Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell

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02-16-2012, 11:14 PM

#30931

Mizkaki

Super Member

Join Date: Dec 2011

Location: Northern CA near Sacramento

Posts: 1,107

Nancy,

Several models of the Free-Westinghouse VS machines use the 15x1 needles. The rotary machines use the shorter CC needle. Then to completely confuse you i have a 3/4 sized Free-Westinghouse VS from 1920 that uses the longer 20x1 needle.

Cathy

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoJangles

The information on the needles is very interesting too! According to ISMACs needle site, the Free Westinghouse uses a 15X1 needle, but the needle being shorter does not surprise me! Nancy

02-16-2012, 11:37 PM

#30932

vintagemotif

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2010

Posts: 4,972

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mizkaki

Nancy,

In answer to your question treadles can differ in how they feel, some easy to treadle some harder. Tweaking the pivots in the treadle mechanism can sometimes help . Also the treadle wheel size and placement on the frame will affect the angle the belt comes into the machine, therefore making a difference in whether it rubs the machine casting or not. Clear as mud?

Cathy

Makes sense to me! I doubt I will be tweaking the pivots on the treadles. My husband likes to make the adjustments on the treadles, but he leaves the machines for me to play with.

That also explains why the leather belt started to fray faster when I changed the machine into the regular treadle.

So Nancy, Cathy came to the rescue.

Thanks!

02-16-2012, 11:54 PM

#30933

Nanamoms

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: MS

Posts: 2,624

Quote:

Originally Posted by justtrish

Save her go now omg...white featherweight!! $40.00

please http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/hsh/2853113763.html

I wish I knew someone in that area

OMG!!!! Wish one of our Board members who lives in the NY area would go buy her for me. I would gladly pay shipping to get her to MS!! Isn't Favorite Fabrics in NY? I wonder if it is still available or if the seller would ship?

02-17-2012, 05:50 AM

#30934

ivey_family

Member

Join Date: Jan 2012

Posts: 8

A-ha! Thank you, Joe and Cathy! A new bobbin case will be my next purchase then.

I will also try flipping that washer.

Regards,
Carrie

02-17-2012, 06:24 AM

#30935

BoJangles

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Rescue, California

Posts: 4,585

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mizkaki

I have to see the 3/4 sized Free Westinghouse! Is it gold too or decaled pretty? Yes, just when you think you have got this sewing machine stuff figured out - someone throws in a wrench! Geeze, if we are depending on the sites like ISMACS to figure out needle size - then there is the exception thrown in - only a person like you who has 25 + years experience with these machines would know about these things! How interesting!

Nancy

Last edited by BoJangles; 02-17-2012 at 06:30 AM.

02-17-2012, 06:26 AM

#30936

BoJangles

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Rescue, California

Posts: 4,585

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintagemotif

Thanks!

Yep, makes sense to me too. Luckily, I have not had to tweak any of my treadles! My Betty (Davis Vertical Feed) is by far the hardest/most work out to treadle. I think that is probably because I only use her to put bindings on Queen/King sized quilts, and because she has to 'walk' the quilt to sew!

Nancy

02-17-2012, 06:38 AM

#30937

BoJangles

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Rescue, California

Posts: 4,585

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlee

Here's an article on on furniture oils:

http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry...eid=156b1afb28

Does this mean I have to quit using Howard's Feed n Wax?

Geeze, Charlee that is an interesting article. Reminds me of what Glenn says about the fact that the wood is dead and doesn't need feeding or something like that. Glenn, I'd like to see your observations on that article. Does that mean I have to quit using Liquid Gold on my cabinets - I love the way they shine when I use it?

Nancy

02-17-2012, 06:43 AM

#30938

BoJangles

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Rescue, California

Posts: 4,585

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathie S.

Nancy, you are a doll. If you are going to see her Saturday that would work for me as you could bring them Saturday night. If not let me know and I will try to see her Sunday if she is home. God sure has blessed me with the best friends. Kathie

Yep, I can pick up some of the needles for you and bring them to Girls Night Out Saturday evening!

Nancy

02-17-2012, 06:52 AM

#30939

BoJangles

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Rescue, California

Posts: 4,585

Have any of you tried using metallic thread on your 401a's or a similar machine? Yesterday, I changed needles (to a metallic needle), re-threaded several times, put the metallic thread on a spool behind the machine so the thread could relax before it hit the thread guides, played with the tension, did everything I could think of to get my new 401a to accept the metallic thread! No go - I spent an hour going 5 inches, cutting the bobbin thread off every 1/2" or so when it jammed, removing the slide plate, cleaning the bobbin area, re-threading the bobbin - everything I could think of! I would sew a 1/2 inch or so then it jammed up - had to cut the bobbin thread off underneath due to a huge mess. I switched to a 50 weight DMC thread and didn't have any issues at all? I really wanted to use metallic thread on a little Patchability I was doing!

Nancy