Jones CS Hand Crank "The Royal Ruby"

I'm becoming a slattern.  I'll pretty much fall for anything around $50 and so when I saw this advertised on CL, I casually called and made the appointment.  I figured if I was too late, that was fine and if I was the first caller, meh.  I'm actually glad I went ahead and investigated. 

This is a Jones cylindrical shuttle (CS) hand crank from the early 1920s named 'Royal Ruby.'  I have no idea what that nickname means.  Did the British find an unusually large stone in, say, Africa or India to which this machine refers?  It's made in England and comes from a long line of venerable machines produced by the Jones firm, machines whose hand cranks in particular are now popular collectors' items.  While this particular machine is later than the sought-after/expensive models found on eBay, I believe this is a very good example of the machines that directly followed.  The simpler design and decal sets are less immediately arresting but I find their subtlety more appealing in the long run.  I'm guessing the flowers of this model are clematis but that is just a guess. 

As you can see, it includes a base and coffin top, a storage compartment (and box of attachments), slots for a treadle cable, and a beautiful set of decals.  The Ruby reminds us of its origins with a decal centered on the bed: 'English Made' over a vase of flowers.  The shape is a Singer takeoff but remains classic Jones in that it has a round, bulbous shape at the column's top.  The action is very smooth and quiet -- much more so than the inexpensive Chinese cranks attached to many classic machines.  If a vintage crank isn't available or within range, a reproduction will have to do but always keep your eyes open for vintage cranks if you need one.

A very pretty machine and in excellent condition for its age, I think:

I managed to get much of the machine cleaned and polished in about 2 hours but had to stop just short of a complete job due to work and an errand.  (I'm blogging in small glances today.)  Since this is my first crank machine with an actual crank (unlike this one or this one), I'm glad I found one working with its own original mechanism.  While I'm not the biggest fan of the VS design, I have to admit it's very quiet and the shuttle and long bobbins are easy to remove and insert.  This machine came with a box full of VS attachments and feet; I'm wondering if Singer works with Jones. 

So, did I buy this for actual sewing or for display?  I'm not sure.  Perhaps a little of both.  It's good to have a people-powered machine (I don't treadle) but I wouldn't want to do too much with this one, as it's in such good condition.  I'm impressed with its quietness and am anxious to try some sewing.

I remember when I was a young kid, my third grade teacher Mrs. Vilhauer led a discussion about whether something is considered antique.  The discussion naturally migrated to furniture and at one point she asked "Who would ever want to live in a museum?"  I responded lustily, "I would!"  This isn't a museum-quality piece of course but my sewing machine acquisition has slowed in recent months as I'm taking stock of what I have and what I need to sell.  Perhaps I'm not so exclusively mid-century after all. 

Singer 503A

I have three machines currently on the bench: a Kenmore 30-stitch made by Janome, a Pfaff 130, and this little number: the Singer 503A.

I've never been too interested in acquiring one of the Rocketeer models, yet I saw one in a local Value Village and stood in front of it for several minutes: Worth the effort or not?  I checked the price tag: $6.99 minus a 20% discount.  Well, here it is finally getting some needed attention.

When I initially brought it in the house, I set it aside for about 2 weeks.  My friend Janet mentioned the Rocketeer in her blog and I became curious: Don't I have one of those?  Why yes, I do.  No attachments were included save a zig-zag foot and the zig-zag cam but it came in a cheapie Singer table and both original knee and foot controllers were included.

I plugged it in and it runs.  In fact, it runs quite well.  It's very fast and has very little vibration, is strong, and makes a pretty stitch.  The zig-zag isn't wide but it's precise.  This would make an excellent primary machine in a sewing studio, especially if lots of denim and twill were on the agenda: 8 layers of Levi's like buttah and I didn't even replace the needle that was on the machine. 

