Featherweight Fanatics List Archives
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Featherweight Fanatics
Digest of postings from Monday, September 27, 1999
Welcome to all our new members!
To post a message - send it to: FWFanatics@ttsw.com
To post a message to the For sale list - sent it to: FWForSale@ttsw.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 03:30:59 -0400
From: Millie MacKenzie
Subject: Crinkle Finish Featherweight
Greetings! I am here to report that I am one of the few proud owners of
a Crinkle Finish Featherweight.
I bought it in Florida a few years ago, later one took it to use in a
Double Wedding Ring class taught by John Flynn. John has quite a
collection of sewing machines himself, but had never seen a crinkle one,
so of course I allowed him to use my machine to do the demo's. such fun!
Just after I bought mine, I heard of one selling for $2,300, so the
$3,000 bid on the ebay machine did not surprise me. I heard that there
were about 8 known Crinkle machines,,, this was about 2-3 years ago..
Has anyone ever done a survey???
For anyone who wants to see it, here is the ebay item number: 164743853
--
Millie In CT
NEEDLEWORK GOODIES (note new url!)
http://www.sewwhat.net/millie/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From: "Bonnie"
Subject: 328K Lost it's Marlble, Service??
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 09:42:23 -0500
I was working on a recently acquired 328K when I decided to remove the light guard and clean it, even though the light was working. As I removed the front cover, a marble dropped into my hand. "What the heck..." I thought. Then I removed the bulb to discover that it was much too small and the marble had been wedged between the glass bulb and the light guard which pushed the base of the bulb against the contacts in the socket. Ha! I can picture a distressed seamstress, having bought the wrong replacement bulb, coming up with this solution late at night. I wonder if Junior ever missed his marble! This machine also had a repossessed sticker (old) on the bottom. What stories this 328K could tell!
Our local sewing machine shop was purchased by a "chain" a couple years ago. Now the repair facility has been moved to another of the shops located in Kansas City (40 miles away). This means I've lost my access to the "graveyard" in their basement. I never entrusted my machines to their tech but I always bought the part there if I'd picked his brain for information. He was great about pulling anything I needed off one of their donors. Oh well. So goes it in this small town.
This past week I got to work on my first 500A. What a machine. This one has been well used and (unfortunately) peed on by a dog some years ago. Let me tell you, there is no other rust like what that causes! Two gears and bushings were dragging and the pin in one of the throat plate lifters was rusted solid. Everything is now clean and working well much to the delight of the older lady who owns it. I, however, was fuming the whole time I worked on it as she had been charged over $100 less than a year ago by the only tech left in town for a complete cleaning, etc. It didn't stitch right when she got it back so she set it aside. Why don't people COMPLAIN!? She mentioned this to me at a quilt guild meeting and I said I'd love to take a look at it. When I picked it up, the machine was filthy inside and none of the aforementioned rust had been removed! The machine felt stiff when I first turned the balance wheel and rust on the gears and in the bushings (not to mention lack of lubricant) was the culprit. Just the overall filth and grit inside made me so angry. I know I get carried away with cosmetic cleaning compared to anything a tech actually trying to make money can spend time doing, but this was inexcusable. This is not the first time I've found problems with machines that have gone through his
shop, including my own. However, this was the most blatantly incompetent work so far...no complicated diagnosis is necessary for obvious rust and filth! I've avoided making comments about this person to locals in the past, but now I will just have to either keep my mouth shut or if pressed say I can't recommend him. But I have no one else to recommend. He is the only "real" business in town working on machines (I try to keep this a hobby), is affiliated with a local shop with whose owner I am friends, and I do believe he is a knowledgeable tech in some areas,... and he is a very nice person....jeez, living in a small town can be difficult!
Bonnie
Near but not inside Leavenworth were we are finally getting a day of soaking rains!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 07:42:13 -0700
From: Cathy Kewnig
Subject: Need help with a manual
Hi all...
Not exactly a FW questions but....
I'm in need of a manual for a 28K handcrank. Singer dated the machine
1907 for me and is supposedly sending a copy of a manual but I think
they've sent it by way of Mars...
Does anyone have a manual they could copy for me or know where else to
find one? I'll gladly pay costs! Thanks for any clues....
Cathy
Tracy, CA
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From: "Tom and Ethel"
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 11:37:50 -0400
Do you know where I can find a Maintenance repair manual for a featherweight 222k
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 12:35:16 -0400
From: "Chris P. Vagtborg" <71155.1072@compuserve.com>
Subject: Post
Hi All...
For Merideth P., re: paint chipping... Unfortunately, once the metal under
the paintstarts oxidizing, there's not much you can do to stop its progress
other than stripping it and repainting it - a process that takes my restorer
30 hours or so. And once your machine becomes "infected", it will spread
to other areas of the machine, eventually destroying all the paint... And the
disassembling, stripping, cleaning, primering, painting two coats
(3 part epoxy auto paint), hand-sanding between each coat, new
decals, two coats of clear coat, etc. is a true labor of love - we only do the
machines that we have for sale that have your machine's problem, and
fewer and fewer of those, as there is no return on the time investment...
On a brighter note, the FW takes standard needles - we prefer Schmetz -
and the bobbins are easy to come by...
Chris on St. Simons Is., GA where it's been raining for several days -
nothing major, just a light drizzly rain. I keep thinking how beautiful the Azaleas will be next spring! www.steppingstonesquilts.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 16:09:42 -0400
From: Loretta Milliken
Subject: ? machine
Hello Fellow Feathers,
Went out and did the old flea-market/yard sale bit this weekend and
came home with a machine I adore but don't know what it is. Godzilla
finish, # AG108778, portable, slightly bigger than a FW, has reverse, has a
little built-in drawer beside the wheel that opens with a little key. Has
a coffin-lid cover. Would appreciate any one's imput on this little gem,
and I'm looking for (of course!) a manual for "it"!
