The Sewing Place

Machine Talk => Vintage Machines => Topic started by: Elnnina on May 18, 2019, 13:45:26 PM

Title: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Elnnina on May 18, 2019, 13:45:26 PM
Right I have never got dressed so quickly before as I did this morning,  I get up late, have breakfast, eventually shower and get dressed, and the morning is gone.  So what was different this morning, my husband came back in from shopping and said there is a sewing machine in our village's charity shop window and it says CWS Federation.  Quite a pretty machine,  Trouble is the shop was closing in less than 20 minutes.  Well I got in there with five minutes to spare - it does need a lot of TLC, it has a shuttle and from one bobbin I could see that it had wound and piled up one side (I remember this happening on my mother's machine)  No needle in situ but there was one in the side box - no lid to the box.

I intend to go back and have a closer look on Monday morning - I will be popular!!!!  Now something is ringing alarm bells in my head and that is needles.  So far I have learnt that Jones made this badged machine for CWS Federation back in the 1920's.  I believe those of you who have ventured into the vintage side that Jones needles for this type of vintage machine are extremely difficult to get hold of.

Now why do I want this - well something in me has hankered after an old pretty - pretty being the operative word here - machine for a long time, ideally I would love a wrought iron based treadle but it is getting it to my home.  This  CWS machine is a hand turned one so should be easily transportable.

My husband is sort of egging me on it is only £15, and although I would want this to be a decorative machine, it would of course be nice if it worked.  So those of you who have tinkered with these old beauties, i.e. taken them apart, got them working, cleaned up the chrome and the body work, would this be an easy machine to try and sort out?  The chrome on the hand wheel from what I could see looked okay needs a good clean and polish, and the chrome plates covering the shuttle, and the end plate  also need the same attention.  I did not look to see if the shuttle case was there.

So please any feed back from anyone over this over this weekend really would be appreciated.  If I am right on the needles is there anywhere I could get them - or should I just give this vintage machine a clear miss?

By the way the two ladies on duty in the shop today were saying it could not be taken out of the window until they change the display - well I have had things out of the window before and of course on Monday it will be a different team in there, so I intend to have it brought out so I can see it more closely and I shall have some thread with me!!

Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: KayK on May 18, 2019, 14:05:49 PM
I am afraid I dont know anything about these machines, but there is a lady called Helen Howes of Raindrop Kites who is the guru of the old machines. She has a wonderful website and is full of invaluable information.  No doubt someone on this site will be able to help, but do look her up anyway!
www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk

Hours of fun!
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: LeilaMay on May 19, 2019, 14:24:27 PM
The machine is unlikely to work straight away, but might work after some care.
hard to say without seeing a photograph, to know much about it.
If it has a needle in place, then you would be able to tell whether it has a completely round shank, or a flat side on one side.
Round shank needles are no longer made I think.

Yes get in touch with Helen once you know exactly what you've got  :)

Best wishes and enjoy
Leila
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: BrendaP on May 19, 2019, 15:57:40 PM
Round shank needles are still made, lots of industrial machines use them.
https://www.calicolaine.co.uk/prym-round-shank-machine-needles-152205.html (https://www.calicolaine.co.uk/prym-round-shank-machine-needles-152205.html)
but that doesn't necessarily mean that they will fit; there are/were quite a few different lengths.

Helen Howes stocks Jones CS round shank needles
http://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/needles.html (http://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/needles.html)

but she appears to be cutting back on less common needles
http://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/moreneedles.html (http://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/moreneedles.html)

Another source for vintage machine parts is
https://www.sewlincs.co.uk/index.aspx?pageid=4628653 (https://www.sewlincs.co.uk/index.aspx?pageid=4628653)
If you do Facebook his screen name is Dave Dong.

Looking forward to seeing the pretty machine when you get her home :loveit: :vintage:
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Elnnina on May 19, 2019, 18:53:34 PM
Thanks so much for all the replies, you have confirmed what I thought  about the needles.  Charity shop opens at 9.30 tomorrow morning, it will be a busy morning too, my cleaner comes, Twopence has asked if she can pop in as she will be over this way.  I shouldn't be long in the Charity Shop, just enough to have a quick look in the box on the side, check the wood for wood worm (don't want it if it has that) and I can't go wrong with £15 can I.  Then it is a case of just cleaning her up and if she doesn't sew then it doesn't matter too much she can just be a decorative feature instead.  From what I could see though - she was in the window - her chrome just looked a bit dull, didn't look pitted, so I am hopeful, and also the end plate was the same as well as front and back sliding covers over the shuttle area.  Oh yes I need to check whether the shuttle case is in there.  Oh it is ages over 50 years in fact since I used my mother's Frister Rossman that had a shuttle.  All you ladies that have been collecting vintage machines have a lot to answer for.