It had and has some issues:

• Filthy.  Not smelly but dusty and splattered with unidentified substances.
• Bobbin winder tire in the process of shredding and shedding.  The machine's interior surface was covered with tire flakes.
• Broken right cover hinge (right, as you face the machine's front).
• Large paint bubble on bed that has broken, revealing the metal beneath and a number of smaller dings where the broken hinge provided a wrestling match with thumbs various and sundry.
• Label glued on the back reading: REPOSSESSED MACHINE.  I considered removing just the RE.  I'm now in the process of trying to remove the whole thing.  The skin underneath my thumbnail is sore.
• Original spool felts are loose, as the double-stick on the pin anchors was attracting every bit of lint within 2 feet, yet the felts wouldn't stay.

The exterior is clean and I've oiled and half-assedly greased it.  The interior is cleaner.   Yeah, I missed a few spots but it's one heck of a lot better than it was.  I've ordered a set of vintage hinges so the top cover will be operating as it should.  The bobbin tire has been replaced but I think it's just a shade too big so I'll be ordering several of the correct size.  The light bulb works.  Tension has been adjusted, top and bottom (and I've always found Singer tensions to be fiddly and tend to vibrate out of adjustment; this one is no exception).

Do I invest in the Singer LBOW touch-up paint kit (over $30) or leave that for the next owner?  (I'm not keeping this one.  I'm just here for the educational experience and life enrichment.  And the refreshments.)  If I were repairing a steady stream of similar Singer machines, it would be well worth the cost but I'm not a Singer fan (although I like this machine much better than I thought I would) and hardly ever see them priced in my bargain basement range.  Hmmm, what to do?

 

  


    

Pfaff 130 No. 3

You may have noticed that my sewing machine acquisition has slowed in recent weeks.  You are very observant because this is not only true, it is desperately needed.

That doesn't mean I've stopped looking and when I sense a seller's desperation, I can't help but notice.  Prices in this case are usually pretty low and I can often get these machines for very little with no negotiation.  "Just take it away!" is the common refrain.

The present machine is a model I already own.  Actually, I own two, both in beautiful condition.  The last thing I need is another but for $30 coupled with a threat of a trip to the dump, I'm on the case -- or cabinet.  The Pfaff 130 is truly a classic, one I see everywhere for sale.  It's wildly popular because it's heavy-duty and stitches smoothly and quietly and perfectly.  Though not without flaws (two nylon gears inside -- I understand why they did this from an engineering standpoint but nonetheless, it's a flaw in the long run -- and a nylon cleated belt, a part that must be cannibalized from another 130 or a similar belt must be constructed from one of the Singer Swing Needle series machines, as I don't think modern replicas are good at all from what I've read), this venerable machine is one every serious collector should consider at some point, particularly since he/she will likely see one for sale at least a few times in their collecting career.

Though my other 130s are fully operational (and then some), this one needs a complete re-wiring and that is likely why it sat for so many years unused.  Fortunately, it was in a cabinet and was protected.  Cosmetically, this is one of the better ones I've seen.  Not minty fresh but darn close.

 

The width knob is frozen but that's an easy fix (kerosene, heat gun, gentle but strong screwdriver).  Once this is in tip-top shape, I'll have to decide which 130 to keep and which ones will be sold to loving homes.

The seller is the daughter of the woman who owned this machine.  This German immigrant sewed on this machine for decades but once the wiring began disintegrating and the machine wasn't operable, a main interest for her was no longer available to her.  Her family bought her a cheap 1970s Singer but she wouldn't use it.  She's now in a nursing home with 24-hour care and her family is awaiting her death.  I hope to treat her machine as lovingly as she did.

Pfaff 131

For most machine listings that strike my interest, my response is to think a minute (or two, but rarely), then contact the seller via e-mail, express that interest, and wait for a response.  There are other machines I approach somewhat differently: if the seller has left a phone number, get on that phone and make pick-up arrangements as soon as they can, cancel all other appointments, and get in the car.  This is one of the latter.

The Pfaff 131 is a very rare bird in these parts.  I see 130s all the time, 30s sometimes (there are TWO currently for sale in my area, unusually), and the smattering of later Pfaff machines, mostly from recent years.  The 131 is often described as the straight version of the 130 but there is one significant difference: the bobbin faces left, rather than forward.  This requires the user to lift the machine each time the bobbin needs changing and this (for myself) requires the machine to be in a table rather than a case, as is this one:

Another significant difference is that the 131 has a full rotary hook.  It can be considered the full rotary 30, I suppose. 

