I live the Singer with the RAF decals, it is an original singer and it is an early 60's machine. Made in China but it is still a great little machine to own! Your Lotus is beautiful also I cant wait to see it with the handcrank on it!!


Billy[/quote]

Thanks for your confirmation and Miz Johnny's post on the Needlebar info.
I'm still wondering how I can convert the Lotus into a hand-crank since it doesn't have the standard motor boss that is need to mount the modern hand-crank to (so I read somewhere). Read that the old machines hand-cranks were mounted to the wooden box somehow. I don't think I will be doing that, if this is so. I appreciate any suggestions on how to make this idea work.

Nancy, We bought that machine from a man that is in his mid 80"s. Said his wife bought it about 10 years ago and just displayed it. The wife passed away about a year ago and he was looking for someone to give it a good home. We explained to him how we have a collection of machines oldest one now is 1854. Told him we would take good care of her. We are going to mount her on a treadle base but keep the coffin case. Named her Stradivarius because she is a rare fiddle.

Wow, Miz Johnny that is a beautiful decal -- I wonder what bird it is suppose to be? Why is it called a "Raf" decal? Anyway, now I want one of those machines!

Nancy

I thought 'RAF' stood for Royal Air Force...

Geeze what a lucky find! Well, we know they are out there! The rest of us just have to keep looking! The 'looking' is 3/4's of the fun! Congratulations on finding those beautiful trophy machines!

Nancy

Have you posted a picture of the 1854 machine? I bet everyone here would love to see that machine!

Nancy

It needs to become a treadle!!

It does.

It was in the treadle that the 15-90 is in. I moved machines around like some move furniture. Long story, but I moved machines around and moved some parts( bobbin winder and spoke wheel) from the RAF machine head to the 15-90 so that I would have the best sewing setup. I don't have a lot of room for numerous treadles. At present, I have two treadles and a sewing desk that are arranged in a u-shape. So, my Lotus went into a bentwood box that sits on my desk. Don't know what I will do with the RAF which was in a treadle (now that treadle has my 201), but it sits in a box waiting to be cleaned up. My husband says the Lotus should go back in its treadle. If ever a treadle without machine head shows up then the desk may go and I will then have three treadles (another rotation). I get dizzy thinking of all this movement.

Just picked up a Singer Red Eye at the thrift store for a very cheap price..... It has the wooden case which has some chipping but not in really bad shape.

The machine is in what I would consider good shape with decals and I tested it any runs strong. Needs a straight stitch foot. It also has tape stuck to the bed (to mark 1/4")

I am going to oil, clean, polish and then I don't know what. I already am over run with featherweights, and I think this is my 3rd Model 66.

Just couldn't resist her.