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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
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From: allanorah
Date: 03-25-2007, 06:52 PM (1 of 30)
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Yesterday, while taking out the trash, my roommate and I found a table and it looked like the lid opened up (it was near the trash, not in it). So, we opened it up. And what do we find? A sewing machine! I've just got into sewing, so this was pretty exciting to me, even though I was skeptical about getting a sewing machine from the dumpster (as it was put there for a reason). But he convinced me to take it home. So, we lugged it back to our apartment and plugged it in. The light worked, so that was a good thing. We know most machines have a foot pedal, but we couldn't find it. During our inspection (and search for the pedal) we discovered that it was a Kenmore 158.480, and that it was from Sears-Roebuck. The painting on the table gave it away that it was pretty old, but the Sears-Roebuck dated it to be at least from the 70s if not earlier. I began googling it, while my roommate looked around more. I got in touch with Sears and they're sending me an owner's manual, and it should be here by April 2nd, but I'm really curious about it and I want to know more about it. While he was fiddling with it, he found the "foot pedal" which was a piece of metal attached to something that made the motor run. It's at knee level if you are sitting down at it. He pushed it in, and started going. So, as far as I know, it works. So basically, I was wondering if anyone had any information on it, knew anything about it, etc. I'm really anxious about working with it as it would greatly increase my productivity with making garments which I really want to do. Thank you!!! 
~Melissa
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User: allanorah
Member since: 03-25-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 03-25-2007, 07:50 PM (2 of 30)
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Congratulations on your frugal find! I don't have any info for you, but someone here might. You're on the right track, having contacted the manufacturer already. You might run out and get some oil and a lint brush and give it a nice cleaning. It'll thank you
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: allanorah
Date: 03-25-2007, 08:18 PM (3 of 30)
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Thanks, Andrea! Quick, possibly dumb, question: any sewing machine oil will work? Do I have to find one specific to this brand? One of the things that came with the machine was a box of attachments (including these black plastic things that I have no idea what they belong to but there's a bunch of them), including a brush! So that was exciting. ~Melissa
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User: allanorah
Member since: 03-25-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: pinecone
Date: 03-25-2007, 08:25 PM (4 of 30)
Those black plastic things are probably cams to change the stitch. Try lifting the cover of the machine and see if there is a place they will go. I just joined the Yahoo Kenmore group as I just was given a Kennie 158.19412 ~ no attachments though and only a straight stitch foot and throat plate. Hope to get the zz ones so I can play with the other stitches. Have fun with your new toy.  piney |
User: pinecone
Member since: 03-10-2007 Total posts: 59 |
From: qltnanny
Date: 03-25-2007, 08:50 PM (5 of 30)
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awesome find..... you go girl. Good for you. First find out if you can get a manual for the machine you have. I have my mothers from about 30/40 years ago and there are black plastic cams there also. I also have my old machine from 1969. Has lots of cams and does lots. And it has no plastic. LOL.... The main thing for old machines is to keep them clean and oil, oil, oil. good luck. Let me know if i can help!!!!
qltnanny
NH |
User: qltnanny
Member since: 03-19-2007 Total posts: 11 
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From: allanorah
Date: 03-25-2007, 08:50 PM (6 of 30)
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Cams?? Sorry, I don't know much since I am just starting out and have only done things by hand. ~Melissa
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User: allanorah
Member since: 03-25-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: allanorah
Date: 03-25-2007, 09:20 PM (7 of 30)
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qltnanny: The manual should be coming in the mail by April 2nd. I talked to the Sears people and they were wicked nice. I think I found where the cams go, although I still don't know what to do with them. Plus there are a whole bunch metal attachments that I don't know where they go or what they do. I also found a razor blade in there (like a straight edge) which I thought was rather odd to find in there especially unprotected. ~Melissa
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User: allanorah
Member since: 03-25-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: Jeke
Date: 03-25-2007, 09:26 PM (8 of 30)
When the cams are changed it will probably change the kind of stitch. It will tell you when you get your manual. How exciting for you!  Let us know how it all goes. Oh yes, sewing machine oil is sewing machine oil It can be used on any machine.Jay Jay
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User: Jeke
Member since: 11-10-2004 Total posts: 232 |
From: SmokiesCrafter
Date: 03-25-2007, 09:49 PM (9 of 30)
