Humbug
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 07:16 PM |
|
|
Advice on old Singer sewing machine
Slightly, bit not too, O/T. I am in the process of making a half hood a la Surrey Dave from a slightly damaged Caterham hood I managed to get.
I hauled out from the loft an antique Singer manual sewing machine (used to beliong to SWMBO's granny) which seems to work as in the needle goes
up and down when your turn the handle, but it is incredible hard to turn. I have tried adjusting all the knobs etc. I can find and have put some light
oil on the obvious moving parts, but it's still the same.
Anyone got any ideas? Failing that, does anyone have access to a similar machine that I could use/do it for me, or know a place I could get the
stitching done within a reasonable distance of Sevenoaks?
Cheers
Simon
[Edited on 24.01.2010 by Humbug]
 
Rescued attachment Picture 8.jpg
|
|
|
|
|
mangogrooveworkshop
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 07:24 PM |
|
|
I struggled to get mine to sew anything else but leather......ended up using a local sailmaker to do the stitching. You really do need an industrial
machine otherwise its very frustrating as the needle heats up and the thread breaks.
The caterham hood is of good strong leatherette cloth and the singer wont sew it well if at all. The toyota machine sewed the straight bits but
corners were a dam struggle.
Strange thing is now the singer wont sew my new worx trousers
My mother in law used staples to shape the roof and the sail-maker just seamed it.
The first seats I made it sewed no problem they came out the rear of a volvo and were leather.
I used a electric bread knife to carve the foam.
cheers
this was prior to it going to the sail maker
[Edited on 24-1-10 by mangogrooveworkshop]
|
|
|
steve m
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 07:27 PM |
|
|
From the pic, it looks very similar to my singer, is yours a shuttle or bobbin ?
as i made all of my seats etc with my Mothers Singer (bobin) and never really got to grip with my shuttle model
If the machine is stiff, you really need to get rid of as much of the dirt cotton etc, i used the compressor to blow it all away, and then use sewing
machine oil if you can still buy the stuff, its extremley thin, and works a treat
any good neddlework/sewing shop will know exactly what to use on your splendid machine
|
|
|
BenB
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 07:36 PM |
|
|
That looks exactly the same as mine!! Singer sell an own brand oil, all the bits need regular lubing.
Try look up the machine type in
http://www.singermachines.co.uk/Parts_&_Ser/indstbooks.htm
And check you've lubed all you should lube!! On mine there are a couple of windows you have to open to put lube in....
|
|
|
Humbug
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 07:40 PM |
|
|
Ummm I think it's a bobbin machine as it has a bobbin under the plate on the base.
Ben - how do I know which manual I need? I previously Googled and found an America site that lists all the serial numbers. Apparently mine was made in
Clydebank and is in a series of numbers issued in November 1928! (linky). It also lists
a model number and you can downoad manuals, but the manual is for a different machine
[Edited on 24.01.2010 by Humbug]
|
|
|
ashg
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 07:42 PM |
|
|
im in Rochester i have got one you can borrow if you want to come and pick it up and drop it back when your done. if you want it u2u me and i will get
it out tomorrow to make sure it still works.
it managed to sew leather fine last time as i used a proper leather needle.
Anything With Tits or Wheels Will cost you MONEY!!
Haynes Roadster (Finished)
Exocet (Finished & Sold)
New Project (Started)
|
|
|
BenB
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 07:51 PM |
|
|
I think I just looked at the manuals until I found one which looked the same as mine 
They're not that complicated. Have you open it up from underneath (most of them are hinged at the back) and oiled the underneath bits?
|
|
|
BenB
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 07:56 PM |
|
|
Isn't it a Singer 127-3?
http://parts.singerco.com/IPinstManuals/127-3_128-3.pdf
|
|
|
Humbug
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 10:54 PM |
|
|
Ben - it looks similar but it's not quite the same. Mine doesn't have the shuttle
Ash - I will see if I can get mine working first but thanks for the offer. I'll let you know.
Cheers
Simon
|
|
|
Madinventions
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 11:00 PM |
|
|
Definitely worth trying to repair these old machines. I did my entire hood with one just like it and it beat the hell out of a more modern plastic
thing my housemate has got.
I got my fabric from here - great service and you can get samples before commiting to the material you choose
(I used TG-10). I also used their 3M reflective piping in all the joins to make me more visible in the dark. It's brilliant!
Ed.
Mojo build diary: http://www.madinventions.co.uk
Solo music project: Syrrenfor http://www.reverbnation.com/syrrenfor
View my band website:
http://www.shadowlight.org.uk
http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk/
|
|
|
Peteff
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 11:13 PM |
|
|
The bit under the plate is the shuttle, it can be a round one or a rocket (vibrating) shuttle. I picked an old 1950s electric machine up on the flea
market for £5 and it sews anything, canvas or thin leather you just need the correct needle and thread for the job. We also have a couple of old
treadle operated machines which do the job nicely, one looks a lot like that. As Stu says, get the bottom end cleaned up and use some penetrating oil
on it then some 3 in 1 type oil. The wheel you turn has a knob in the middle you can unscrew to disconnect the drive, try slackening that off a
bit.
[Edited on 24/1/10 by Peteff]
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
|
|
|
Chippy
|
| posted on 24/1/10 at 11:43 PM |
|
|
You will find on old, (ish) Singers that all the connections underneath are adjustable for wear, just a simple screw and split bearings, check that
they haven't been overtightened, as that makes the machine stiff to opperate. HTH Ray
To make a car go faster, just add lightness. Colin Chapman - OR - fit a bigger engine. Chippy
|
|
|
Humbug
|
| posted on 25/1/10 at 06:16 PM |
|
|
Thanks for all the advice an info. Following my use of oil yesterday, it seems to have freed up a lot now, certainly to the point where it would be
manageable.
I'll let you know how I get on.
|
|
|
rusty nuts
|
| posted on 25/1/10 at 07:34 PM |
|
|
Little tip from my mum when sewing heavy material is to sew through greaseproof paper , it helps apparently.
|
|
|
.jpg)
