This is long, sorry, but I just have to tell you it all!!! I'm just so excited!!!
Earlier this week I saw a freecycle post for a singer with cabinet, needs some work. Just this past weekend I sewed a patch on a ball cap for DS#1 and my Bernina didn't like that too well. I thought, hum, a singer machine - they usually aren't that bad. Needs some work, that could be done, if not hey it was free!! It would be great to use for things I don't want to risk my good machine on. For some reason I responded with the image of a 1970's-ish machine in my mind. She emailed me back with her phone number and I called her to arrange a time to pick it up. I found out that she had it for about 7-8 years I believe, and had never used it other that 1 time to see if it worked, and it didn't. She inherited it from her aunt whom I believe she said didn't use it in the last 10 years or so that she had it. Her and her DH are down sizing their home and so need to get rid of a lot of things. Since she never used it, she decided that it was one of the things to go. I asked if the cabinet was one that I could take legs off of and have fit in the trunk of a car. She replied that you couldn't take the cabinet apart, and that it was more like a desk with 3 drawers on the one side and said that it did have some damage to the top. This was Wed. night. Since DH worked last night and we would need his truck to get it we settled on tonight to go get it.
Yesterday I posted to the group a bit about it and asked for some resource advice on cleaning, oiling and repairing it. I believe it was Julia in MN (thanks again!!), that pointed me to a nice site I'd been pointed to with my DM's treadle and had forgotten about. I found a singer cabinet that matched her description, and looked up the models that it went with, 15-91, 66-16,
201, and 301 were the ones listed. Hum, could that be? I'm not that lucky, perhaps it was not a singer cabinet, or it was a newer one then that.When DH called in the afternoon to see how my day was going I told him some of the stuff I was seeing and he could hear how curious I was to see just what I had gotten. He called her and took a short break from work to quick go get it!!! She told him that she turned it on once and it didn't work and that was it. She remembered when her aunt got it new, and she didn't think it had been used more than 3 or 4 times while the aunt owned it. He had a very nice conversation with her, loaded the machine, and then went back to work. When he called on his way home, he called to see if I'd done more research and to say he wished I didn't have to wait, then surprise, honey I've got it in the back of the truck here, where do you want it?!!
He brought it in and set it down. The cabinet was just like the one that I found on the internet. It did have damage to it, but I think we can just do some sanding and reseal the wood. It also needs some sanding and paint on the front, but that is doable. Opened it up and there is a beautiful 15-91 in great shape, at least in appearances. It does need some mild cleaning. There is something on the throat plate that looks like an adhesive residue of some sort and the back of the machine is a bit dirty from all those years sideways in the cabinet. Other than that the finish looks great!! I looked in the drawers and there was the original box with the attachments in it, some old packs of singer machine needles, one with 30 cents printed on it, and the original instructions book in great shape!!! I started reading it and following the instructions for the needle and bobbin even though they were installed already so I could eliminate those as causing her trouble. Then went on to threading it. I got out a scrap of fabric and tried it. It sewed just fine, but the fabric didn't go anywhere, so more reading. I figured out how to adjust the pressure on the pressure foot and problem solved!! It worked just fine after that. I did discover that it needs a screw in the stitch regulator and that the thread take up spring is bent almost all the way closed, but if that is all it needs!!! DH and I have decided that since it is a vintage machine, and in such good shape, that we'd better let 'our guy' handle getting it cleaned and lubed like it needs for the first time. After that I'll follow the instructions in the book for routine maintenance.
I feel a bit guilty, 'cause here is this very nice vintage machine that is in great shape and this woman just gave it to me. It sounded to me that when DH was talking to her, she was happy that it is going to go to a good home and that I was excited about seeing it, but still. I am going to send her a nice thankyou letter and tell her how much I appreciate getting it and how much I love the machine. I'm so excited!! I don't think it is going to be used as I had intended when I replied to the ad!!! I will still definitely use it, but I think I'll find another machine for the more 'abusive' stuff.
If you'd like to look at try this to get to the album: