Am I crazy?!?!
#11
All crazy here ... I have only recently started collecting. Like a potato chip ... it started with one, and less than 2 years later I have 4 and I'm STILL looking (currently also watching hubby's PC right in front of me as he is searching for irons!).
One of the machines I purchased had good irons, a decent head that needed cleaning, and a cabinet that had decent drawers ... but the top is rotten. We sand blasted and repainted the irons, cleaned the drawers and we're going to fix a new top on it and we purchased an old coffin top to put over the head (instead of trying to build a top that will let the machine drop).
IOW ... the important part are the irons. If you have a complete set (and parts for those can even be found), with no cracks, then clean them up and work from there.
Go for it and good luck!!
One of the machines I purchased had good irons, a decent head that needed cleaning, and a cabinet that had decent drawers ... but the top is rotten. We sand blasted and repainted the irons, cleaned the drawers and we're going to fix a new top on it and we purchased an old coffin top to put over the head (instead of trying to build a top that will let the machine drop).
IOW ... the important part are the irons. If you have a complete set (and parts for those can even be found), with no cracks, then clean them up and work from there.
Go for it and good luck!!
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 134
i love your new machine! i'm in crazy land with you - it's a horrible affliction! hahahaha. i'd have probably taken it for the challenge as well.
your machine reminds me of the vintage 1940's airplanes, somehow. just has an appearance of that era, although as a treadle it might be older than that. i think you're going to have a wonderful time tinkering with your new toy!
your machine reminds me of the vintage 1940's airplanes, somehow. just has an appearance of that era, although as a treadle it might be older than that. i think you're going to have a wonderful time tinkering with your new toy!
#13
Power Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 10,357
The only crazy thing about you or your story is the price! Look on Gumtree and see what people are charging for treadles...so well done. Despite how it's been stored it doesn't look too bad at all...sure the cabinet will be in need of new veneer....though if not too much is missing it can be carefully removed, dampened slightly, squashed down firmly under a heavy weight, then re-glued and given a top coat. I have done this with furniture with reasonable results. The vintage forum part of the QB is full of helpful tips for refurbishing vintage treasures. Of course if you get stuck...there are plenty of people who will help. So fellow Aussie...do not despair...smile and surrender to the thrall of vintage!
#15
Welcome!
Glad to know there's a dressmaker here now. I have someone to come to for garment sewing questions! I absolutely want to come to Australia someday so I can shop in your quilt and needlework stores. I get a couple of the Australian magazines, and you have some of the best ones down there!!
Glad to know there's a dressmaker here now. I have someone to come to for garment sewing questions! I absolutely want to come to Australia someday so I can shop in your quilt and needlework stores. I get a couple of the Australian magazines, and you have some of the best ones down there!!
Frudemoo - It looks a fantastic machine, and you are perfectly sane.
Why don't you join Needlebar and post some pictures of the machine? I'm sure they will be able to tell you about it, and about the manufacturers. I couldn't find any photos of this model when I checked through their picture gallery, and there wasn't much about Baer and Rempel either, but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't be able to tell you.
QB is a great place to learn about quilting and enjoy your machines too. I'm looking forward to you posting your work on the thread "Quilts made using Vintage Machines"
Why don't you join Needlebar and post some pictures of the machine? I'm sure they will be able to tell you about it, and about the manufacturers. I couldn't find any photos of this model when I checked through their picture gallery, and there wasn't much about Baer and Rempel either, but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't be able to tell you.
QB is a great place to learn about quilting and enjoy your machines too. I'm looking forward to you posting your work on the thread "Quilts made using Vintage Machines"
I have tried to join Needlebar but I think they rejected my intro. Must have been because I said I was a dressmaker, even though I emphasised that I was there to discuss the machines. Sounds like they're fairly particular (read: grumpy) about the type of people who are allowed to join, which is a shame because I would really like to share images and manuals etc of the machines I have and discuss their history with the NB members. Funnily enough I found out about NB from my original Google search for the Phoenix 250 - they were the only people who had it listed. I don't know how I was able to access the link, as I can't access anything from the main page, but here it is.
One of the machines I purchased had good irons, a decent head that needed cleaning, and a cabinet that had decent drawers ... but the top is rotten. We sand blasted and repainted the irons, cleaned the drawers and we're going to fix a new top on it and we purchased an old coffin top to put over the head (instead of trying to build a top that will let the machine drop).
IOW ... the important part are the irons. If you have a complete set (and parts for those can even be found), with no cracks, then clean them up and work from there.
Go for it and good luck!!
IOW ... the important part are the irons. If you have a complete set (and parts for those can even be found), with no cracks, then clean them up and work from there.
Go for it and good luck!!
Can I ask, what was the reason for sandblasting? Is that standard practice for cleaning up treadle irons? It sounds very aggressive, but I can't think how else to clean them, so maybe I've just answered my own question - haha!
The only crazy thing about you or your story is the price! Look on Gumtree and see what people are charging for treadles...so well done. Despite how it's been stored it doesn't look too bad at all...sure the cabinet will be in need of new veneer....though if not too much is missing it can be carefully removed, dampened slightly, squashed down firmly under a heavy weight, then re-glued and given a top coat. I have done this with furniture with reasonable results. The vintage forum part of the QB is full of helpful tips for refurbishing vintage treasures. Of course if you get stuck...there are plenty of people who will help. So fellow Aussie...do not despair...smile and surrender to the thrall of vintage!
Yes, it's worth repairing the veneer. Yes, I've done a couple pretty badly damaged cabinets, one parlor and one regular treadle.
Here's a thread of the regular treadle I did with before and after pics:
{ http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...e-t204377.html }
Here's a thread of the regular treadle I did with before and after pics:
{ http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...e-t204377.html }
You're not crazy. These vintage machines sew beautifully once they have be cleaned.
While cleaning the machine, only clean the Japan (black areas with the decals) with sewing machine oil so that you don't ruin the decals. Sometimes with the older machine the Japan's clear protective coat has been damaged over the long years; cracks developed in the clear coat. Some cleaning produces will strip that clear coat off leaving you with just the black paint (Japan). That clear coat protects those decals too; so you don't want them ruined. Sewing oil is the safest method to clean up the machine, just takes time.
MUV has some excellent youtube videos showing how to clean a vintage machine, which you can google.
While cleaning the machine, only clean the Japan (black areas with the decals) with sewing machine oil so that you don't ruin the decals. Sometimes with the older machine the Japan's clear protective coat has been damaged over the long years; cracks developed in the clear coat. Some cleaning produces will strip that clear coat off leaving you with just the black paint (Japan). That clear coat protects those decals too; so you don't want them ruined. Sewing oil is the safest method to clean up the machine, just takes time.
MUV has some excellent youtube videos showing how to clean a vintage machine, which you can google.
Anyway, I'm sure as I trawl more videos and threads I will find my own answers to these questions. Please don't feel obliged to answer!!
I am so grateful to everyone for your generous and thoughtful replies and for making me feel so welcome here. It's so lovely of you all!
#19
Hello Frudemoo,
I use Peek metal polish, from http://www.tri-peek.com (but I get it from our local shop). It's a polish, so won't get rid of rust that has set well in. I've never really done a serious rust removal job. Peek will get rid of superficial rust.
It might be worth having a second go to get on to Needlebar. I had to join twice because for some reason I couldn't get onto the site for months on end on our computer, but I could on my son's - all very puzzling.
I use Peek metal polish, from http://www.tri-peek.com (but I get it from our local shop). It's a polish, so won't get rid of rust that has set well in. I've never really done a serious rust removal job. Peek will get rid of superficial rust.
It might be worth having a second go to get on to Needlebar. I had to join twice because for some reason I couldn't get onto the site for months on end on our computer, but I could on my son's - all very puzzling.
#20
If the irons are in bad shape, yes sand blasting can be the best way to remove old rust. We do it just because we happen to have a sand blaster and my husband thinks it's great fun
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gypsyquilter
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
17
12-09-2010 04:31 AM