It is finished. Almost six weeks of work, 300 cotton balls, 1-1/2 bottles of sewing machine oil and countless encouragement and enthusiasm from Logan and Max, and the machine is up and running! Coming from an era when virtually everyone smoked, the machine head was covered in a dark layer of nicotine and old sewing machine oil. I actually found decals as I cleaned it, decals that were invisible under the old dirt. I accidentally damaged some decals in cleaning them as well, but if I hadn't gotten all the dirt off, it would make a mess on whatever I was sewing. Once the head was all cleaned, I waxed her (carnauba wax) and she shines now! She has a new bobbin tire, a new spool felt, and a new treadle belt. Once I got her back into the cabinet and the treadle belt installed, she was up and running in no time. A few adjustments, and she was stitching beautifully!
I'm planning a project for her - a small one first so I can get the hang of her and we can work out any issues we might have, then something bigger!
It feels good to have her up and running again, but after all the hours of cleaning and time we've spent together already, she still hasn't told me her name. She's a 1923 Singer 66 Red Eye (the official name for the decals is "Scroll-Red"). My Featherweight is Elizabeth, so that (and all its variants) are out. I thought she might be a Mary, but when I really got into cleaning her and found what a dirty, dirty girl she was, I thought maybe Kitty (also Max really likes her). Any ideas?
Labels: treadle sewing machine
12 Comments:
Delilah? Jezebel?
Beautiful job by the way. Hope you get lots of enjoyment from your new girl.. Hope Max doesn't want to chase or ride the treadle...
She looks absolutely amazing! What a great job you did cleaning it up! How exciting to finally be able to sew on her too. No name suggestions, I have enough trouble naming my own things. LOL!
I think Scarlett would suit her well!
Wow, she's beautiful and well worth all the effort. I think perhaps she may be a Poppy, so there's obviously a red theme going on in the comments!
She looks FANTASTIC! Great job! I like the suggestion Carie made: Poppy.
I vote for Mae, as in West.
She should be "Miss Kitty", of course. What a beaut!
My first thought was "Lola", based on nothing at all.
For a dirty girl she sure cleaned up nicely!
When I saw the finished picture, the first name that popped into my head was Louline.
She is so very beautiful. I know you will have many wonderful hours working with her.
8)
Phyllis
Love her! She's beautiful! What a wonderful cleaning job you did. I hope the two of you will share many wonderful hours together. :)
The first name that popped into my head was Rachel. But I have to say I like Delilah, Jezebel, Scarlett and Lola better than Rachel!
Looks great! You're making me want to finally rehab my own 1940's Singer. Thankfully it's been owned by my Grandmother its whole life.
Ruby, as in Max and Ruby, and in tribute to the red? And, isn't she a gem?
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