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Messages - Lace

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Vintage Machines / Re: Guess What I Have?
« on: July 23, 2023, 18:46:03 PM »
This is my procedure before starting to sew. Essential to avoid snags if you have a 221K or 222K:
To Prepare for Sewing:
Lay both threads back under the presser foot diagonally across the feed, to right or left, depending upon which side of the needle the material is to be located, so that when the presser foot is lowered, the threads will be firmly held between the feed and the presser foot.
To Start Sewing:
Be sure to have thread take-up lever 5, Fig. 14 at its highest position. Place the material beneath the presser foot, then turn the hand wheel to bring the point of the needle into the material, then lower the presser foot and start to sew.
Have the take-up lever at it's highest position when you stop sewing, it's much easier to pull out the threads to cut them. I hope I have this right; it's been months since I was able to do any sewing. I will try it out if my instructions are a muddle.

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Vintage Machines / Re: 1936 (I think) Singer 99k worth it?
« on: January 31, 2022, 18:37:18 PM »
Hello Bill, I agree mostly with the other advice. It is a shame that this model 99K-31 was produced with a poor quality case.  It is a 3/4 model and has a back tack function, compared to the earlier knob control variant, so in a better condition would be quite desirable.  Singer Sewing Info has more detail; (I hope I haven't broken the rules by giving that name). These machines are often missing their bobbin plate but replacements can be got and new bases can be made.   The motor is just bolted to the body so could be removed for repair/servicing/wiring if necessary.  It could all cost as much as the asking price unless you wanted to do the work yourself, which many do. There are lots of videos and a couple of useful forums elsewhere. The screws were manufactured by Singer so any machine that is dumped is a tragedy as the spare parts are lost as well.  Some places have dumped items for sale and it's better to get one that you can collect yourself and not have couriered to you, depending on the packing skill of the seller. I have ten of these beautiful machines and do very little sewing on them... I hope you find your machine before too long.

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Vintage Machines / Re: Oil for 99k
« on: September 24, 2021, 19:15:26 PM »
I use an extra long needle tipped horological oil applicator. It comes filled with oil which I replace with SMO.

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Vintage Machines / Re: FeatherWeight making an Awful racket
« on: April 16, 2021, 18:43:54 PM »
@Lace - Thank you for the idea, but I'm in the US.  I do have the name of another repairman here and am hopeful he'll figure it out.  #1 was a son-in-law of the great guy who did this work for years.

It's a problem in the UK too jesster; they get old and retire!   My repairman died last August - he used to work for Singer near Glasgow.  Then I found another but he is 86... from today we are allowed to travel out of our local area and I just hope he is still in his shop.

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Vintage Machines / Re: FeatherWeight making an Awful racket
« on: April 16, 2021, 15:55:18 PM »
  Looking for repairman #2...

Are you a member of Singer Featherweights UK on FB? It's so easy to post a 221K for fixing. Quite a few people do and I know of two men who will repair them.

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Vintage Machines / Re: FeatherWeight making an Awful racket
« on: April 16, 2021, 11:57:35 AM »
I just thought that some people are mechanically-minded, and some are not.

So very true LeilaMay.  I am very much the latter. Got all my machines in near perfect condition a decade ago and don't adjust anything on them apart from what is in the manual.  I have four that I have never sewn on.  I really am just a collector and very happy with my ten.  :laughing:

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Vintage Machines / Re: FeatherWeight making an Awful racket
« on: April 16, 2021, 10:46:42 AM »
@Lace , I've just checked and I'm in the wrong group, Featherweight Friends is the one I belong to.  I will head over to FB now and see if I can sign up to the UK one.

Just PM me when you are there Jessie.  Search the Members. It might be a few days. PS Have you seen how many FWs LeilaMay has? Incredible!  :loveit:

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Vintage Machines / Re: Oil for 99k
« on: April 16, 2021, 10:43:03 AM »
A bottle of oil that I just bought for my 99k was faulty.

If you search for needle tip/ped bottle or syringe you will find some products.  I can't post photos or links atm. My syringe was from a horological supplier in the UK.  It is refillable (as it contained clock oil) and the needle measures about 9 cm.


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Vintage Machines / Re: FeatherWeight making an Awful racket
« on: April 16, 2021, 10:30:56 AM »
@

@Lace , yes I joined the FW group, and had a FB discussion with a lovely chap who seemed very knowledgeable - unfortunately , he's Canadian, so a bit too far to send my machine... :facepalm:  I feel a bit embarrassed to raise the same issue again, when no-one seemed able to help - especially as I seem to have made matters worse...

Jessie I don't know who you are talking about; you are right about Canada.  Is it the Singer Featherweights UK Group you joined? I am not permitted to post links here and I can't find your name amongst the members there, but then I don't know what name you have used - Jessie or b15erk.  So I can't respond to your posts there. I'm Mary Hayward and you can find me if you search the FW Group members.  I am only here as Lace because it was my TSF name. You just need to message to Phil Enstone, the Admin. He will tell you how to pack the machine. He uses his own courier as well. Is there a reason you are wary of sending your machine away? We are just trying to help from our own experiences. If you read the posts at the FB Group you will see that lots of other people have sent their machines to Phil.  :)

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Vintage Machines / Re: FeatherWeight making an Awful racket
« on: April 16, 2021, 10:05:28 AM »
@Lace,I've only just seen your reply, and thank you so much for it. It's good to have the name of a reliable 'fixer', I think I may need to use his services before very long. :'(
 
b15erk Have you actually joined the FB Group? Singer Featherweights UK? Not sure if I mentioned that the Admin is also the main UK resource/fixer for FWs.  At any rate even if you don't want to send your machine to him you could post in the Group for some help from 803 members, most of whom have one if not more FWS each. He's not just about wiring; he found a broken metal piece in my machine and fixed it. He organises collection and delivery so it was quite easy. I am not permitted to post links here as I am still 'new' but there is also a VSSMUK FB Group of 4.1K members, another Admin who is a resource/fixer. Since my very bad experience with a local shop, (which opened when FWs were still being manufactured) I would only use a recognised service shop - hence my suggestions about the FB Groups. Good luck!  :)

11
Vintage Machines / Re: 1920's/30's Singer needs a new home
« on: March 23, 2021, 18:42:56 PM »
You could do a search on eBay of Completed Items to find a price and Facebook Marketplace is a good indicator.  15Ks are quite popular and they are not heavy, except when compared to modern machines with plastic parts that don't last as long. Is it still in a treadle or some sort of base?  Some charity shops take them, or sell on Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, Freegle, etc. Do you have any local vintage machine repair shops, they might be interested. Replacement feet can be can be bought. I hope you can find a good home for it; they are worth while rescuing, if only as parts machines. Singer made all their own screws so some are quite hard to find.

12
Vintage Machines / Re: Singer 99k advice
« on: March 21, 2021, 14:43:06 PM »
If the handwheel is spoked then you can fit one.  Do you want to use it as a hand crank or motor? You would need to buy the correct crank that fits the specific machine, as there are several different types, so it's best to let the supplier decide which is the correct one.  (That way you don't end up having to keep it if you chose the wrong one.)  There are videos on YT to help with a crank fitting. You can buy a modern foot controller. There is a postal service so could probably fix the motor or advise you.  If you remove an original motor, keep it as it's part of the machine's history. Love my little 99K.

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Vintage Machines / Re: Difference...
« on: March 21, 2021, 13:18:29 PM »
Efemera it might be capacitors but my experience only goes as far as a 221K. Do you belong to Vintage Singer Sewing Machines UK on FB? Lots of information there.

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Vintage Machines / Re: Vintage Singer Belts
« on: March 21, 2021, 13:11:27 PM »
... Modified because I am not yet able to post suppliers or links.

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Vintage Machines / Re: FeatherWeight making an Awful racket
« on: February 06, 2021, 14:13:08 PM »
@LeilaMay .............

So, she will return to her box, until I find someone locally who can fix her.  :( :'( 

@LeilaMay .............

So, she will return to her box, until I find someone locally who can fix her.  :( :'(...........

I see that you joined the FB group. Have you thought about sending your machine to Philip Enstone?  Has your's been completely rewired? I had mine serviced in Edinburgh in October; it came back with no recommendation for a re-wire in spite of the fact that it is strongly recommended now because the original 1960s wiring is no longer safe.  I  checked the wiring and found an exposed area where the old fabric insulation had worn away. And you may know that this is important because the wiring is internal on this model. The wires were also covered in oil which degrades the insulation and after two months it was still dripping from the needle tip.  I posted mine just over a week ago, after getting advice. They are relatively easy to pack and transport and courier collection and delivery is organised by Philip. My machine has had a thorough cleaning, rewiring and service, plus the case has been mended and I feel a lot more confident in using it.  For me it was a good investment, especially since in my experience it can be hard to find a good service engineer for vintage machines.

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