The seller is a really nice guy who didn't really know anything about it.  The machine was not terribly dirty other than the usual grime but I found leaves and seeds from cedar trees inside the case and on the machine.

Note: Unless your garage is heated and equipped with weather stripping around the doors, etc. and is preferably insulated, a garage is not a good place to store a sewing machine or any other similar piece of equipment.  The best place is inside a house, warm and dry.

I oiled it and it runs extremely well: this 131 is very smooth, fast, and strong.  It's similar enough to the 30 that a side-by-side comparison is probably in order where I'll compare SPM, control of length, etc.  Speaking of which, the length control on this machine is unusually accurate, as there lines between each numbered length setting indicating, say, 3.75 or 2.25.  The light is plastic but not the more typical rounded lamp style and I prefer this one.

Cosmetically, it has a few dings but it's in very good shape overall.  The craquelure in the paint and varnish is typical of certain machine of this age and this is minor compared to some of the Pfaffs and Necchis I've seen.  The left spool pin is bent probably beyond repair so I'll pry it out and replace it soon.  The motor is quiet, the hand wheel is very smooth and light (and stops instantly thanks to its small mass) and while the rheostat pedal is as expected, it works.  The nickel is all in great shape and even the bobbin winder tire is fairly new.  Someone took care of this machine along its journey.

So there it is, my very first 131.  Fast, smooth, and an excellent stitcher.  The seller said he got a bunch of responses after mine so I'm glad I was quick on this one; I know I'll not see another of these machines in a long, long time.



   

Pfaff 229

I recently contacted a CL seller of a machine that uses a power cord/foot pedal I needed for another machine I purchased from GW w/out this necessary part (and has to have the appropriate connecting plug; I haven't tried to bypass the stock connection on a machine to accommodate a foreign cord/pedal -- yet).  After picking up this machine and pedal, I schlepped (Or did I traipse?  I probably gamboled) over to the nearest GW (a different store than the one I mentioned above) and found this for $7.99, after discount:

Sauntering through the furniture section, I spied the table and nudged it.  I instantly knew a heavy machine resided inside and I opened the lid.  I didn't even so much as lift the machine as I recognized the Pfaff paint and shape, I closed the lid, and hauled this baby through the store and to the cashier.  Condition doesn't matter much at this price.

Yes, folks -- this is the behavior of an addict.

It's missing the slide plate and came with no attachments save the zig-zag foot but it runs beautifully and can seriously haul -- this thing is incredibly fast.  The label on the motor has long fallen off (dried glue rather than attached with steel brads) and so I don't know the amperage but I will perform a test with my handy dandy Craftsman mechanical speed gauge and will update.

The thing about these vintage Pfaffs is that they were engineered and manufactured with such tight tolerances that unless they've been oiled and used regularly, they're often found completely seized and stiff.  Not this one.  Getting it home, I found the hand wheel was free and smooth and all the controls work perfectly.  I oiled it completely and it improved to the point that when running at full speed, I was worried I might damage it as it was sewing so quickly and powerfully.  Semi-industrial?  Heck, yes.

The interior cleated nylon belt is in perfect condition.  I just need the slide plate and a bobbin case and I'm good to go.  There are some hairline cracks in the stitch width knob but it seems solid with zero play from the pointer to the base and these small cracks don't extend from the screw hole.  I didn't even have to unstick the feed dog pin.  The lugged exterior belt indicates the machine was serviced within the last few decades; whoever owned this machine didn't use it much, as it's cosmetically excellent and runs so well -- whoever you are, thank you!

Pfaff 360

Today was a stressful but productive day, overall.

I was squeezing work into a bunch of other errands.  (Was it the other way around?)  Some of you may know that I'm looking for a new house, as I'm seriously in need of downsizing (but my sewing machine purchases have sadly kept apace); I have to sell a condo, a Volvo, about 30 sewing machines (at least), some other items, start boxing up/selling/storing/throwing/donating/etc. a bunch of stuff, and on top of it all, I have to take care of my mother who fairly recently suffered a heart attack.  I am my mother's caregiver because the rest of my family will not step in to help.  I love my mom but having her live with me has been a difficult adjustment.