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Lucky You, it's a great find for you and to find out that it works. Be sure and get some new needles and change them, once you have your owners manual you will find out lots of things. I also sometimes use canned air to help clean lint from my machine. Be careful and use it wisely, I just use small spurts and aim the wand where the lint blows out of the machine not into the inside workings if it is open. Brush to get the remaining lint out and oil. Your manual will tell you the points to oil. Lots of FUN and Happy Sewing.  Jacke |
User: SmokiesCrafter
Member since: 02-16-2007 Total posts: 18 
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From: allanorah
Date: 03-25-2007, 10:10 PM (10 of 30)
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Thanks Jay and Jacke! The roomie who found it with me had contemplated using some of the compressed air we have to clean it out (there are at least 4 computers in the apartment: it gets used a lot!). It's a bit on the dusty side so I tried cleaning it out as much as possible. And it doesn't help that the paint on the top of the table part (when we close the lid..that top) is seriously flaking off. We were thinking about sanding it and just repainting it. But not sure if we should in case it's worth something. ~Melissa
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User: allanorah
Member since: 03-25-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 03-25-2007, 10:21 PM (11 of 30)
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allanorah, you'll find sewing machine oil in the fabric shop. You can ask, but I don't _think_ there's a special kind for Kenmore versus other brands. I might add, we have a board that's called "Machine Talk, and there are one or two sewing machine repair people who visit there. They probably have more expertise to add for you. Since I see you're new to machine sewing, I'll elaborate about the cams and the stitches. Ok, way, way back all machines just sewed straight stitches. Int he 60's and 70's they came out with "newfangled" ones that could do other things, like a scalloped set of stitches or joining stitches that look like side-by-side rows of X's, etc. To get them, you'd stick these "cams" in the machine. It was a mechanical way of making the machine put the needle down int he right spots to make these new kinds of stitches. Newer machines do it in faster ways, mechanically and/or electronically at the push of a button. Your find is old-school. In a good way. Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: allanorah
Date: 03-25-2007, 10:31 PM (12 of 30)
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Andrea: Thank you! I generally feel kinda dumb about this stuff, but it's due to lack of experience (no one sews in my family), so thank you so much! I was really excited, partly for a sewing machine, and partly because it is old-school, and I have a fascination for old things like that. I really like the design of the table and the lines it has, I just wish it didn't shed so much!
~Melissa
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User: allanorah
Member since: 03-25-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: momrose
Date: 03-25-2007, 10:54 PM (13 of 30)
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we discovered that it was a Kenmore 158.480 ..... So basically, I was wondering if anyone had any information on it, knew anything about it, etc. I'm really anxious about working with it as it would greatly increase my productivity with making garments which I really want to do. Lucky you! You've found a great machine! It's a strong performer, easy to sew with, and has lots of pattern cams (the black thingies you found with it). Does it have a free arm? I'm not familiar with what features the portable model has. I'm surprised you found a knee-bar controller because they're scarce on newer models... I've wanted one ever since I broke the heck out of my right ankle and leg. Anyway, you need to take this to a shop and have it looked at.... the timing and gears, possibly a motor tune-up, etc. Don't use forced air on your sewing machine... it will blow more junk deeper inside it. Instead use a small vacuum or a stiff brush to clean. Use ONLY oil marked for sewing machines, and use ONE drop of oil at every moving part where it touches another. Taken care of it will last a good long time! This 48 model is my second favorite machine in Kenny brand (16231 is my first), and I have my manual if you need to ask something before yours arrives. Just let me know. When you do get your manual and want to use special stitches, do pay close attention to the settings and how to use the cams. As long as you do what the books suggests, there's no problem at all with this machine (don't ask me how I'd know the opposite).  momrose ~~~~~
momrose |
User: momrose
Member since: 03-24-2007 Total posts: 4 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 03-26-2007, 10:28 AM (14 of 30)
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Except for a few specialty oils that are not readily available to the consumer, sewing machine oil is sewing machine oil. Beware that household oil such as 3-in-1 is not sewing machine oil and will cause problems.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: lendube
Date: 03-26-2007, 10:39 AM (15 of 30)
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Hi Allanorah, How fun for you! I would be totally jazzed as well to find something like that. You're getting great advice. I'm not familiar with the machine so I can't help. Sewing techniques, yes, so be sure and use us as much as possible when you start with all of that. Oh, the razor blade you found is not a weird find at all. Now most folks use seam rippers to take out bad seams, mistakes, etc. Years ago most folks used razor blades to do that. Dangerous for both skin and fabric but effective none the less. C'ya around, Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-26-2007, 01:30 PM (16 of 30)
