of my catch-up posts.  This little, hmm, beauty(?) was more of a rescue than something I went looking for.  Back in March I saw this 1954 15-91 on shopgoodwill.com with no bids.  I mean com'on a 15-91 those usually go for around 40-50 bucks on goodwill, so I put in a $16 bid, with the shipping of $18 it still brought me in under $50.  I figured the price would double by the end of the auction, but a least I tried.  So imagine my surprise when I won the thing for $16.

A year without posts. D'oh

So I haven't posted anything new in a year.  Wow.  Actually was kind of a busy year.  Philmont Scout Ranch with the troop ate up most of the year.  I did manage to get some new things though.  Those posts will be up later today.  For the restoration projects, they all kind of sat on the shelf for the year while prepping for the Philmont trip.  The 66, 127 and Domestic are all in the exact same condition as when I last posted in Jan of 16, and my wife still hasn't given me a beating over them.  Am I the luckiest guy in the world or what.  Anyway, trying to get back into the swing of things.

Speaking of the wife, I made her a chemise for Christmas, so that might buy me some leeway.  Will be finishing up her bespoke wool slacks in the next few weeks as well.  Hmmm maybe I can leverage that into a 301?  I would have said an Improved Family but... hehe... that post is coming.  Still no 115 though.