Today I looked at a house.  It was a decent house -- mid-century modern, a good design -- and I liked it but thought it had cheap finishes and would require at least 100K to make it 'nice'.  Adding that to the price of the home and I think I'm better off looking at more expensive houses to begin with; basically, I'm in the process of:

• Finding the sweet spot in the current real estate market, which is very hot right now
• Figuring out what I can afford
• Figuring out what I am willing to spend
• Deciding on which new neighborhoods and communities I would like
• Packing and throwing 
• Thinking about how much house I need vs. how much I would like vs. how much is available
• Doing a lot of driving and stressing
• Refusing to put my mother in a nursing home while wondering about my sanity

In addition to the above, I found a very nice machine, a Pfaff 360:

I love Pfaffs and I've wanted a free arm (360 or, preferably, a 362) so I bought this one.  The seller realized it didn't have a power cord or pedal, so lowered the price to $45.  I think that's reasonable, as it's in excellent shape and I already have the cord/pedal from my 260, my 230, etc.

What's important about these Pfaff Automatic machines is that you have to have the levers in the exact positions to achieve the stitches you want and you have to follow the sequence of lever positioning.  So, you need the handy dandy Pfaff stitch wheel, which I don't have.  (There are full-color downloads and I can run those through a laminating machine, then insert a brass brad in the middle to spin it.  An easy hack.)

These machines are exceptional sewers but one of the best features is the shallowness of the arm itself.  This will likely be my free arm machine in a future sewing atelier with a Kenmore as a back up, as this machine cannot do several stretch utility stitches that are very useful on cuffs, for example.

OK, gotta go look at house listings and swallow hard.  This weekend is a busy one.

Necchi Supernova Julia

On Saturday, I purchased this machine and I made an appointment with a CL seller to purchase the following .5 Reliable clutch the following morning:

It's a very nice one and in great shape, and was kept in his pristine, spotless garage next to an E-type Jaguar in mint condition. We had agreed to meet at 9 a.m. and because he had completely forgotten (and his son called him after I spoke with the boy at the door) he was 30 minutes late. He gave the motor to me and apologized profusely. Do I hate it when people forget about a meeting they've scheduled (and after all, he was the one who chose the day and time)? Hell, yes. Do I love getting free, really nice, cool stuff? Hell, yes.

The next morning (Monday) before work, I purchased another machine for $20. I bought this 401A to eventually flip, as I don't want it. It's in really great shape, includes the manual, a full set of slant feet, a bunch of other sewing paraphernalia (bobbins, cams, tools, etc.), and comes in a large, heavy mid-century modern desk that would actually work as a real desk. In thinking about it, I may keep it for a while.

Yesterday, I contacted a CL seller about a "Vintage Sears Sewing Machine" for sale, her ad showing a Necchi Julia. We agreed to meet in the evening and she came to the door barefoot and in her pajamas with her long, flowing hair dyed bright blue, her nose ring glinting in the setting sun. She was very nice and showed me the 'Netchy', explaining that her father had purchased it for her mother, who hated sewing. The father made a remark about his wife's sewing and her mother resented it so much that she never sewed again.  This isn't the first machine I've purchased that included some baggage.

In addition to those emotional scars, the machine was absolutely filthy, complete with the hair of several animals, oil varnish galore, dust, dirt (as in dirt from the garden, not the usual household dirt), and a smell that would put the smelling salts industry on notice.  I have cleaned it and it's near-mint:

The case is in fair condition but the machine is in remarkable shape and for $25, it's an absolute steal. It's as full-featured a machine that the 1960s would produce and even includes a built-in pop-down magnifying glass and separate needle threader.  I don't really like the pastel lavender color but it's consistent with its age and styling.  I haven't run the machine because the wiring is in terrible condition; although I tend to plug things in and test them despite (or in spite of) bad wiring, this one is too far gone to take that risk.

Kenmore 158.1914

Ask and you shall receive.  At least that's how it all went down today.

I found a CL ad for a Kenmore sewing machine stating that it is an 'old machine' but in working condition, including the foot pedal, all for $10.  That could mean a lot of different things and there were no pictures in the ad.  The price being right for just about any of those different things, I wrote to the seller asking whether they could post a picture or send one to me and she very promptly did so.

Every major brand of vintage sewing machine has one or more models that are considered holy grails within the line.  For Kenmore, the Gritzner-Kayser machines, the 1802, and this one -- the 1914 -- are several such machines.  Not necessarily expensive, they are recognized by collectors as particularly good examples of the best types of machines produced for the Kenmore name.  The 1914 is considered by some as the best sewing machine ever built for Kenmore.  I wouldn't go that far but it's certainly a nice one with some interesting features and a design that is a bit different from many of its predecessors: modern for the late '70s while retaining the classic durability for which Kenmore was known.

At first glance, the 1914 has a sleeker, simpler look than, say, the 1913 or the 1625.  The integrated extension bed is identical to the 1913 but there is no obvious cam assembly and the reverse lever is body-colored, the length dial is smaller and flatter, and the top is a uniform slant all across the machine save for the cleverly designed slot in which the take-up lever can barely be seen.  Where are the controls and features?

That sleek top is a hinged cover revealing most of the machine's controls including (left to right) the width dial, the cam assembly ('C' or top hat cams), cam release lever, bobbin winding tension disc post, stitch selection for cam stack stitches (including both stretch and forward-only stitches), and the bobbin winder. Reminiscent of the Singer 401A, the inside of the lid itself is a stitch chart.  Very, very cool and very conveniently located.

The spool pins (or pin, in this case) are located at the back of this lid at an angle, part of the cast aluminum lid itself -- no screwed-on plastic parts here.

The free arm is revealed at the press of a button near the back, allowing the user to pull off the extension bed.

The front top plate of this extension bed can be removed by pressing yet another button on the side of the bed, thus revealing the bobbin area and feed dog lever, great for when you don't want to take off the entire extension.

The presser foot pressure control is a dial rather than the more traditional knob with twist collar and it's located behind the hinged nose:

So how does it sew?  Well, it's an all-metal Kenmore with a 1.2 amp motor, a convertible, and has just about every feature a 1970s mass-produced sewing machine would have.  It sews extremely well and I've owned it for just a few hours, cleaned up the exterior, and given it an oiling and de-dusting inside.  It's smooth, it's powerful, and the stitches are excellent -- even straight stitches are great for a zig-zag machine, a true test of quality.

I've been looking for a 1914 for 2 years and finally found one after simply asking a seller what she had.  Go get yours.


 

Singer 206K25

I don't need another machine!

But I just couldn't resist this one.  I have a 206K but I've always wanted a 206K25 and here it is, dragged home and cleaned up.  It sews a beautiful zig-zag:

The machine's in excellent condition, save for a broken piece off the motor bracket where the outlet screw resides. It came with a buttonholer and templates, the original manual, and the standard issue box of attachments. Heck, it even came with the bench. I just have to figure out how to clean mold off of leatherette.

Elna SU 62C

I found my first Elna at a thrift store.  It runs, but doesn't yet sew.  The hook and bobbin aren't moving, though they don't appear frozen.  So something isn't connected.

This is one of those borderline machines where I suspect I might be purchasing trouble.  Unless I'm a complete bonehead and don't understand the ins and outs of Elna-ese (I don't have a manual), this may be hard to fix.  Other than that, it's obviously a quality machine -- all-metal except for one part I found underneath the lid (a gear whose function I haven't yet figured out, as I've owned the machine all of 2 hours).

It looks OK for a thrift store machine that was sitting on a shelf w/out the protection of a case.  Included was a box with cams, some thread and bobbins (no feet, though), a small screwdriver that is bent to the point of useless, and I assume this box slides under the free arm.  The pedal was also included, thankfully.

Upon powering it up, the light worked and the machine ran slowly.  It gradually picked up speed and the needle bar moves smoothly, quietly, and quickly.  I've seen these machines in pictures, blogs, etc. and have never been attracted to the design, probably because it looked like a simple zig-zag machine.  However, this particular model has a cam stack for several built-in stitches and takes cams for extra decorative sewing.  The bobbin area is accessed via the back of the arm, oddly.

Hopefully I can get this thing sewing.