The Sewing Place
Machine Talk => Vintage Machines => Topic started by: Roger on August 09, 2017, 12:58:18 PM
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I bought a 221k... it just arrived. Lots of parts but no foot pedal in lovely condition except for some cracking in the japanning on the back it's quite a small area. Has bobbins bobbin case and manual and a ys star zigzagger!
Feels pretty stiff so needs a good clean and oil!
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Congratulations, I'm a bit emvious, and very happy you have one. I'm hoping we get to know more about it :- )
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Glad to hear it's not just me Roger! Don't make the same mistake I made though - if I was you, I'd take the capacitor out first as last..... :S ;)
Hope she runs beautifully for you. :)
Jessie
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0_0
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My 99 once went out with a bang, blew a fuse and I jumped. It turned out to be capacitor and desparate need for rewiring (dates to 1934). I was told to throw the hole thing out, old electrics, out dated, and all that. After a bit of thought I decided to give it a chance and hand it in for repair, and it came back fine. Almost all machines older than the mid 1950s need rewiring, 1930s machine is usually shockingly risky. There's usually very little wrong with these old machine, and I have started to think of wiring as spendable parts like bobbin tyres and motor belts.
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Thank you!
my elna grass hopper put the wind up me, I changed the wire on it as the insulation was melted in places and scary (possibly been too close to a iron) turn it on gave it a gentle run it was sounding lovely suddenly there was a bit of a pop and I kid you not... a smoke ring out of the motor ventilation.... apparently according to the internet this is not uncommon behaviour and just needs a spot more running in! still runs fine and the kids love it! the knee bar is perfect for them.
Im looking forward to giving the 221 a good sort out... but I'm studying for an exam at the moment... so I have to resist!
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I've done a little digging...
its a 1952 221k4 (has a little switch on the lamp :) and in general looks very tidy and actually pretty clean, relatively speaking, bit stiff though needs a good oil and a clean
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Yours is a year older than mine Roger, but sounds very similar, mine has the light switch too. Mine also looked very clean - until I got underneath it! Under the feed dogs was full of compressed lint!
Hope all goes well with your test run. I'm waiting for my machine man before I try mine again ;)
Does your box have the tray or the little box at the side? Mine has the box at the side.
Jessie
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I hadnt expected the light switch and for some reason it makes me very happy:)
I bet theres some good solid grot in there somewhere :) I've already spotted the brown oil/grease
The little box is very cute and it does have the tray, which is rather nice. One of the clasps needs firm treatment though!
I thought I had a power cable that would work with it but the one I had in mind isn't going to. so thats going to have to wait but the electrics look in a decent state.
R.
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I've given it a clean through and it's surprisingly clean, and oiled it, the pressie foot was stuck but a little tug and it came free, a little oil and it's as expected, the decals are in great condition, shame about the strange cracking.
I got something like almost 20 colours of thread of 5 bobbins...
And there's a giant silver capacitor in the base!
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My Featherweight had 2 capacitors, one in the pedal and one under the machine. I took both out.
Congratulations, I'm a bit emvious, and very happy you have one. I'm hoping we get to know more about it :- )
If you get the opportunity Arrow, go for it they are wonderful little machines.
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Whereabouts under the base did you find the capacitor Roger? I've cleaned everything under there, but I can't see anything which looks like a capacitor.
I have some crackling on the light, I think it's because it gets hot, I'm going to try a different bulb.
I'm going to have a go at the box next week while I'm waiting for Bob Green, there's a bit of loose fabric inside, and the outside bottom fabric needs sticking down.
Jessie
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Here it is Jessie http://thefeatherweight221factory.com/page43.php
I haven't looked in the motor so don't know if there's one in there as well. I will wait until something happens before I investigate, after opening the motor on my 15k and finding the washers on the shaft had disintegrated.
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Thanks Holly,
That's what I was reading too,
I'll take some pics later too.
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Some pretty pics!
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Please stop posting pretty pics of Featherweights
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This listing (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THE-ULTIMATE-VINTAGE-SINGER-221-FEATHERWEIGHT-SEWING-MACHINE-PACKAGE-WOW-/142471648412?) is finished, so presumably someone has bought it, but just scroll down and look at the pictures... ;)
Oh... sorry Sewingsue... :)
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And a pic of the capacitor.
It's right in the middle and about 3" long and silver.
Thanks Sue, I'm amazed at the condition, aside from the cracking. I think the pedal has been missing for a very long time even the felt in the drip tray is clean and doesn't feel oily.
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Ive tucked it away... pending a rewire, which will probably be after Christmas I think...
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Ive tucked it away... pending a rewire, which will probably be after Christmas I think...
Christmas Roger? Why wait when you can do it yourself in a couple of hours and enjoy the machine? K'mon you know you want to after waiting all this time for one :D
I must admit I would like to see it running and being used again.
I am having serious second thoughts on selling mine, it's just so damned easy to get out and use. I think I may just hold on to it and part with a few 201's to fund the eldests new machine instead... I sold my last 221k on a few years ago and regretted doing so, such was the ease of use.
Barny
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Thanks Barny,
I like the Pat stickers and this one is in nice nick so I dont want to risk my attempt at wiring... and I just dont have the parts to build a new pedal... or spare plugs.
I think its a keeper because its in a good state, but not really a user. I think because it lost its cable it wasnt heavily used. I do need to fix the cracking near the lap tho, but it doesnt look too serious.