OT sort of Machines

Do you have a boat? Might make a good anchor. Polly

"Anna Belle" On our usual days off trip, DH & I stopped at an estate sale this

LOL. I think that was the Singer machine that nearly drove my mother to the funny farm!

Well, they've been known as Touch and Throw or Touch and Swear on occasion. But I do know someone who still has hers and uses it regularly. I had one someone had given me, but the gears were worn (I think they were nylon or plastic, not metal, and I couldn't get reasonably priced repairs, so I dumped it.

L>On our usual days off trip, DH & I stopped at an estate sale this

Linda PATCHogue, NY

There was more than one touch and sew. I think the first one was ok. The later ones not so much. I have a quilt friend that liked the ones with the bobbin that filled in place. SHe had lots of pain in her hands and that helped a lot. Her husband kept her machines running tip top for her though. I don't have any experience with sewing on them myself. Goggle should have lots of links to help.

Taria

"Anna Belle" snipped-for-privacy@bellsouth.net wrote:

My sister had one - she bought it new, probably in the 60's. It was a great machine - I don't know if that is when they first started making them, but I loved the ease of rewinding the bobbin. You might see if you can find a serial number, so you can date the machine. For $5, you could have a treasure or a piece of junk:)

Pauline Northern California

Have a look at

(NAYY). Terry is recognised as an expert on the Touch & Sew machines and is very helpful.You could also join the yahoo group wefixit which is a group of "shade tree mechanics". There are some very experienced people there who can help you.As others have said, the earlier models were relatively trouble free but the T&S were made at a time where Singer was lowering the quality of their machines and the later models had plastic gears that by now are brittle and break easily. Some of those machines have had the gears replaced, so even if you have a later model, it may be ok. I have one that is a beautiful machine with it's original plastic gears. It doesn't get a lot of use, but so far is holding up quite well. Mine does a chainstitch and I have the cams and manuals in really good condition. It's a nice addition to my collection.Try giving it a clean and lube - for $5 and a little time, you may have a good machine.

HTH chris :-)

ta for that link, Chris. i too have a T and S. it is 30yrs old this xmas, bought as a demo, tho not as much use on it as some folks would have had for sure. i havent used the cams as much as i should. then i lost the manual during the move from last house to this house. i do belong to the yahoo group "wefixit" tho only as a reader so far. always good to have that handy, just in case. thanks again for the link. off to do some serious reading and surfing, j.

"chris" wrote... Have a look at

(NAYY). Terry isrecognised as an expert on the Touch & Sew machines and is very helpful.You could also join the yahoo group wefixit which is a group of "shade treemechanics". There are some very experienced people there who can help you.As others have said, the earlier models were relatively trouble free but theT&S were made at a time where Singer was lowering the quality of theirmachines and the later models had plastic gears that by now are brittle andbreak easily. Some of those machines have had the gears replaced, so even ifyou have a later model, it may be ok. I have one that is a beautiful machinewith it's original plastic gears. It doesn't get a lot of use, but so far isholding up quite well. Mine does a chainstitch and I have the cams andmanuals in really good condition. It's a nice addition to my collection.Try giving it a clean and lube - for $5 and a little time, you may have agood machine.

HTH chris :-)

I have several Touch & Sews, and the earlier 600 models were all metal, gear-driven (no external motor & belt) machines which were very well made, sturdy, and sew very well....and even do chain stitching.

That said, the later models (starting at around the 625...) started getting plastic gears and drive belts, and more plastic internal plastic bits. The plastic gears are prone to crumbling over time, but if the gears have been replaced already, they should be good for years to come.

Someone posted Terry's Touch & Sew site for you - do check it out!

-Irene (who has over 100 v>On our usual days off trip, DH & I stopped at an estate sale this

Is there a way to drop the feed dogs on the T & S? A neighbor has one and I searched with her but we never found a way - aside from mayhem, of course. Polly

Nope, no boat, but I had another suggestion to use as a doorstop. Guess this is not one I will keep or work on. I only have 6 other machines anyway. AB

Looked this one over and seems it is a mix of nylon and metal. Gooey, gooey grease. Must have been sitting for years. Think I will pass it on.

This is a 626 model and does have the wind in place bobbin. Might help in some cases, but not a probelm for me. AB

Did a search and found out it was made in 1964. I think it will be just too much to bring it up to the shape I would like. AB

Some of the very early ones are like the Singer 401, where the needle plate 'raises' up via a lever on the bed...but most T&S models came with a special needle plate you swap out with the regular one. The center of that was raised, which essentially covered the feed!

-Irene

Chris, thanks for the site. Nice to know parts and help are available. I also have a singer slant needle, Singer hand crank, Bernina serger, Janome Platinum, and 2 Bernina 930 machines. Guess I will pass this one on to someone else. AB

The one I just found has a lever on the left below the stitch length guage. Raises or lowers the needle plate to handle fine, medium or heavy fabrics and all the way up for no feed dog actions. AB

And $5 isn't much of a gamble. Hopefully it's one of the good ones!

Thank you, Irene. Hers must be one of those that requires a special needle plate. I haven't been able to persuade the neighbor that nobody has Ever died from FM quilting. OTOH, I was curious about how FM was accomplished on that model. Polly

Howdy!

Sounds like an art project.

Paint, beads, sequins, lace, leather, googly eyes, drape it w/ some lights and set it under the Christmas tree; put some tiny nativity pieces on it for the Holidays. Got a leaning tree that needs support or a door that won't stay open? Push the machine up against it. Glue or wire some flower pots to it and plant it in vines: yard art!

R/Sandy- inspiring myself.. not every sewing machine has to sew...