A bit unfare though, it needed a service and repair. And all that grease, what a mucky job. It's probably been put through all kinds of misery and hardship. On the other hand it looks promising and like it will return to full function with a bit of tlc.
Yes it is unfair and ever so sad what has happened to that machine - used and then discarded, and then forgotten, and left to rust.
But I am very happy that I found it, and it cost only £5!
There are many tiny 'pimples' on the paint surface, and some of the paint has flaked off in parts, especially on the top lid, and more paint looks ready to flake off as well. The hand wheel is chipped and rusted too.
Arrow do you think I could touch up those parts with a few drops of suitable paint?
But yes I do believe that with time and effort and tlc it will indeed be up and running and sewing happily again!
I am glad it still has its bobbin case and a bobbin; I looked on ebay and the bobbin case are very expensive. Also the needle plates, although scratched and rough in places, they are still present.
It is missing its knee-lever, but that is not an essential part really, just useful.
I've not yet removed the rearside plastic cover - the screws concerned, like so many of the screws on this machine, were locked solid, so I dabbed on some oil and shall leave them alone for now.
I am waiting for some TriFlow penetrating oil to to arrive from the US, but I'll keep dabbing oil on the stuck screws in the meantime as I don't want to force them.
There are many damaged screws on this machine, so I shall be patient as I do not wish to cause more harm.
Even though I cannot remove it yet, last night I gave the thread guide a very quick and cursory clean and it looks a little better. When I get the rearside cover off I will give it a better clean, and make sure the inner surface is smooth for the thread.
I also removed the tension mechanism and cleaned out much lint and dust and also carefully removed some slight rust build-up on the inside surface of the cover; I didn't dismantle the rings and springs etc as it didn't seem necessary, they looked clean and were moving freely and had lots of 'spring'. I forgot to take a photo though.
There was some rust in the thread channel in the machine top lid - the ends of the thread channel are metal - so those had a gentle clean too.
I posted my stitch width issue on FB and a sewing tech from Australia commented saying that if the stitch width knob springs back to any position when it is turned, then it means the buttonhole mechanism is engaged. I'm hoping he will elaborate more on how to solve the issue.
I have spend so long gazing down into the mechanism with a torch I am getting quite obsessed about it... I am dreaming about stitch width knobs...!
Tonight I hope to clean up the bobbin winding mechanism. The rubber is rather cracked, as you can see in the photo.
Here are some photos I took just now: