J Miller

Dawn,

Mine simply says: "Made In Japan". Yours might be a bit older.


Miriam,

I checked my carefully and it does take the tap in pins. I suspect Dawn's is the same. But Dawn, check it real good anywho.

Joe

DawnFurlong

I believe it takes tap in. Can't see inside the hole, the spool pin was missing when I got it. But it feels smooth when I poke a toothpick down the hole and run it up the side. I know, real scientific way to check, right?!

J Miller

I use a pipe cleaner and a flashlight. But a tooth pic will work too.

Joe

Peacefirst

I am wondering,did you found out more about the machine? I just bought one too. My didn't have a belt, so I bought 15 3/8 belt, and it seems to be good, but I am not quite sure, how to put it on. I took the screw off the part on the motor where belt goes, but that part still doesn't come off. Does it supposed to come off or do I take off the hand wheel? My belt is not a stretch belt.

DawnFurlong

Hi Peacefirst,

No, I never did find out more. And I never did order parts. Other stuff happened (had a grandbaby on the way) - and somehow this just fell by the wayside. Maybe one day! I have actually moved to another state since then - and this machine is in storage in the state I moved from. So I don't even have it with me at this point to look at or do anything with.

Dawn

Rodney

Peacefirst welcome aboard! Take the belt guard off the machine. I think it was Dawn's 6th picture that showed the screw on top that you loosen to take it off. Then loosen up the bolt on the left end of the machine that holds the motor bracket. You should be able to slip the belt over the pulleys and adjust the belt's tension by moving your motor and bracket up and down on the machine. You want it just tight enough to not slip. Too much tension puts unnecessary wear on the motor and machine.

Can you take a picture of the underside of the machine? Dawn's machine looks a lot like a 201 clone to me. If it's gear driven then it probably is.
Rodney

CraftySue

It looks a lot like the Bel-Air 36 I am waiting to be delivered. Can't find out any info on the date it was made though.

leonf

CraftySue, This thread is 5 years old and many who had posted are no longer aboard

You Bantam is 3/4 sized and maybe even be aluminum bodied. Check it with a magnet.

clone of a Singer 99. Great machine. Welcome aboard.
99 is in my profile pic, btw.

OurWorkbench

Welcome, Crafty Sue. I think that many sewing machines are hard to date. The best you can hope for would be an approximate time period. It appears that most of the Bel Air machines were probably made between 1945 and early 1950s.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

DawnFurlong

Welcome CraftySue!

Pretty machine! I never did get mine running. Between an out of state move, another move in the new state I'm in, more grandbabies - mine is still in storage. I still keep thinking some day....