Originally Posted by Crossstitcher

Well Nancy and everyone, We just joined the 306 club again for the 3rd. time. We bought a black 306 today with button holder, zig zagger, a dozen bobbins and the little black cams. The machine sews great but what I want to know is were you able to date yours. The serial number for this one is W1505855. It is a 306W. The bobbin case has the cut out like the 306K. Bought all for 20.00. Didn't take the cabinet it was trash. Yesterday Hubby bought a 99K with the box of attachments and he got it sewing too. You all think you have the bug but, I think he has you all beat.

Originally Posted by BoJangles

Congratulations Trish - three 306's Wow. The serial number for my 306w is W1534711, so your new one is a little older! The W's were lost records, but I read somewhere the 319 was only made between 1955 and 57, the 306 until 1959? Anyway, we will never have the exact dates of manufacture on these machines, but they are sometime in the early to mid 50's I think.

Candace, I did get my open bobbin case in the mail today! My 306w sews perfectly so it was not re-timed for 15x1 needles. I don't know why all those 15x1 needles were with the machine!

Trish and Candace, I have cleaned and oiled this machine - it does all the stitches that were standard to this machine when purchased, but I can't get the lever on the top of the bight control knob that moves the needle[ATTACH=CONFIG]338068[/ATTACH] position to move? Mine seems to be frozen in place? I have tried everything I can think of to try and move the top lever - no go? What is the secret? My 319w moves very easily!

Nancy

Originally Posted by miriam

Since I am a fair hand at running a power saw of any kind, my DH insisted that our boys learn to sew. Any boys that end up helpers to him have to learn to sew before he lets them use a saw. My youngest son has done quite a bit of sewing and is looking at starting some thing up with some sewing as a business. You can always have them do dot to dot or some mazes - good for hand eye mumbo jumbo too.

Originally Posted by BoJangles

Chris, by long bed, you must mean you have a black featherweight. They didn't come in a 'long bed' and 'short bed' like a 301 does. The black FW's all have the same length bed, and the white/light green ones all have a short bed. I don't have a tan one, but I think the tan/beige one was always a longer bed like the black FW's, but each color was what it was - there was no choice of a long or short bed. There was a free arm, though, in black.

Your needle not moving could be that the bobbin case is not set correctly for the grove (position finger) in the throat plate. It could also be that the hook/race/bobbin casing have some thread caught in there. Those FW's were made so precise - so small - there is no room for a thread, lint, anything to interfere with the action of the machine. Even one thread caught in and around the hook/race can freeze those machines. They are very easy to care for yourself - just get a flash light and start hunting. Don't force anything. Sometimes you can soak the bobbin area in oil and if there is a thread caught you can then get it out. I have 'unstuck' several FW's that just needed a very good cleaning!

Nancy