Oh I must tell you, after we had got back from our quick look at the machine, my husband's comment was that all the husbands/partners must have had fun taking these old beauties apart and cleaning them up, and I said oh no it is us ladies that do that and he was surprised.   Now even further back I was given a really ancient knitting machine, and it was really old  and I took that apart to clean and it worked, I was very careful when I took the screws out and there were an awful lot of them as well.

I had better get my camera charged up - I do not have  any other way of getting photos on to here.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Cheesecake on May 20, 2019, 11:04:35 AM
I have a couple of Jones Family CS machines and think it’s dbx1 needles I’ve got in them but read somewhere 128x1 fit better but harder to find.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Elnnina on May 21, 2019, 17:40:17 PM
Well this machine has found a new home with me, it is a dinky little machine and I am sure given time I can clean her up and she will be respectable again.  I have taken some photos, only cannot fathom out how to upload them to my laptop, so another ongoing project.  There were few items in the box, the tiniest zipper foot I have ever seen, and some odd looking items that I have never seen before.  The wooden case is like a coffin top, and has some interesting carving part way down the four corners  Just under the hand wheel there is a long cut out slot that is rounded at the back so I am wondering whether this could have been able to be converted to a treadle.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: BrendaP on May 21, 2019, 20:57:06 PM
Yay! 0_0

The dinky little zipper foot is lovely to work with - I used my Singer one to put an invisible zip into my floral dress this morning and it went in really nicely.  I think the modern wide feet are because zig-zag machines have more/wider feed dogs and the foot needs to be in contact with them all.

When you have worked out how to get the photos to your laptop (can you email them to yourself?) do post piccies of the accessories, I'm sure somone will know what they are all for,
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: twopence on May 21, 2019, 21:16:35 PM
@BrendaP Elnnina did ring me about getting her photos from her camera to her laptop but unfortunately when we got to the point of looking at the photos on her camera via her laptop the ones that she had taken today were not visible even though they were on the screen of her camera.  Not sure what happened there.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Roger on May 21, 2019, 21:19:33 PM
how lovely!
I'd love a new machine project - but I have to sell a couple before I'm allowed any more!

We need pics of this little beauty :)
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: BrendaP on May 21, 2019, 21:26:17 PM
@BrendaP Elnnina did ring me about getting her photos from her camera to her laptop but unfortunately when we got to the point of looking at the photos on her camera via her laptop the ones that she had taken today were not visible even though they were on the screen of her camera.  Not sure what happened there.

That's all a bit tecchie for me, but if it's a camera doesn't it have an SD card or something?
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Elnnina on May 22, 2019, 10:32:30 AM
Again my thanks to all who have helped it is really appreciated.  As Twopence mentioned yesterday I rang her to ask how to get the photos I had taken with a camera on to my laptop, and so far no luck.  I have done this before but on a previous laptop, and thus I am wondering whether there is something missing on this newer one that is baffling me.  I will get there  I hope.

I am pretty sure when I had this up on a table yesterday that in addition to the CWS Federation that it also mentioned 'family machine', and if I am right then according the something I was looking at on the internet, this means that it is a 3/4 machine - which explains its dinkyness - is that such a word?

I shall now go and explore TSP's vintage section on how to set about cleaning this up. 

Now for another question, is the Tools for solidarity leaflet about refurbishing these old machines the one I need to get, the one I saw looked as though it was for Singer machines, and mine is by Jones.  Are the machins similar enough ? As you can see I am a complete novice as far as this is concerned but a very keen novice.

Now I just want/would like a black wrought iron treadle and I will be very happy.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: LeilaMay on May 22, 2019, 12:33:05 PM
Your machine is probably similar enough for the Singer instructions to be really helpful.
And if you hit a glitch then a photo of the offending part (when you've got the photo thing sorted :) ) will be enough for folks here to talk you through it.

Apologies for the mis-information about needles - I knew there was something about round needles - but as had been said it's different lengths that can be problematical.

Looking forward to seeing your lovely dinkyness  :)
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: LeilaMay on May 22, 2019, 12:34:23 PM
Also the stuff by Lizzie Lenard is helpful - she has youtube videos on cleaning and so on
here's her blog

http://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.com/p/vintage-sewing-is-best-description-i.html
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: BrendaP on May 22, 2019, 15:35:20 PM
this means that it is a 3/4 machine - which explains its dinkyness - is that such a word?
.....

Now I just want/would like a black wrought iron treadle and I will be very happy.
If you do find a treadle make sure it's made to take a 3/4 size machine.  You don't want it to go straight through the hole!
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Roger on May 27, 2019, 21:37:28 PM
Hi Elnnina,

hope your clean up is going well, Ive put a couple of how to guides up around cleaning (not definitive but work for me) and theres a more than a few posts with hints and tips.

Let us know how it goes :)

R.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Elnnina on May 28, 2019, 10:15:26 AM
Good morning Roger, thank you for your note, and no I haven't started cleaning yet - I need to get some supplies and the Tools for Self Reliance booklet first.  Also somehow the days seem to just whizz by and other things have got in the way.

My daughter popped in yesterday and she managed to get my photos on to my laptop - made it look easy - well she is a graphic designer so it was so easy for her.  So here are just four photos.  This is a 3/4 machine, and as I have already said the actual zipper foot is really tiny,  and I can see one of the pieces is just going out of the photo, but this was also on wrenkins photo of her accessories.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Elnnina on May 28, 2019, 10:33:38 AM
Well I can see now that no photos attached, so let's have another go.  You can tell I am a complete novice here!!
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: wrenkins on May 28, 2019, 10:41:00 AM
Oh that is very pretty @Elnnina. Those decals are gorgeous.
I have ordered some metal polish, some oil, two red felts and some new feet for my old lady. And a take up spring of course because the other one is banjoed!
Yours looks very similar in layout to my 28k.  :loveit:
Enjoy.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Elnnina on May 28, 2019, 10:56:35 AM
Thank you wrenkins oh being a complete novice at this vintage lark, I really do need to go and get some proper stuff for cleaning, have been reading up this morning on the thread that Roger started last year, so  Plusgas should I find anything stuck, and AutoGlym for polishing and of course the booklet showing you how to take apart.

Now so far the wheel turns and the needle already in situ goes up and down but that is all I have tried.  In places the very pretty floral decals have worn, and the main CWS logo on the machine bed and up on the arm are a little faded  but for the small amount they were asking for this machine it needed a new home.  I am happy to go tinkering when I know what I am doing with the instructions and right tools for the job, and if it doesn't work then it can be just a decorative machine on display.  Even the coffin lid has some pretty decoration to the corners - haven't seen that before.

Oh a few years ago  on the old TSF someone put up a link to using an old vintage machine for embroidery and just how fast and easy they made it look.  Well as that link finished another loaded and oh this was the most magnificent treadle machine in immaculate order dating to around 1870's, it had I think a fiddle shaped machine bed and instead of the usual decals this one had roses on, the machine glowed, and worked, but it was in America and it also had the most amazing amount of accessories - I have never seen so many all neatly packed in purpose made cases.  Now that is the machine I would have loved to have had and it had a glowing black wrought/cast iron treadle.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: wrenkins on May 28, 2019, 11:49:55 AM
HeHe we're hooked!  0_0
I've even started cleaning up my old 1970s machine because I feel guilty about neglecting her. The cotton buds were coming out from under the feed dogs like those candy floss machines at the fair!  0_0
Everything is moving well on my 28k but she's a bit grimy. The more I look the more I realise how lucky I've been with condition and accessories. Some of the ones for sale are positively ropey! Mine is clean as anything and has loads of bits with it.
I'm planning display shelves.....I think I need help!!  :ninja:
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: wrenkins on May 28, 2019, 13:04:26 PM
@Elnnina I don't know if you saw this link but it's fabulous!!!
TFSR archive (https://web.archive.org/web/20130814050110/http://www.tfsr.org:80/publications/technical_information/sewing_machine_manual)
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: b15erk on May 28, 2019, 13:21:27 PM
@wrenkins , the TFSR link is an amazing resource if you have vintage machines.  I also love Lizzie Lennards YouTube videos, especially the ones showing FMQ on a Treadle machine!

Jessie
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: KayK on May 28, 2019, 15:07:22 PM

I'm planning display shelves.....I think I need help!!  :ninja:

I have those.................with my pensioners on!
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: wrenkins on May 28, 2019, 15:15:36 PM
I have those.................with my pensioners on!
Oh stop!!!!
I live within walking distance of a country auction. Thankfully if I were to buy more oldies it's just too far to carry them home (I am no longer 19 and that's what I did with my first machine...on the bus!  :o) I do, however have a car and a trailer!  0_0  :vintage:  :vintage:  :vintage:
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Roger on May 28, 2019, 20:04:59 PM
i like to keep an eye on the local auction - but I'm not allowed to buy :)

Elnina your machine is looking lovely! shes going to really shine with a touch of autogylm :)
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: BrendaP on May 28, 2019, 21:32:44 PM
She looks lovely even before being cleaned up.  Worn decals are a sign that the machine has had a lor of love and use in the past.

Looks as though you have the shuttle and four long bobbins, wide and narrow binder feet and a zipper foot.  Also I think the thingie at the back is possibly a quilting guide.

The zipper foot looks as though it might be a Singer one; if it is the chances are that any low-shank attachment will fit it.  Lower the preser foot and measure the height from the plate to the middle of the screw which holds the foot on.  On a low shank machine it's 5/8".  If it is low shank that good news.  0_0  It means that ou will be able to use a standard vintage buttonholer.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Cheesecake on May 30, 2019, 12:23:43 PM
I love those decals, so pretty.  Lucky you!
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Elnnina on May 30, 2019, 12:56:47 PM
Thank you for all your comments.  I have yet to start the cleaning process I need to get some of the correct stuff to do the necessary parts - I have been reading the link that Roger put up, and I need to download the TFSR pages.

Brenda, interestingly the little zipper foot I  have mentioned actually has the Singer name on it and a number 161127, this is an adjustable foot and the actual foot is hinged.  I will have to get the machine up on to a table again to measure the distance from the foot to feed dog - she is rather heavy and I don't do bending very well - it affects my balance/head.

Cheesecake thank you - yes I too like the decals have never seen one like this before.  It was just one of those things I just could not leave her sitting in the charity shop window, and for such little money it has a new home.  I know the hand wheel turns and the existing needle goes up and down, and that is about all I have done.

Trying to do some cutting out and then sewing before the heatwave comes as I need some cool cotton type tops to wear, thus maintenance of any sort is on the back burner.

Very many years ago I was after some bobbins for my then Cosson machine - a straight stitcher, and I found a machine shop near where I worked.  I went in to ask about the bobbins and found the ones I bought were actually Bernina bobbins.  I went back for more bobbins - I do not like different colours wound on top of one another.  The owner started talking to me and disappeared into the back of the shop and came back with boxes upon boxes of various attachments and accessories and said here you I bet you cannot get them to work let alone know what they are - these were given to me - no money exchanged at all.  In amongst all these were loads of rufflers, tuckers, pleaters, a lovely edge stitch foot which I still use today, gatherers, under braiders, a hem stitch attachment in its own box, a weaver's reed (think that is what it was called).  I then happened to find a book published by Singers especially for schools, and they showed you how to use all these wonderful goodies.

Do you know I had these and occasionally used them on my Elna with no detrimental effect to the machine, and then being a generous person I donated my Cosson machine and most of these accessories/attachments to a charity that refurbish machines and sends them out to  east Africa.

Perhaps now I might regret that but I am sure the ladies in East Africa have far more need of these accessories than I have, and of course now I have  modern machines they come with their own type of accessories and attachments.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Greybird on June 03, 2019, 17:27:56 PM
Have just seen one of these today in an antique centre (alongside 2 vintage Singer machines) for £28. It was very pretty - had never seen one "in the flesh" before. Because of the angle it was at, other than turning the wheel a bit, I couldn't examine it much, but the condition looked pretty good. I did take some pictures but have no idea how to get them from the phone into the computer.
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: BrendaP on June 03, 2019, 18:30:04 PM

Brenda, interestingly the little zipper foot I  have mentioned actually has the Singer name on it and a number 161127, this is an adjustable foot and the actual foot is hinged.  I will have to get the machine up on to a table again to measure the distance from the foot to feed dog - she is rather heavy and I don't do bending very well - it affects my balance/head.

Yep, that's the same number as on mine, so if it fits your machine all the other low shank Singer attachments will fit - no need to measure anything. :loveit:
Title: Re: Vintage CWS Federation sewing machine
Post by: Elnnina on June 04, 2019, 17:58:15 PM
Thanks Brenda, that is so useful to know.  Annoyingly as I mentioned I gave away to the African Charity  most of my attachments, including the hemstitcher which was boxed separately, and now I have remembered I also gave them two different buttonholers, a Griest one that had various extra pieces in for making different buttonholes, and one by Vanguard - I had used these on a straight stitcher before I bought my lovely Elna.  I must say though I do like the buttonholes that my current machines do - so that is Elna and two Bernina's, so I cannot grumble - I am sure the African women will have been delighted with all the bits and bobs I donated to them, loads of patterns, scraps of fabric, fabric that I no longer wanted or knew I would never use, some lovely cotton dresses (all washed and ironed here first) a beautiful almost brand new sprung cot mattress (I did ask the charity first on this one) - at least it would be nice for a baby to sleep on something other than the ground.