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It is a wonderful machine. The reason that you do not have a foot pedal is that it was probably sold as a cabinet model. those had the built in knee lever. Machines that are sold as portables and then inserted in a cabinet usually keep their foot lever. Probably someone died and the family just threw the machine out. That happens more often than you might think. It would have been made either in the very late 60's to mid 70's. Mine was purchased in 74. AT 78 or so Sears changed the company that was making the machines and these models were no longer sold. The machine is mechanical. The cams are the shape of the design them make...stretched out. WHen the machine reads the cams, it just follows the shape and the picture on the top of the design is made. There were machines that opened and those that did not. The machines that opened up took the cams so they naturally had more "built in" or optional designs. There were up to 4 books that came with the machines. They were plastic boxes with snaps that would sit in a book case and look like med size books. There was one for the buttonhole attachment. The slide plate on the machine is replaced with one that has a gear. The button hole attachment which is just a piece of plastic with a label on it screws behind the presser foot to the machine bed and then a cam is inserted into the plastic holder and it is put down on the cam. The cam drives the shape of the button hole. It is a great system. There is another box that has many many attachments of all kinds in it. For the machines that had the lift tops, there was a full group of designs in another box...some were one pattern deep, some were more complicated and had two layers on the cam. Then there was another box which may have been an option (I don't know because my husband bought my machine as a wedding gift)....but I don't see this one very much. There was a cam box of monogram letters. If you can get this machine to work, don't EVER let it go! It is a great, reliable machine. Mine was broken by Sears and I've always resented it because it easily rivaled my Bernina as a great machine!!! Enjoy it!! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 03-26-2007, 03:34 PM (17 of 30)
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As for the question of refinishing the cabinet--I've refinished some old, old furniture and struggled over the question too--Will I ruin its value by stripping it and changing it? Well, this furniture came to you already damaged. Refinishing it won't devalue it, but will make it more attractive and more useful to you. Go for it.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: allanorah
Date: 03-26-2007, 08:16 PM (18 of 30)
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momrose: I'm pretty sure mine's not portable, it's most definitely attached to the cabinet thingie. It's huge (to me at least)! I'm not sure how well we'll be able to transport it as we all have really tiny cars. I can't wait for it to come in. Unfortunately, I think it's coming in on a Monday, so I may have to wait til Thursday night to play with it. Thank you soo much!! It's greatly appreciated!!!!! Thanks Tom! Wow, thanks Lennie! When I've been hand sewing, if I ever want to take out a stitch or two, I've been using a tailor's awl, because it has that sharp pointy end that I can just pull it out. Thankfully, I've been using really sturdy material so I haven't had to worry about it (pretty much I've only been dealing with linen-look stuff which has been very durable and very forgiving). And it's great for attempting to make button holes because if you start it, and then realize it's in the wrong spot, you can just stop, and then scratch the fabric a lil bit so that it goes away since it just moves the fibers rather than breaking them. The thing that shocked me about the straight edge is that it is unprotected. Usually when I see them, they are at least in some kind of paper covering. Pam, no words can express how grateful I am right now to you, holy crap!! It's definitely a cabinet model and I've been searching for that phrase since Saturday when I got it! As well as knee lever!! The someone dying reason was what we were thinking. Most of the people who live here are young college kids since it's right on a free bus route that goes right to UMass. I was figuring that it was prolly in that time range, since it says Sears-Roebuck on it, and that's rather old (it was changed prolly almost 10 years or so before I was even born). The cam stuff sounds really cool. We have a bunch of those loose in the cabinet area, and I'll have to find time to look through them all. The box that we have has a bunch of these metal attachments that I'm not sure where they belong, but they're there. That's where I found the straight edge and the cleaning brush. It seems to work right now, so I'm hoping that as soon as I learn to thread it and all that wonderful stuff, I'll be able to start working with it. At least I'm hoping so. Thanks, Andrea, we were thinking about fixing it up sometime soon. But we are currently waiting for less inclement weather (as in, not raining every day). We were thinking about picking up some sand paper and using that since sand paper is cheap. Do you know of any good ways to protect the machinery? Plastic bags? Thank you all soo much!!! Many hugs to you all!! ~Melissa ~Melissa
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User: allanorah
Member since: 03-25-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 03-26-2007, 09:40 PM (19 of 30)
