Guess What I Have?

[Bill]

Clever thinking there @Ouryve 

[LeilaMay]

Cruise around on this site for starters

https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_accessories

[BrendaP]

It’s great to hear of some good news.
Lucky you @Bill and good on the generous TSP member with a vintage machine to spare. 👍

[SingingSinger]

I was gifted a 201k from a dear friend. It needed a little TLC but it's a lovely machine to use.

I've got a lot of attachments for it so I'll check if I have any duplicates which might be useful for you @Bill

[StitchinTime]

@Bill I don't know how active the Treadle On community is (or if there are any TSP members in it), but it might have some useful advice on how to clean the machine and/or cabinet.

[Bodgeitandscarper]

@Bill have a rummage around on youtube for how to use Singer attachments - there are various weird and wonderful things, I'm currently collecting them for my 185k.

Here's a linky.

[Nevis5]

Am so glad for you @Bill  ! and what a lovely thing for a fellow TSPer to do.   

[Bill]

I was having a lookie at both machines last night and even got the 9612 running. Quite a nice machine really. It was nice not to have to press a touch screen button a billion times just to select a stitch type or length and also not having a choice of a billion stitch types...there's straight and .... zigzag. Oh and a button hole stitch. That's it! Super!
The few stitches I managed without mangling them up were very nice too. On my first attempt I forgot to pull the top and lower threads and ended up making a very nice thread ball that Garfield would have been proud of. That took some fiddling to free from the machine 
Further investigation on the 201k revealed that a screw to pitch the lugs that secure the machine in the table is missing so I need to hunt for one of those. Whether it makes a difference to the actual workings or not I'm not sure but the thread tension mechanism isn't quite all there. I need to source either the numbered dial etc or just buy a while new mechanism. A bit of googling turned some up which looked a bit naff but a few looked original for around £15 so that's next on Bills shopping list. Other than that, I think everything is there
I was also given some cream leather offcuts so I'm thinking I'll trim some of that to use as inserts in the drawers to stop everything rattling around.
Oh and I was given some sewing patterns too. Could make myself a lovely dress or two! 

[Ouryve]

I sewed as a student on a borrowed machine very like your 80s Singer. I was sad when I had to give it back.


One of my learning curve things, with Becky was remembering to hand turn with the first stitch or so and only press the pedal with the needle down. Ditto putting the needle down before reversing. It's a different type of sewing to a modern machine - much more emphasis on working the machine, not just the fabric (and definitely more tiring for my dyspraxic self!)


If the cost of repairing the atelier is too steep for you and you decide not to hang onto it, sell it, with faults listed and put some of the money into an overlocker.

[StitchinTime]

@Bill Have a look at Helen Howe's website for spare parts and accessories - she has most things for older machines.
https://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/

[kowgiirl.up]

A treadle 201k! As far as I can make out, 1935.

That’s a beauty. I love these old treadles. Do you have Howard’s Restore-a-Finish where you live? I used that on my 66’s cabinet and it worked great.

[kowgiirl.up]

https://thesewingplace.org.uk/index.php/topic,13539.0.html

^^. Here’s my thread is it helps at all @Bill

[Bill]

Help! I can't wind a bobbin!
I've searched high and low for how to do this but every picture, diagram and vid I find shows the same thing...a tension disc and a spool holder fitted to the base plate at the far right front of the machine...which my 201k doesn't have. No holes in the plate (bed?) for such a part to be fitted either.
I've attached pics which will hopefully be clear enough to give you a better idea of what I'm waffling on about.

  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  
  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  
  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  

[Bill]

Forgot to add...
The 2nd pic shows my attempt at routing the thread to wind the bobbin but what's happening is that the treadle belt is slipping and the winding comes to a halt.

[So Chic]

@Bill   Lucky you, your treadle looks very similar to my first machine which was a pleasure to use but I was unable to keep it when I bought my first electric machine due to lack of space.  Enjoy your machine.