Featherweight Fanatics List Archives
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Featherweight Fanatics
Digest of postings from Tuesday, September 28, 1999
Welcome to all our new members!
To post a message - send it to: FWFanatics@ttsw.com
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Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 21:32:51 +0100
From: graham forsdyke
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics for September 25, 1999
To Anne and Harry re restoration
Check out the restoration pages on the ISMACS web site
http://www.ismacs.net
Graham Forsdyke
Purveyor of fine Featherweights to the gentry
ISMACS London
graham@ismacs.u-net.com
http://www.ismacs.net
http://www.viznoise.net
http://www.sew-sales.com
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Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 05:41:11 -0400
From: Suzanne McClure
Subject: Beauty often IS only skin deep!
I've enjoyed a couple of recent notes about some less than perfect
sewing machines, and had to add MY two cents to the discussion!
I also have a sad looking FW that came with the fabric wrapped around it
in TWO places for use as a pincushion, a replacement foot pedal (bet the
first one burned out from use!), and a cute little hand made zippered
case to hold the attachments. BUT this machine really does run far
better than many of its "prettier" relations!!
But I once bought a really LOVELY model 500 that looked like it had
never been used, and that machine was just about frozen SOLID! Luckily
some of my FW friends told me to just spray it with WD40 and let it work
its magic. It took SEVERAL applications over SEVERAL days, but it
eventually did free it up, and now the machine works just fine.
Think the moral of this story is that our machines really SHOULD be used
every now and then - if only I had enough time to get around to sewing
on all the ones I own!!
Sue McClure
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Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 23:13:20 +0100
From: graham forsdyke
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics for 9/26/1999
To Carla et al re noisy FWs
I am preparing what I hope will be an easy guide to adjusting noise out of
FWs. Will let you all know when I have it posted
To Lise re Heartbreaking Story
Don't feel too bad bacause you witnessed the demise of a sewing machine
store and the throwing away of the last remaining stock.
This happens in every town in every country. You can be sure the dealer
would have sold on anything he was able to get a price for.
And, although he may have appeared rude is rushing you out of the place,
chances are he had canceled his public liability insurance etc and was
running scared that a machine could end up on your toe.
It's impossible to rescue everything --- we'd all have thousands of
machines each --- secret is to be selective in our collecting.
Graham Forsdyke
Purveyor of fine Featherweights to the gentry
ISMACS London
graham@ismacs.u-net.com
http://www.ismacs.net
http://www.viznoise.net
http://www.sew-sales.com
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From: BERNSMUS@aol.com
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 06:31:25 EDT
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics Singer 6255
Hi Feathers,
Someone GAVE me a White Plastic Singer 6255 one bobbin, made in Taiwan.
Anyone have a clue about this machine?
Still lusting for a White and a Tan FW-(reasonably priced, of course!!)
No good garage sales found, yet!!
lyn in naples,fl.
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From: "Kathy Giles"
Subject: 600 attachments
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 07:22:11 -0400
I wish to thank all collectively for your sage advice and suggestions regarding the 600 attachments. I have tried the cams and they fit wonderfully. Now, to sew with them....
I am in the midst of moving my sewing room from the guest bedroom to the basement where I will have more space. Our basement is finished but gets a bit damp now and again but I have a dehumidifier. It does tend to be a little cool in the winter months but I figure I can plug in an electric heater. I am also thinking of purchasing an air cleaner as basements are difficult to air out.
It is lovely reading the stories of everyone's finds and sm history. I have been passing up opportunities lately mostly because I realize exactly how much sew stuff I have from moving everything down two floors. I never realized how much fabric I had. I also have a gazillion buttonholers. I don't know if I can use any of them for my featherweight though. I have 2 Singer slant needle buttonholers, 2 White buttonholers and 1 Kenmore buttonholer. Does anyone know if the White buttonholer with work with my Singer 15? I acquired them unconsciously (they were in an old cabinet I found).
Anyhow, I need to focus on playing with my toys and creating rather than acquiring more stuff. I still check out the thrift shops (actually I prefer the term "opportunity shops" that I have seen posted here from our friends across the sea). I am looking out for a treadle and a 301 in the papers and opportunity shops-but not in a purposeful way. I believe the opportunity will present itself in due time. I live in Syracuse, NY and there are a score of hidden treasures for collectors of sm and sm related items.
Hope everyone has a lovely autumn, the foliage is starting to show its colors here, the apples and squash are ripe, pumpkins are piled, soon the apple festival in LaFayette will be upon us.... I love this season. I cook and bake the most from September to January.
Kathy G. in Central NY.
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From: "Woodenspools"
Subject: Singer decals
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 07:53:33 -0400
Graham, you solved a little mystery for me. I have a 1914 RedEye that has a
later period Singer logo across its front. The logo is identical to the one
on my 1950s 15-91 and I knew it couldn't be original. Someone must've
removed the old one (probably all scratched up) and applied this one.
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From: "Peggy McBride"
Subject: Re: Missing carrying case
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 08:40:13 -0500
I too have a FW without a box. My DH went to Goodwill, found a bowling ball
bag that had a zipper then went around three sides so the front dropped
down, paid $1.00; took the ball rack out, and I have a new FW case for my
machine. I have been using it for a number of years and sure beat paying
big prices for a case that was still going to be a replacement case. If I
was going to use it a lot (I don't - only use it occasionally) I would cut a
couple of pieces of foam to pad the sides.
I also have a FW that doesn't look too good (and wasn't described well when
I bought it sight unseen), but it sews nice, and next year we are closing in
a porch and I want a machine for out there in the summer, so that will be
the one I use.
Peggy Mc
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Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 11:48:18 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Susan E. Wess"
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics for 9/26/1999
Hello from cloudy southeastern Michigan. I am new to the FWFs and a new
owner of a FW. Early in the summer I asked my niece in Virginia what can
you recommend as a nice lightweight sewing maching. She, of course,
recommended a FW -- "call around sewing stores for one". Right! Any I
could find, no matter the condition, started from $450 and went way over
$600. I was hoping, fool that I am, to come across one at an estate or
garage sale where they just wanted to get rid of one. To make a long
story short, did find one (FINALLY) at an antique mall -- seller wanted
$225 but took $200. Serial # AE 215766 -- 1936, I believe. I ran it
briefly in the store and brought it home -- looks to be in excellent
condition. Everyday I read FWF while at work, every day I am itching to
sit down and try this baby out . . . believe it or not, still have not
found the time to do this. House is in utter chaos -- in the middle of a
remodeling project, commute 1 hr one way to work and work too many
^#^%(*&& hours, and youngest daughter getting married in less (aaaargh!)
than a month. I WANT SOME TIME TO SEW!!! But, in the mean time, will
continue to read FWF at work and dream of the day I have an hour or two of
time to myself. Ciao . . . . Susan in MI
p.s. I want to oil . . . . I want to lube . . . . I want to lovingly
polish . . . . . .sob
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Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 12:57:08 -0400
From: "M. C. Lehrhoff"
Subject: OHIO, Treadles, and Trivia
Dear Mary Richards: Please read the Buckeye Bev letter (below) first,
and I'm adding on the following:
I remember Lake Mohawk. I think sister Gina lives near it, on Lakeside
Avenue NW. I also remember Lehman HS, Central Catholic, etc. I'm
realizing that I must be getting 'older' because all these memories are
making me very nostalgic....I have many, many relatives
there...including my brother Kevin, whom I forgot to list in previous
note...he's a Navy recruiter, just back now in Ohio after many years on
the sea and in Virgina...I think he's liking it quite a bit, too!
The reason my basement flooded is because: I LIVE IN NEW JERSEY!!!
There was quite of bit of extremely heavy duty damage in the
BoundBrook/Malvern area, about 20 miles away from me. People lost
everything. My flooding was about 2/3 inches, and is nearly cleaned
up...I didn't have too much loss except a very few odds and ends.
Nothing to complain about with all the heartache so many others are
going through with the loss of all their worldly possessions, and even
some who lost their lives@!
I never got to go to the Hartville auction, which is just around the
corner from sister Gina's antique shop (which is terrific). I don't
belong to a quilt guild either, alth' I keep meaning to. It's just so
hard to do anything much when you have to work. I am currently sending
out resumes; had a brief respite during summer to enjoy for a change,
now back to the treadmill!
Mom is a quilter, but none of my other 9 siblings quilt. I can always
hope, tho'...I'm very behind in my quilting, even with all the time I've
had, so I had better get myself in hand and get more organized. Baby
born end of March doesn't have HER quilt yet, and a new one is coming at
the END of the Millenium...
Great hearing from you, and ALL BuckEyes..a departed bil (brother in
law) used to refer to Ohio as: Oh-H-Ten...I miss it!! I was there last
in '96 for #2 sister, Rita (Louisville)'s Big One (50th...gave
her...sob, sob...one of my Beloved FeatherWeights!!)
Toodles, gotta do laundry, and get busy...
Long Winded,
Mary
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Dear Buckeye Bev (and others, especially in Ohio):
I must have not made myself clear. Fifty lashes with a featherweight
belt!
I was born in Canton, at Mercy Hospital, now gone, alas...and vast
numbers of relatives still live there, and in Louisville and surrounding
areas....but not me. I'm in NEW JERSEY, the Garden State. I just
always respond when I see someone from Ohio. I would move back to Ohio
in a heartbeat, but DH just laughs. He did say Ohio is preferable over
Arkansas, another choice of mine...he wants to go *only* where there is
SALT WATER fishing; eg., Pacific, Atlantic, or Gulf Coast. I grew up in
Sarasota, and have more relatives there, including mom (part time with
me,and part time with sister Mag in Sarasota), so this is DH's FIRST
CHOICE of where to move...to some small box-like 2 bd/2bath
condo....from my 4br, 2bath, LR,DR, Huge Kitchen, Porch, Basement, Attic
house stuffed with good stuff...
I look forward to hearing from you with more Ohio Do-ings! I wish I
could have a month to cruise Holmes County!!! (with $$$$, of course).
Gina has an antique shopt there in Hartville, which is Primo.
Hugs til the next time.
Mary
=========================
Sisters Gina and Rita, brothers Jimmy & Greg (plus many kids), cousins,
etc. are all still there..Gina recently sold a FW and FW table on
eBay...she didn't tell me 'til afterwards...sigh. Can't get them all!
Keep writing, Mary in the Beautiful Garden State of New Jersey, where
the weather is TOTALLY Awesomely Gorgeous!!!
Woodenspools wrote:
>
> Waving wildly from Grafton, OH exactly 1 hour & 15 minutes from you. My
> oldest son and soon-to-be wife are in North Canton. Just added you to my
> Ohio Vintage Singer list. :-)
> Buckeye Bev
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Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 13:12:33 -0400
From: "M. C. Lehrhoff"
Subject: Sewing Machines: What Else???
Dear FWF's:
I'm amazed constantly when I hear from fellow Fanatics about the Spousal
Problems with our Wonderful, Wacky, Weird, Winsome Hobby...especially
when they have spouses who are into fish and boats, etc.
Now, I am not more than a little fond of boating, fishing, surf, tide,
etc. Being a red-head does not predispose me to the life of Sun &
Surf! When I was a kid, I used to send away for all those Freckle
Removing Items (none worked, of course, and I still have them)!
DIL has just moved to Fort Leavenworth, KS for the Military War College
(for her DH, Major Andy) and their 2 daughters, one of whom is also a
RED, RED head!! (DIL is DH's daughter, altho' everyone asks me if Amanda
(the RedHead)gets her red hair from me..I smile slyly, and they think it
is, even tho' redhair is strictly an abberation, if you all remember
Mendel's Law of Heredity...no one does, tho', so I just smile.
At least the military pays to move your stuff. The problem is where to
put it when you get there. Some housing doesn't allow that much room
for "extra" stuff. I gave DH (Holly) a beautiful Viking I found in my
wanderings to garage sales, etc., and she had to put it into storage
until their next move, which will be either to the DC area or here, to
New Jersey. She's a quilter, too.
I have no intention of EVER, EVER considering living on a boat...ugh!!!
Unless it was something like the Christina that Ari Onassis built for
his daughter, Christina....besides Sewing Machines, I have all my 'puter
stuff, zillions of books, artwork, quilting, fabric, magazines,
photos...get the drift?? :]
Gotta run; still haven't started the laundry, and the day is
waning...xoxo for all FWF's; long may we Hunt!!!
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Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 10:30:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: Chris Weinand
Subject: Quilting Machine
I'm a devoted FW owner. It does a great job on
machine piecing, but am going to buy either a Pfaff
Tiptronic or Bernina for the machine quilting stitch
and ability to do free motion. Could you fellow
fanatics give me some feedback about the merits of
either? I know Pfaff is in bankruptcy, but don't know
if that should affect my decision. I've had a Pfaff
1222E for 20 years and love that.
Thanks for all the great information. I enjoy every
listing.
Chris in Georgia
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Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 10:57:51 -0700
From: Dorothy Daybell
Subject: Re: Husbands who hate stuff
M. C. Lehrhoff wrote:
>Are there more of you out there, who are suffering from this dreaded
>Husband-HateStuff-itis???
Recently found a good quote from William Feather (no date given): "All the
books extolling the simple life are written by men."
Have you ever estimated the volume of HIS stuff - including the boat - as
compared to YOUR stuff? Or the investment, including slip rental? :-)
When a friend bought an airplane, his wife said "Now I can spend whatever I
want on fabric; it'll never add up to what that airplane cost!"
I'm also under DH pressure, because we'll be moving this year. But I admit
I have a problem; I finally threw away some of my good cotton rags this
week. At the bottom of the pile were a few cotton diapers - and my
youngest is 32!
But my DH is a dear; he's the one who first spotted my Featherweight table
and my W&G Electric Portable, and encouraged me to get them.
Dorothy
slowly moving my stuff from So. Calif. to the mountains near Fresno, Calif.
--
Dorothy Daybell ddaybell@usc.edu
Quilter and Retired Programmer/Analyst
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Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 13:17:20 +0000
From: PJH
Subject: Mini Singers at auction
I have bought and sold antique or collectible doll house furniture on a
limited basis for about ten years. I am not an expert. In this area
(midwest) I have never seen a mini Singer sewing machine. Everyone I
have seen and have sold were made in Tiawan very recently. They have
always sold well to quilters, miniatures and doll house collectors.
Anyone on the list who can tell us if there really are antique miniature
Singer sewing machines? Remember most toys were played with by
childrenand I'm usually a little gimlet eyed about any toy that is
pristine or described as mint.
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From: "Robert And Diane English"
Subject: 128 woes
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 16:16:54 -0400
Hi Fellow Feathers,
Thanks to those of you who responded to my tension problems. I can now adjust the tension, but am still having problems. (Do these old handcranks make a nice stitch when they are working properly?) It sews along with a decent tension for a few stitches, then the top thread will be very loose for a couple of stitches, then back to good tension again. Also, the stitches do not run in a straight line, but are a little bit crooked. Is this normal for this machine? If not, does anyone have any suggestions? I'm reluctant to take this machine to the tech at the local Singer shop as I've not been impressed with his work on one of my other machines. I really hope I can get this machine to sew, as it is truly a lovely thing.
Di, in wet, wet, wet North Carolina, where it continues to rain
66, 99, 128, 221, 301A
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Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 20:09:44 -0400
From: Heather McMurray
Subject: 15-90 instruction booklet
Hi, I have a 15-90 instruction booklet that didn't sell on EBAY.
Anyone need one? Send me an email, and you can have it for S&H costs
of fifty cents.
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Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 21:52:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: Lois Frankel
Subject: Pfaff 130
My latest thrift shop find is a Pfaff 130. It's in a fairly nice cabinet
and should clean up well. DH will be fixing the wiring, and I'll add a new
belt & bobbin winder tire, so I haven't tried it out yet. I could use a
manual, since there are some knobs & levers whose purpose isn't obvious.
Can anyone provide a copy?
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From: SQUP8@aol.com
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 22:36:54 EDT
Subject: Elna Lotus
Hi Friends, It has been a long time scince I've posted, Although I have
been reading FWF every day.
My collection of FW's has peeked at 56 and Recently I have sold a few, due
to a cash flow problem ( no job ). I am spending a lot of time cleaning FW"s
and returning them to top running condition, and loving every minute.
Now to my problem, I bought an Elna Lotus at a swap meet knowing that it
did not have a foot control. I have checked at a few dealers with no luck so
I thought I'd turn to the digest and see if anybody out there might have one.
TIA, Dick
SQUP8@aol.com
Simi Valley, CA. sunny and 97 degrees today
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