Elna 3 Flat Bed Straight Stitch

I'd like you to meet Smellna, a recent arrival.

This machine wafted into my life, my heart, and my nostrils -- not in that order -- after a long trip in a driving rain storm.  (The rain was driven and I was driving.)  Although not far for a sewing machine, the trip was arduous and thus all the more lengthy.  Ghost Riders on the Storm was perhaps my metaphysical soundtrack that day as I met not only the Man With No Name but the Seller With No Clue.  He was friendly but the hopes of what was to be a 4-machine sale were quickly dashed -- only one machine included the power cord and pedal despite the ad's assurance that all of these machines 'power up and run.'  Ah, well.  My Husqvarna Viking ship will sail into my harbor another day.

Undeterred, he proudly pulled a beat Emdeko case out of his car and placed it on the trunk, rain still pouring.  (I'm soaked right down to my underwear at this point and yes, I was wearing a coat.)  Uncovering a machine whose fragrance no rain or outdoor air could possibly mitigate, raindrops formed rivulets into all port and openings, watering the case's crop of mildew to a bloom I could barely stand on the way home.  I bought it partly out of not wanting to come home empty-handed and partly because the machine intrigued me.  It still does.

The seller purchased it at a Washington State surplus dealer.  Though I'm not certain, this machine was possibly among a fleet of machines used in home economics courses taught in various education institutions (likely discontinued in favor of more useful skills such as analysis of rap lyrics).   

Collectors, take note: this is potentially quite the treasure trove if one knows where to buy.   

That my state's educators would choose such a machine slightly raises my rather low expectations of them: a student being exposed to a useful skill utilizing a tool chosen for its quality and longevity rather than price or insider contract on the public dime?  Be still my olfactory.  (Yes, Smellna stinks.)

The machine is a straight stitch only with reverse and is capable of sewing with a double needle.  With a friction drive rather than via belt or gear from the motor (although a cleated nylon belt connects both the lower and upper drive shafts, thus controlling the hook), this model is essentially a glorified rotary.  True to Elna engineering, it's fast and powerful.  Unfortunately, a friction pulley flattens as does a tire, causing a clunking or whining or pounding or any of the above and Smellna is likely the noisiest domestic machine I've ever run.  

I managed to extract the leftmost spool pin from the cover, as it was rusted/grimed into its Down position.  This took one day of kerosene drops at regular intervals, then pliers over a silicone hot pad and muscle, turning slightly, then pulling straight out.  I polished with Maas and it's now smooth.  

Other issues:

• Needs rewiring from the plug to pedal.  I plugged it in to run it but not for long as this is really not safe.  I'm out of 18g so off to the big box I go.
• Bobbin plate has a loose screw.  (Don't we all?)  Fixing requires unscrewing the entire lower casing -- something I haven't had time to do.  
• Bobbin winder is inoperable.  It has a few parts missing and I'm not certain what they are.  One is a spring.
• I need to pull the motor and clean the brushes of carbon, polish the commutator, and test for SPM.  It's a fast machine but I sense it's not at top speed.

Despite the reek and the questionable provenance, I like this machine very much.  A prime candidate for finishing school, Smellna has a simple charm and power all its own.  Time is all we need.  For just $10, this experience has been a silver lining. 

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.



   

Barn Pfaff 30

Here is a Pfaff 30 I purchased at Goodwill for $19.99.  Someone asked whether it's from a barn and I replied that I assumed so, as it had straw strewn all over it, mouse droppings, and smelled like, well, a barnyard.  Surprisingly, it powers on and the light works.  It's almost frozen solid and the length lever is hard to move.

I'll be documenting my progress on this one.  It'll take a few days to get it clean and running so if you're interested in seeing it improve, check back!

Well, here it is, the cleaned, running version:

This one was a bitch to clean.  It still needs a new belt and wiring but it's running; that it has some dings and scratches means it'll be perfect for someone who wants a machine in good condition without worrying about damaging one that is near-mint.

The painting behind the machine is one I picked up for a few bucks while perusing craigslist.  It reminded me of a friend back on the East coast years ago, someone I really like.    

Pfaff 30

I just purchased a 30 from a local guy who had no idea about/interest in it.  It was $40, a good price.

(By the way, what is it with me and $40, i.e. all the machines I've purchased for that amount?  What is up with that?  Is there a virtual sign above my head that says '$40'?  Do people look at me and say to themselves "Him?  Yeah, I'd pay him $40"?  WTF?)

The 30 is not common in my area.  (Now watch -- they'll start popping up all over.)  I've never seen one in person until yesterday, the only one I've ever seen for sale here.  It's straight-stitch only with reverse, feed dog drop on the deck.  It takes Class 15 bobbins, so it's high-capacity.  The motor, oddly enough, is not the 1.3 amp Pfaff that is common on this machine (and the 130) but a 1.4 amp.  1/10 won't make a huge difference but it is a notable departure from what I've so far read is standard for these Pfaffs in the US.  Needless to say, it has power and speed to burn.  I'll do a LOT more sewing on it but I've had this machine less than 24 hours and it has vaulted to the top of my straight-stitch heap.

(I should also note that the seller, very pleased, told me that he sprayed WD-40 throughout the machine in order to help me get it running really smoothly.  I smiled and thanked him profusely and began to sweat.  I may have even shed a tear of both joy and sadness due to his good will and the problem he created.) 

The design of the bobbin area is unusual (to me) in that a hinged collar holds the housing in place rather than the more typical bracket/screw design.  The castings of the shafts and pins are very impressive.  I'm no expert but it appears this machine borders on semi-industrial.  Not a whiff of plastic anywhere except the tension and the wheel.

The cabinet is sturdy but the finish is obviously shot.  I like it though and will refurbish it; I particularly like the hardware and the spider webs on the base in the picture add to the vintage feel.  In it, I found 11 pairs of scissors and shears, a boat load of notions, a pair of lace panties, and a box of contraception.  Thus, I assume it was used as a night stand.  (OK, what was that about $40?)  The original manual is here, too.

From its condition, this is a machine that appears not to have seen much use.  That's hopefully going to change.

Singer 301A

The last thing I need is another straight-stitch machine.

But this is a Singer 301A, one that is collectible, sews beautifully, is in cabinet #42 (the Art Deco cabinet with a matching bench, this one with the curved door instead of the curved drawers), and it was only $40, including accessories.  Its condition is quite good and I like the black better than the tan or two-tone.  And did I mention it was only $40?

The craigslist seller was very nice and explained he wanted to be rid of it, apologizing profusely for not being dressed for company.  (He wasn't.  In fact, he was hardly dressed at all, arriving at the door in his underwear.)  But considering the age of the machine and that he had a vintage poster of Jayne Mansfield and her famous headlamps on the wall of his garage above the Datsun short bed he was rebuilding, it was all good.  (Although he didn't understand my remark about high beams.)

It's a lightweight machine, only 16 pounds of cast aluminum toughness, engineered using a single point on a plane and deriving a 3-D 'tripod' from which the points of the machine's frame were placed.  I'll do a blog post about the design as it's an interesting story and the machine is one of the more 'marvelous' as far as sewing marvels go.

It sews well and seems fast, faster than many of my other domestic machines.  It's also smooth.  I'll add more in the coming weeks as I get to know it (I've only owned it for about 6 hours).  Stay tuned.