Friend's SM abuse

A girlfriend and I went to lunch and she was telling me how she had been sewing and her 1950 Singer started doing all kinds of messy things and she asked if I would take a look. It is a beautiful SM in a corner cabinet (don't know if I had ever seen one of those). I took over a lot of my things, screwdriver, oil, extra needles, needle threader and my magnifying glasses. After looking at it, I accused her of SM abuse and threatened to take her machine away! I'm sure it had been more than 10 years since she had cleaned, oiled, and changed the needle! No wonder the poor thing refused to sew correctly! It took me a few minutes to get it going like it should and I showed her the correct way to get it threaded again. It sure does sew a pretty stitch now! Barbara in FL feeling right pleased with myself!

Reply to
Bobbie Sews More
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Congratulations on becoming an oldy, but goody machine technician! I am happy the machine is working well now. Emily

Reply to
Emily Bengston

I guess it would have been over reacting but did you whack her on the head with a shovel? 30 days in jail and then 10 years on probation would have been appropriate. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Great save!!!!! You should feel pleased with yourself. :) Just think of all the abuse you have prevented since she will be more gentle with it from now on. :)

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

Good for you Barbara, These old machines need TLC and you gave it some. Your friend needed tough love, and you gave her some! Juno

Reply to
Juno B

Thanks everyone for the kind words! I saw her later on and she said it might be another week or so before she used it again. She & DH have been married 67 years, almost 68, and she still hems his pants and takes up hers. She only sews occasionally, but now her SM will sew just fine! She asked me if I would help her tomorrow to sort out her thread and get it into some king of order. Of course I will! Barbara in FL

Reply to
Bobbie Sews More

Well done, and you should feel pleased with youself! The thrift stores around here tend to get those machines. Old, strong, sturdy machines that have been abused and neglected, but which respond to cleaning and oiling by performing beautifully. I guess they're usually donated when replaced with a plastic machine that will never match the stitch.

Reply to
Pogonip

As you should be! Sewing Machine Rescue is an important position. ;-)

Reply to
BEI Design

Joanne, I was thinking of you Sunday when DD and DSIL and I drove to Hood River for the Fruit Loops

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In one of the out-of-the-way shops in the area, I came across a "Singer SewHandy Model 20". Amazing little thing, and I was sorely tempted to add it to my collection just for the cuteness factor, but it was marked $100 and a card said it was "missing the bobbin and hook" so I left it there. :-}

Reply to
BEI Design

Oh, that's funny. Missing the bobbin, eh? It's a chainstitch machine!!! No bobbin! It has a looper under the plate. That is often a good thing to use to haggle the price down, though. "Well, gosh, I've got to find a bobbin case and bobbin for it and it's so old, it's nearly impossible to find parts. Oh, do you have the special clamp to hold it to the table? And the instruction manual? Will you take $50 for it? Since it's so incomplete and all."

Reply to
Pogonip

I think I mis-typed. I suspect I wrote that right after I read Alex's post about his dud. I recall now that it was missing a "clamp and [something else]." 'Course the man running the shop probably had no idea what it was or what it might have been "missing", I'm sure it was on consignment, or purchased from a garage sale or something.

You're evil, siccing me on like that. ;-} Now I might just have to make another trip up the mountain, I really was thinking it might be a really cute addition to my workroom. I'd love to have an antique dress form to stand in the corner, too...

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Reply to
BEI Design

Beverly, If you want a model 20 there are oodles of them on Ebay. I bet you can do much better than $100.00

Reply to
Ron Anderson

Also not if it says made in Turkey on it that was a reproduction machine made in the 80's

Reply to
Ron Anderson

That's cute! It's a reproduction, of course. You might find one cheaper, or even come across a real one one day.

Reply to
Pogonip

Good tip, Ron!! I'd forgotten about those. Bob Campbell used to have a wonderful website of toy sewing machines. There's a guidebook, too. I have a copy around here somewhere. There's a whole thing about the number of spokes in the handwheel of the Singer 20s.

Reply to
Pogonip

Thanks for the heads up, Ron. It's not a "need' rather a "that would be nice to have" ... at the right price. ;-)

There are three on eBay right now. One is "MORTORIZED!" and has a 'Buy Now' price of $600.00. No, I'm not kidding... ;-}

Reply to
BEI Design

Yes, I know it's a reproduction, but I love the swirls and slanted hem. There are lots of other really cute ones:

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But since my sewing workroom never sees guests or clients, I can probably live without one.

Reply to
BEI Design

Thank you!

Reply to
BEI Design

Some of the Model 20s came with a little motor, Beverly. I have a Baby Brother that runs on batteries, and a couple of plastic Singer toys that take batteries.

Reply to
Pogonip

Oh I do know it is not a need. I have 3 of the model 20 in my collection, a few look alikes also.

Reply to
Ron Anderson

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