Also saw, for the first time, a sewing machine desk with a 401a in it.
I passed, it's a big piece of furniture and I have a great 401a already.
Never knew they made sewing machine 'desks' before. You wouldn't know it
had a sewing machine in it except for the tell-tale opening for the machine
on the very top of the desk other than that it looks like a nice big desk.
And last but not least, just got back from a vaca in Italy (born there
52 years ago and just went back for the first time!), went in a family
member's home in Siena and she had a 401a in her kitchen! I was so happy
to see that machine! She's had it since it was new and still does her
sewing on it, she
was so surprized how I reacted to that machine. I explained my passion for
old Singers, and how many I had, she found that even more amazing! Anyway,
nice to be home and having fun catching up reading the FW pages!
Loretta, home again in old Wareham, MA.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 17:37:40 -0400
From: "Gloria B. Everett"
Subject: Two Questions
Does anyone have any information about the Singer "Stylist #495" that was
manufactured about 1978. It is a portable in a cream colored case. Does
it have any resale/collector value at this point. The one I have was
purchased by my mother and never used.
A while back someone posted the name of a person who was able to refurbish
a 221 case. Would love to have that name and address again.
Enjoy all the postings and have learned a lot as a new 221 owner.
Would enjoy even more if the answers to questions could be made available,
i.e.
how to clean a 221 and its attachments.
Thanks to all (and especially the site Host.)
Gloria in Atlanta
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 19:58:18 -0400
From: Cheryl Brobst
Subject: Re: 401
Hi to all,
I purchased a 401 this past weekend in beautiful condition in a wonderful cabinet. My question is how does one describe cabinets? I mean, how do you determine what the "model" is and is there anyway to determine if the cabinet was made by singer? This cabinet is very traditional -- very desklike with three drawers on the left and four on the right. I believe it is mahogany and the base is solid with rounded sides rather than having "legs". I actually thought it was a desk until I spotted the edge of the cutout insert.
Is there a web site I can visit that shows pictures of various cabinets??
Thanks for info.
Cheryl in Maryland
(Still "visualizing" a black 301 longbed with case for cheap!!!)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 17:03:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kent and Shirley Larsen
Subject: Millennium Quilt Block Exchange
Hi all,
Only 3-4 days until the deadline! (Depending on
when you get this announcement) It looks like the
marathon sewing weekend was a success for quite a few
people. I have heard from some really happy
participants that are finally done and ready to send.
I have 45 confirmed participants who have mailed or
are mailing their blocks. If you are participating,
and have not told me--please let me know so I can make
sure I get your blocks before the dividing party
begins here. I don't want to miss anyone who wants to
have quilt blocks from ISMACS, TreadleOn, and FWFs
groups! There are some lovely ones here already--you
will be sorry if you miss out!
Shirley in Utah, who can't wait to play with quilt
blocks!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 20:31:39 -0500
Subject: Thread, needleplate, stamps
From: Frank Totino
Hello, I am new to the list. I have owned my two
FW's since the early 70's, one is a 1938 in a 9
condition and the other is a 1951 in the same condition
but it came with the FW table that has no insert. The
guy who sold it to me said it was his mother's and it
got lost over the years.
Does anyone out there know where I might find a
replacement insert for the FW table?
I saw someone write about Molynyke Thread. I use the
off white when I can find it for broderie perse
applique and it makes a gorgeous small buttonhole
stitch edge. There is a fabric store near me here in
Vineland, NJ, which is close to Atlantic City and the
shore points of NJ, that still has quite a bit and I
would be more than happy to look there for anyone else
who might need it.
Somehow, I goofed and bought 2 needleplates for my 1938
with the seam guides on them. It is in excellent
quality stainless steel, I think, and I want to sell 1
of them since I don't need two. If anyone wants or
needs one, I have it for sale and only want what I paid
for it back. I will gladly pay any shipping and
insurance.
Does anyone know of a source for a walking foot, the
original one, for the FW's. I managed to get one on
eBay but I need another and could use a instruction
sheet or manual if one is available for sale or I will
pay for a photocopy.
I have used my FW's for everything and love them as
well as my 830 Bernina, which is my work horse. I also
have a Singer 66 Red Eye Treadle in the walnut cabinet
and I need to find a box of attachments and a treadle
hook. I have the attachments that came with it and I
also need a better copy of an operating manual so
anyone out there who might have a source for either of
these would be appreciated.
Several years ago I purchased a rubber stamp of a
featherweight and would really like to acquire another.
Mine is only about 2" x 2" and I would like one
larger. Anybody have any ideas on that one?
I look forward to chatting again as I read more from
what is posted.
May your stitches be many!
mairia (Irish for Marie)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 20:30:54 -0500
From: Roberta
Subject: TRADE???
Is anyone interested in trading a pink slant needle Jetson style buttonholer for
the other one, the straight one?
Kathleen in ND
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 99 21:48:03 EDT
From: "Bob Mills"
Subject: crinkle FW
>>Did you all see what the Godzilla (Crinkle paint) Featherweight went for?
Can you believe $3000?
Whoa! Is this on e-bay? Was it a 221 or a 222?
I have a Crinkle 221 (I prefer to call it velvet touch, not that GZ word) .
But I cannot believe that anyone would pay $3000 for it. Nor could I
believe that anyone would pay $3000 for a 222 'velvet touch'.
When I told my husband, he said 'sell it'. It was the first FW I found and
I was so disappointed when I went to this person's house because it wasn't
shiney and didn't have fancy gold work. I paid $75.
Jan Drechsler in VT
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bobmills/jan.html
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
World Wide Quilting Page * Featherweight Fanatics Page