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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: lendube
Date: 01-12-2007, 02:44 PM (1 of 20)
Since my main machine (which I miss dearly) is in the shop for a good cleaning and tune up (10 days to 2 weeks  ) I hauled out my good ol' Singer Stylist534. I did all I could do to clean it up, oil it and get the dust bunnies out. It's really in good shape and running well. Wasn't very dirty, glad to see. This machine was given to me by my parents for the Xmas of 1977 before I got married the first time. I've used it like crazy over the years for sewing clothing, home and kid stuff but now it's been sitting around for several years. I still have the original receipt and was surprised to see that my folks paid $238.00 for it. That seems so expensive for that long ago. Plastic everything has sure made things more affordable. This Singer is steel and will last a lot longer than I will.  I also have a Montgomery Ward machine that my Mom bought in '55 or so. It weighs a ton and except for a frayed cord that needs replacing I'm sure it'll keep up with any basic machine of today. Anyone else hang on to your old machines and use them or not use them? I actually gave the Singer to my dd a couple of years ago. She never bothered to take it to her house and I saw her interest was zero so I just told her, "I'll just keep it here but if you ever want to use it let me know." I'm not holding my breath.  Got an inch of snow last night. So very beautiful outside. Lennie
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User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 01-12-2007, 03:14 PM (2 of 20)
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My mum had a White (brand name not colour) sewing machine in a cabinet that was originally a treadle but had an electric motor added to it as well. She died when I was 19 and at that stage I had no interest in sewing. My sister took the machine with her when she left home and it has been with her ever since - I think she has used it about 7 or 8 times. It has been unloved and uncared for and is currently in use as a TV table/stand for her kids.  She's moving to the US in April and getting married there in June and the silver lining is that I'm going to get the sewing machine  I'm unsure whether I'll use it a lot but it is as tough as old boots (thankfully - given the last 20 years) so it will definitely come up when I've got heavy duty sewing to do which my current machine is not up to. Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-12-2007, 03:22 PM (3 of 20)
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I had a couple older but not real old -- 6- to 10-year-old -- machines and rather than move and then just store them I gave them to a youth center for under privileged kids. The center has a sewing program and the director -- who teaches it -- was so excited. She said the kids will definitely get some use out of them. I didn't give them my treadle Singer though. My oldest daughter already has plans to pry that and my Pfaffs (sewing machine and serger) from my cold dead hands someday. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 01-12-2007, 07:06 PM (4 of 20)
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I used to have 6 machines & a serger. They were taking up space & needed cleaning so I sold all but 1 machine & my serger at a yard sale. Then I bought my new Singer Professional on Clearance at Sam's club for $80. I Still have my old machine (a Wards machine) that I got in 1981. But I hardly ever use it.It is just simpler to use the 2 that are out. I bought 2 of my DDs machines for Christmas 2 yrs. ago & the other 2 wouldn't know what to do with 1 if they had it.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
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From: pretnichols
Date: 01-13-2007, 09:38 AM (5 of 20)
Lennie, my Singer Stylist 543 IS my main machine! However, it is acting up  , and so I'm trying to figure out how to make it happy again. I'm embarrased to say, it hasn't had a cleaning since........ummm I don't remember -- maybe the 80's!!! Don't tell Tom or Bill -- they'll have cardiac arrest. Anyway, I am working on the cleaning thing right now, as a start to figuring out why it is off. I thought about getting a newer model, but I truly can do everything I need with it, for now anyway. And since I bought a serger, I'm good to go!
Peggy
So little time, sew much to do........... |
User: pretnichols
Member since: 10-16-2005 Total posts: 342 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-13-2007, 12:49 PM (6 of 20)
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I have owned several good ole machines and sergers in the past but have given them to my daughters and daughter in laws when I purchased what I thought was a newer and better machine. Some of those machines given away are used but not often. I recently saw some quilted things I had made years ago when visiting a family member and it almost brought tears to my eyes. I made it on one of my old slant needle Singers and that work I had done years ago seemed to be much better than what I have done lately. It makes me wonder if I sewed better back then or was it just a better machine that was used. The machine that was used back then by me is now sitting in a garage of the family member that now owns it. I try not to think about the machines I have given away but when I come across the items that I have given as gifts to family members, I always remember the machine I used to make the item at the time I sewed it. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-13-2007, 01:25 PM (7 of 20)
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I am ashamed to put this out where Tom or Bill might read it, but maybe it will help someone else.. A while back I was getting ready to use my Singer 221 (Featherweight) and when I did a test stitch, it was rather sluggish.. So, I decided to clean it and took the plate under the presser foot off the base of the machine..(first time in years) Well, let me tell you there was a square of lint under there that felt almost like a piece of felt, it was so thick.. The 2 grands were with me and watching , so I ate crow and gave them the lesson.. (Don't do what I do)...Now , she sews like a new machine... I learned my lesson..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: lendube
Date: 01-13-2007, 01:59 PM (8 of 20)
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Peggy, I bet your Stylist is similar to mine. It's got good basic stitches, semi auto buttonhole maker, and stretch stitches. I thought it was running fine but tried to sew seriously stretchy material yesterday and am having lots of trouble with the tension. Should be at 3-4 but it's still tremendously tight. There must be something going on. I was smart, for once, and have decided to put off working with this fabric till my other machine's back. And, I think we're the norm. Above I proudly said I was oiling and cleaning the thing. I knew it had been a while and then I saw a notation in the back of the manual. That I had "Totally oiled and cleaned - 11-10-85" All I can think of is that my strapping 6'2" 220 lb son was a mere toddler of just turned 3 and my dd, 4. Talk about putting it in perspective! OMG! I imagine Bill and Tom have some juicy stories about the neglect they've seen. Lennie 
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User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: Sancin
Date: 01-13-2007, 05:18 PM (9 of 20)
Dorothy, I been pondering a number of things. Thank you for the idea of donating machines to underprivileged kids.  I donate most of my things to a woman's transition (safe house) in our town, each time driving around trying to find it! But I believe they have machines. I have finally come to realize that selling things and having garage sales is just too exhausting. I do have a number of items that I have set aside to advertise and sell when I find time, however. But the pile is getting smaller and smaller as I give them away to individuals I know would like them - usually not the younger generation. 
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: mommydionne
Date: 01-13-2007, 05:41 PM (10 of 20)
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I gave my mechanical Janome to my former teenage babysitter - she is taking design at NSCAD (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design), I also gave my old 3 thread singer serger to my sister in law, not sure if she ever used it or not (knowing her she sold it ) I have my grandmother's old singer portable?! It is one of the black metal ones with the wooden curved case, it weighs a tonne!! and my old treadle I bought at a yard sale. I was looking at a feather weight the other day, they are cute and I hear they sew really well. Not sure if I could justify the purchase though. 
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-13-2007, 08:32 PM (11 of 20)
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The FW's are really selling at high prices now. Years ago I worked in a machine dept. for a fabric store that was closing. At that time many customers were selling their FeatherWeights for $25 and $50 because they had purchased new big computerized models. Most employees were gobbling up the little machine bargains and most thought I was crazy for not buying one of the offered machines. I know I lost out big time, but I had no money to spare knowing my place of employment was closing and I commuted close to 60 miles just to show up at the job everyday. I see now how much the FW's sell for on Ebay and I have always known how cherished they are. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 01-14-2007, 11:18 PM (12 of 20)
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Klynne was that So-Fro that was closing? The reason I ask is that Ariz. was in my region so that would have been one of my stores. We see serious damage from neglect everyday but then we also see the machines that haven't been serviced in 30+ years and just need some minor little adjustment. Besides the quality of the machine a number of other things come into play to determine what effect poor maintenace has on a machine. The 500 stylist series has held up well over the years as long as bad oil wasn't used. (trivia: the 534 was rated "Best Buy" by Consumer Reports about 6 months after it was discontinued and replaced by the 834.) The most common problem with them due to poor maintenance is that the plastic gears dry out and get brittle if not kept greased. Newer machines are not as forgiving of poor maintence as the older ones were. I can't tell you how many New Home/Janomes, Singer XL series, Brother 8200 & 8500, Babylock Esantes & Ellageos (and many others I'm just using these examples to accent age. These are not old machines.) we see with bad mainshaft bearings The mainshaft and bearings are replaced as a unit so this is an expensive repair. I don't care what the salesman said... machines need lubrication. Because of the materials used today they don't require servicing as frequently as they used to but the damage done by lack of it is devastating. Even the truly self-lubricating Pfaffs need the oil supply in the sinter bearings replenished periodically. Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 01-15-2007, 05:22 AM (13 of 20)
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Tom if I wanted to err on the side of caution with oiling my machine (Janome MS 2028 - about 4 yo) is it possible to oil it too often? That is can it damage the machine in any way to do that. Sometimes I'm not sure if I oil it often enough - so if I just do it every couple of weeks or something is this OK?
Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-18-2007, 09:27 PM (14 of 20)
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Tom, HOLY CROW!! Did you have the store on Oracle Rd? I sold machines for about 5 years at a local Dept. store then went to major appliances but then I took the offer as a Singer store manager when Singer had their own separate stores. I worked in 2 of Singer's mall stores. They were very busy. When Singer closed their local stores they moved into depts. in fabric stores and I did work in two of them. One as dept. manager and one as assist. Dept. Mgr because I moved and commuted over 50 miles and was only working Pt. Stores closed right and left. I worked House of Fabrics and when they closed I went to the store down the road to Cloth World and worked..sheesh. One of the stores that closed owed me some commission. I did receive a letter about a year or more later in regards to their legal affairs but I ignored it because I was working for the Govt. then full time on active duty Americorps. I love working with machines. Back then I was in charge of checking them to be serviced and to order parts from Phoenix or ship the machine there for service if needed. Sales were always pretty good for me no matter what store I was in. I loved the work. I worked 20 years as an ICU Nurse first so I considered the machines my patients. LOL!! I really did love taking care of the machines and made sure they went to a good home and that their owners also knew how to take care of them.
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User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 01-19-2007, 11:42 PM (15 of 20)
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Pauline that is far too often. Maybe once every three months would do better. It is really hard to give an oiling schedule as there are so many variables. A good guidline is that except immediately after oiling the oil should be almost undetectable. If you ever notice a wet area you are over oiling. Over oiling can cause damage by causing lint to collect but ussually it just results in a mess of oily lint and less than optimal stitch quality. The damage I spoke of was in places that the operator would normally not oil. The machines are Embroidery machines that people tend to run much longer than they should without taking them in for professional service. Upper end embroidery machines often will make as many stitches in a few months as regular machines will make in a year. Therefore we see problems because the owner is still thinking it needs servicing every few to several years. Klynne. I was over the House of Fabrics(SO-Fro) in Ariz from about '84 - '87. I was based out of Denver. It doesn't sound like we were there at the same time. I left when the President retired to run one of the stores he opened. Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-20-2007, 01:22 AM (16 of 20)
| Tom, you are right, we were not there at the same time. I was there after you left. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 01-24-2007, 10:19 PM (17 of 20)
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Hey Tom know of anyplace where you can buy sewing cabinets for a 1963 Sears (White) head? I have looked everywhere and the ones today will not fit this machine. This was my moms, new in 1963/64, has the drop in cams for the design stitches and still runs like a charm!!! I just can't use it because I don't have a place to set it!!! I will have to check upstairs and see what the model # is, if that would help. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: wghmch
Date: 01-25-2007, 01:07 AM (18 of 20)
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"Hey Tom know of anyplace where you can buy sewing cabinets for a 1963 Sears (White) head?...new in 1963/64, has the drop in cams for the design stitches" I'm not Tom, but want to mention that this can't be a White made machine. Sears broke with White in the late 50s, and by 1963, White was defunct as a mfgr. Also, White never made anything but straight stitch machines. Yours would be a Maruzen if it has the 158 prefix, or a Soryu if it has a 148 prefix. There were a few Sears machines made by these Japanese mfgrs in the first years, that would go into a conventional cabinet, but most of them were contracted to have the same base that the actual Whites had used, with the square corners and different hinge alignment. This was done so that owners could only get their cabinets from Sears, and they were pretty successful. There was an independent company that produced a "conversion bar" for a number of years, that worked reasonably well if mounted correctly, but finding one of these today would be very unlikely, and they were designed to put a conventional base machine into a Sears cabinet, for when the owner wanted to get rid of her Kenmore machine, but re-use the cabinet. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 01-25-2007, 02:29 PM (19 of 20)
| Bill thanks for the info on my Moms machine. I will try and find the manual to see just where it was made. I will try and get some pics also, this might help with the ID of it and what I should look for for a cabinet, even if I have to have it custom made for it. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 01-27-2007, 12:22 AM (20 of 20)
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As Billl pointed out the machine can't be White but most likely has a base cut out like the White. If the corners are squared off you'll need to watch yard sales etc. If they are rounded almost any flatbed cabinet will work. These you can find at yard sales or new.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
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