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Do you know of any good ways to protect the machinery? How about Glad Wrap (Saran Wrap for you) and masking tape. Just remember if you get stain on the tape and it adjoins a wooden surface you should remove the tape while the paint is still wet. Once it dries it might peel off some of the adjoining stain from the wood. The wrap and tape should be able to be moulded fairly easily around the bits you need to. And maybe keep a vacuum cleaner close by and periodically suck up the dust. If you're going to refinish the wood definitely do it before any cleaning of the machine. Just in case some dust escapes. Are you sure you can't remove the machine from the cabinet? It would be much easier to refinish (and you'd get a better job) if you didn't have to worry about the edges of things so much. I've repainted and stained a few pieces of furniture in my time and you get a much better job if there's not so much of the small detailed work required. Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-26-2007, 10:00 PM (20 of 30)
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You should be able to remove the machine. I think they are bolted into place. I haven't used a machine in a cabinet for a long time. For a while most machines came in cabinets. Anyway, I can't remember what the leg contol looks like, it may just plug into the machine by a wire since it is the same basic thing as the foot pedal. It might be attached to the cabinet and hard wired to the machine. I just don't remember. They are taken out of the cabinets for service. Often the cabinets go bad and they are removed and placed in new cabinets. My Kenmore was a portable. I've wanted to replace my machine for several years but when mine was broken, I was unable to find any for sale at all...of course, 15 years ago there wasn't much activity on the internet yet. Now, when you look on E-bay they falsely report these as commercial heavy duty machines and they jack the prices up on the machines. If you are lucky enough to find one for sale from a private individual usually they are snatched up and resold for more bucks (they sell them by the piece on e-bay.). They do sew so very well, but they are not commercial...just WONDERFUL machines. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: lendube
Date: 03-27-2007, 10:58 AM (21 of 30)
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Back to the razor blade, Melissa. Be sure to buy and try a seam ripper. They're dirt cheap, $1.25 or so and won't slice your hands as easily. Don't have to tell you how badly you can hurt yourself with a razor blade, I'm sure. Lennie (Helllooo, it's the Mom in me, I swear! :re
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User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: pinecone
Date: 03-27-2007, 12:19 PM (22 of 30)
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Lennie (Helllooo, it's the Mom in me, I swear! :re I think she is collecting Moms ..... hoping for some home cooking to arrive on her doorstep. piney |
User: pinecone
Member since: 03-10-2007 Total posts: 59 |
From: keljo60
Date: 03-27-2007, 07:13 PM (23 of 30)
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Allanorah ... IMPORTANT!! be sure you have the right bobbins! My older machines use larger bobbins and I had to buy them at a sewing machine repair shop. I have a machine in a cabinet (that I refinished) with a knee lever. It's a White brand cast iron machine in a desk type cabinet. I've had it for probably 20 years, give or take. I got it at the Faith Farm for $15! I wanted the cabinet for another machine and the guy told me that the machine came with it and he didn't know if it worked or not. I figured, why not? I got it home, cleaned and greased it up, plugged it in and it works great! It's really heavy duty and works great on denim and other heavy fabrics. Check this out ... it came with a bunch of neat attachments AND the original owner's manual! It was made about 1950, the original owner wrote when she serviced it for a few times! It's a straight stitch machine with the zig-zag attachment! I think there's a ruffler too and a bunch of feet for doing rolled hems and such. I also have DH's grandmothers' (yes, they both use it!) Singer treadle machine! When my FIL brought it to me from CT I was overjoyed! I cleaned it up (it had been in a back bedroom for years) greased it up and put on a new belt. It also works like a dream! DH remembers playing with the treadle when he was a boy! I know resale value isn't very high on these machines, but I like them and they're here to stay (at least the Singer is!) Kelly
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup! |
User: keljo60
Member since: 07-30-2006 Total posts: 154 
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From: dcloud
Date: 03-28-2007, 03:17 PM (24 of 30)
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I've restored a couple pieces of old furniture - a table and a chair. It's a lot of fun to do this with old things, but some words of caution. Whether sanding, staining, or just painting use a mask and if at all possible do it outside or in a garage with a cement floor and the door wide open. This is very important. Paint/varnish fumes are bad, but fumes from stripper are even worse. And believe it or not wood dust is even worse than the chemical fumes. You want to wear a mask even if you are just sanding the furniture. Believe me I found all this out myself when I did my refinishing projects. Make sure you get a mask that is rated to protect you from the chemical product you are using. Most respirator masks will have the ratings on them with a list of protects (fumes) they can protect you from. |
User: dcloud
