Category: repair

A simple key

On By CarynIn repair

The Singer treadle cabinet that came with the Model 66 sewing machine has lockable drawers! And no key. Luckily it was not locked when it came to me, and a little peeking through the keyhole and some perusing the internet suggested that a small screwdriver would work. I happened to have an original Singer wire screwdriver that came with my Model 27. It worked!

Picture description: Treadle cabinet with drawers removed, showing the “key” hole and a wire screw driver.
Photo description: Same drawer frame, but with the “key” inserted, turned, and the metal latch showing in the locked position.

Each drawer has corresponding grooves, so when the key is turned the lock engages both drawers. Each drawer has grooves on both the top and bottom edges, so they aren’t position specific (I love good planning). I did put some sewing machine oil on each latch to help them get moving. Though I probably won’t lock the drawers either.

Random but not surprising

On By CarynIn repair

In the drawers of the Singer Model 66, that just recently came from my husband’s aunt’s house 206 miles away, I found wood plug that looked very familiar. I popped it into the open hole in my vintage side table. It fit and is a near color match. I purchased this table at an antique store in Houston TX, but my grandmother had its twin in South Dakota, and that one now resides at my Mom’s house. So it was a popular piece of furniture in the mid-1900s. Wood plugs are also common screw hole covers and furniture manufacturers would use the same size wood plug on various pieces.

Photo description: The side of a wooden end table showing four wood plugs, the bottom right is the “new” plug, not fully inserted.

So it is random but not surprising to find a plug that fits the hole in a cabinet that was around at the time this furniture was in vogue. It also shows that those devilish fat pegs like to fall out and go a-hiding across the nation. Although this one has found its home. I put it in the hole lightly, but it stuck tight, so the only thing to do was tap it all the way in. Serendipity is the word I’ve been trying to find.

Singer model 66

On By CarynIn repair

Here is my big news to start off the year: I have another treadle sewing machine! This one is a family heirloom. It was my husband’s great-grandmother’s, a Singer model 66 from 1916 with the “red eye” or “red scroll” decals. The decoration on this machine is in much better condition than my model 27, which is only 9 years older than the model 66, but saw considerable barn time. The 66 only saw some garage time and was mostly in normal household conditions.

Photo description: Singer model 66 “Red Eye” sewing machine head, sitting on cardboard on my work bench.

Ironically, the treadle base is almost identical to the other base, except it hasn’t been painted over (thank goodness).

Photo description: Singer treadle base cabinet, the four drawers are on the table just off camera. I had just scrubbed down the cast iron parts with PB Blaster and a wire brush. I have not started on the wood parts, but have taken some broken laminate from the back to use on the surface chips.

My goal is to get it back to working condition. It is pretty, but seized. The model 27 I’ve almost completely disassembled except for the main shaft, but with this model 66 I’m going to only take apart what I need to.

Cleaning

On By CarynIn Craft, repair, Tools

I’m still picking away at the model 27 sewing machine, removing small bits of dried on oil and dirt.

Photo description: Singer Manufacturing Company trademark in bronze, covered with a thick patina of oil
Photo description: Same seal after cleaning with a bamboo stick and sewing machine oil, with only a slight patina left in the crevices. Photo also shows a shiny stitch regulator knob.

My friends and family are probably getting tired of hearing a “scritch, scritch” noise when I’m on the phone. But it helps me focus. I’m not cleaning all the patina off; getting it back on in artful amounts can take years. I did figure out that I can clean the parts that are stuck in place, and continue to soak them in oil until the threads release. A thin strip of nylon netting is great for getting into the screw threads.

Photo description: Top of the machine, one hand is holding a dirty length of nylon netting along the threads of the pressure foot tension knob.

I’m not sure what I am going to do about the gold decals. They are quite delicate and are already flaked off to the silver base, or rubbed off entirely in areas. I do feel I need to remove all the loose paint, because I don’t want it flaking off onto my fabric. Experiments continue.

Testing for lead

On By CarynIn Craft, repair

The cabinet of my 1907 model 27 Singer Sewing Machine is yellow. Hm. Pinging online groups, there is a general consensus that they didn’t come in yellow. Prompted, I looked at the hinges, and yes, the hinges and screws also had yellow paint, so someone, during the life of the machine, had thinly painted it yellow. Sigh. The next question, how long ago? Was there lead in the paint? I purchased a lead test kit, followed the directions, and happily, no pink. If the swab or surface turns pink or magenta, it indicates the presence of lead. Since it isn’t lead paint, and it is not original, when the weather cools off here I’ll strip the paint and refinish.

Photo description: Antiqued yellow wood surface showing a wet round area and a yellow swab.