Member since: 03-21-2007 Total posts: 72 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-28-2007, 05:53 PM (25 of 30)
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Be careful where you use those products too. Not only can they kill you or your family, they can kill your pets, esp birds and some of those are combustable so you want to keep them away from refrigerators, gas hot water heaters (which may be in the garage), dryers which are operating...anything with a motor which might click on while you are working.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: allanorah
Date: 03-29-2007, 12:12 PM (26 of 30)
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Pauline I was thinking either that (saran wrap) or plastic bags taped around. I tried looking around and the screws are in a really awkward spot for me to get to, but it could be possible. I just found the plug that is for the knee lever. That made me happy to find that. We were planning on doing everything outside, because even though we have decent ventilation in the apartment (huge windows almost in line with the sliding glass doors), I don't want to have to deal with the kitties and worrying about them. Outdoors I will have less of a chance hurting things due to it being outdoors. I don't necessarily mind doing small, tedious stuff (at work I have to clean in between each and every key on the keyboards on the computers), so if I have to small stuff, it shouldn't be too bad. Pam I just found the plug for it, as I couldn't find it for a while. It's definitely attached on the inside so I'd have to cover it up because I don't know how to take it off. I've been looking for a sewing machine for a while now, and obviously looked on ebay because I thought maybe I might have found something a bit more affordable on a college budget than what is offered for ones bought in stores. And I'm totally unsurprised that they are labeled as commercial, even though they definitely are not. It really is an excuse to jack up the prices. Lendlube Yeah, I know I totally need to get to a real seam ripper rather than spending way too long taking the stitches out individually. I need to make a trip down to Jo-ann's this weekend, or possibly into town to the lil shops and see what they have there. Piney I like having lots of Moms! It's nice to be able to have people I can go to, as my (biological) mom can't help me in this department. Kelly I will definitely try to get into town to look for the sewing repair shop out here (its also a typewriter/computer repair shop too) and see if they can help. I had completely forgotten about that place til today. That's a really cool find too! I like finding really old stuff, like books, magazines, old machines, really cool stuff. It's really sad that they don't have much retail value, they seem like great machines, especially since they are able to last THIS long. I don't know many things today that even last a year. And, I have that quote in your sig on a shirt. dcloud: We were definitely going to do this outside, we have a couple cats and I don't want them exposed to the dust/chemicals. just not a good combo with the kitties. Thanks for the tip about the masks, as I don't feel like getting crap in my system (I woke up hacking this morning, I don't want to make matters worse). pam We're going to do it outside to protect our kitties. We have a 14 yr old and a 2 yr old kitty. The 14 yr old is my baby, and I don't want anything to happen to him. And I think my other roomie would be devastated if her cat got ill. And keeping it away from stuff that turns on like those would be another good reason to do this outside somewhere. Thanks again everybody!!! I really appreciate all the help that you've been giving me!! ~Melissa
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User: allanorah
Member since: 03-25-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: allanorah
Date: 04-02-2007, 04:18 PM (27 of 30)
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I just got the manual in the mail today only to realize that I don't have a bobbin case. I at least know now what they are so I can look for it... Ah well... ~Melissa
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User: allanorah
Member since: 03-25-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: pinecone
Date: 04-02-2007, 04:49 PM (28 of 30)
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I just my order from Sears today too only to find they sent me a zipper foot, not a zig-zag foot. *sigh* I shall call them tomorrow. At least the zig-zag throat plate is correct and the manual. Hopefully at Sears they might have the bobbin case for you, after all you gotta play with your dumpster treasure. piney |
User: pinecone
Member since: 03-10-2007 Total posts: 59 |
From: allanorah
Date: 04-03-2007, 11:54 AM (29 of 30)
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I found one on ebay and I talked to the owner about it and he said it should fit. If it doesn't, then well, I can always return it. (full refunds, woohoo!!) So, hopefully it will be sent out soon. I paid for it yesterday, and he's in VA, and I'm in MA so it shouldn't be too long... I really want to play with my new toy!! ~Melissa
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User: allanorah
Member since: 03-25-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: Bama
Date: 04-04-2007, 02:04 PM (30 of 30)
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Congratulations on your found treasure! I love when things like that happen. I have an old Singer machine from the 50's. It still works. I think it's pretty to look at too.  I love the old all metal machines.
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
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