Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
(OP)
My wife recently inherited an antique Singer sewing machine from 1927 (there are several websites where you can look up the serial number and it will give you the model number as well as where and when that particular sewing machine was manufactured).
The machine is a Singer model 66-4. Originally it was my wife's grandmother's machine and it was also the sewing machine that my wife learned to sew on when she was a young girl, which is why she wanted me to refurbish it and bring it back to working condition. It probably works OK now, but it's a bit rough having been stored in less than ideal conditions for the last 25 years or so. The mechanisms seem to work without any binding and virtually all the part are there including a full set of add-on accessories for special types of stitches and such. So far, the only parts that I've found missing are the cover over where the bobbin is installed, the belt (it's a treadle-driven sewing machine) and a small screw, one of two holding the front mechanism cover in place (I've already found multiple sources on the web for most all of the parts that I'll be needing)
Here's a picture of where I started from:

Here's a closer look at the head:

So far I've pretty much removed all of the inter-workings and have started to strip the paint off the head. Once I get the paint removed and everything sanded-down and clean I'll repaint it and apply new decals (I've already ordered a set which replicates the original so-called 'Filigree' style which was the theme for this machine).
Anyway, as I go along I'll post more photos and let you know how it's going, and if anyone out there has worked on one of these before, any advice and help would be appreciated. So far I've got a lot of material to help me. In addition to the original owners manual, I've downloaded copies of the parts list with pictures of each part, as well as exploded views of the mechanisms. I've also managed to find a detailed set of instructions on how to 'time' and adjust the mechanisms.
And before anyone asks, I'm NOT doing this with the ideal that a fully restored example would be worth a lot. You see Singer made literally MILLIONS of the Model 66 and a fully restored machine can be purchased for a couple hundred dollars. No, I'm doing it because it's really the only thing that my wife inherited from her family and while our home is not quite suited for putting an antique of anything on display, I'm willing to make an exception in this case. Besides, my wife would like to see if she could still sew on it.
The machine is a Singer model 66-4. Originally it was my wife's grandmother's machine and it was also the sewing machine that my wife learned to sew on when she was a young girl, which is why she wanted me to refurbish it and bring it back to working condition. It probably works OK now, but it's a bit rough having been stored in less than ideal conditions for the last 25 years or so. The mechanisms seem to work without any binding and virtually all the part are there including a full set of add-on accessories for special types of stitches and such. So far, the only parts that I've found missing are the cover over where the bobbin is installed, the belt (it's a treadle-driven sewing machine) and a small screw, one of two holding the front mechanism cover in place (I've already found multiple sources on the web for most all of the parts that I'll be needing)
Here's a picture of where I started from:

Here's a closer look at the head:

So far I've pretty much removed all of the inter-workings and have started to strip the paint off the head. Once I get the paint removed and everything sanded-down and clean I'll repaint it and apply new decals (I've already ordered a set which replicates the original so-called 'Filigree' style which was the theme for this machine).
Anyway, as I go along I'll post more photos and let you know how it's going, and if anyone out there has worked on one of these before, any advice and help would be appreciated. So far I've got a lot of material to help me. In addition to the original owners manual, I've downloaded copies of the parts list with pictures of each part, as well as exploded views of the mechanisms. I've also managed to find a detailed set of instructions on how to 'time' and adjust the mechanisms.
And before anyone asks, I'm NOT doing this with the ideal that a fully restored example would be worth a lot. You see Singer made literally MILLIONS of the Model 66 and a fully restored machine can be purchased for a couple hundred dollars. No, I'm doing it because it's really the only thing that my wife inherited from her family and while our home is not quite suited for putting an antique of anything on display, I'm willing to make an exception in this case. Besides, my wife would like to see if she could still sew on it.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
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UG/NX Museum:
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RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Interestingly, the basic workings look pretty similar to my mom's Singer we bought in the 70s.
TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
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RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
About 20 some years ago, I ran across an old Singer treadle machine in a cabin in the jungles of the Moskito Coast.It belonged to a Moskito woman. It was seized up. I cleaned and lubricated a couple of ball bearings and when I left it was back in service.
Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
As much paint is missing off of that, I'd be inclined to repaint it also.
I refurbish old bikes, and prefer to keep original paint whenever possible, but sometimes, there's so little left, that it just needs to be repainted...
Looks like a fun little project, and even better that you're saving a family heirloom.
David
Connect with me on LinkedIn. http://lnkd.in/fY7-QK
Quote: "If it ain't broke, I must not've fixed it good enough"
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
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RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Older women borrow it from her all of the time because it is what they learned on.
We cleaned, lubed, and adjusted it but left the well worn finish.
There is quite an industry in repairing and refurbishing these older machines.
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Well I've de-greased and cleaned all of the internal parts and have them all packed away in Ziploc bags.
As for the head, I've stripped-off all the paint, sanded the bare metal and finally rinsed and de-greased it as well.
As you can see, the casting of the body is rather rough and on the back side there's some significant porosity so I'll need to either apply and sand several coats of paint or find some sort of primer/base that will fill and smooth out the rough areas.
Note that the decals arrived today and they're a prefect match to what was on the machine originally.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
A.
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
After I finish with the Sewing Machine restoration, I may consider doing some model-making again.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Singer sewing machines in the same condition as your photos suggest sell at around 30 Euro here in Germany.
Mint condition machines bring 50...80 Euro.
So yours is more a project of love I guess.
Have fun,
Benta.
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Ted
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
I've finished painting the head as well as a couple of other parts that needed to be refinished (the cabinet and treadle mechanism will come later). Shown below is a belt-guard which is part of the bobbin-winder and the hand-wheel. For these I just cleaned them up, sanded the rough spots and applied two-coats of Black Dupli-Color Acrylic Enamel. For the belt-guard I then applied the new decal and then two-coats of Dupli-Color Acrylic Enamel 'Clearcoat'. For the hand-wheel, after painting it I removed the masking from outer part of the hand-wheel before applying the 'Clearcoat'.
As for the head, I first applied two coats of Dupli-Color Sandable Automotive Primer, fully sanding both coats, then a single coat with a very light sand. Then two good coats of Black Dupli-Color Acrylic Enamel. Then I applied all the decals and after they had set and dried, I applied two coats of 'Clearcoat'.
The hardest, or at least the most tedious, task so far was masking/plugging all of the threaded holes, oil holes, slide-ways and other opening in the head. This included the bottom which I also gave two coats of paint and a coat of 'clearcoat', but no primer as I didn't take the bottom-side down to raw metal as the shapes are just way too complicated.
Well now I'll set the head aside for a few days to let the paint fully harden before I start to reassembly the internals. Perhaps I'll start to dismantle the cabinet and start on the treadle mechanism. For cleaning-up those castings I'm going to take the pieces to a commercial sandblasting outfit as that ironwork would take days of sweat, blood and expletives
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
I started sewing and quilting about 8 years ago and it's a lovely balance to writing reports about cracked basements - when I can remember to turn off my perfectionist engineering brain, at least. I've always wanted to try one of those old Singers.
EdStainless, those Featherweights are the gold standard, still. Easy to take with you and work like a charm... no worries about a computer glitch messing everything up.
Please remember: we're not all guys!
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Yes, I, and my wife, are happy that it's going as well as it is. Other than a couple of missing items, I've managed to only damage one small item but I've found sources for replacement parts so it's looking good so far. Will keep you all updated as the project progresses.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
I've reinstalled the internals of the sewing machine and everything seems to works as expected. Granted, I haven't actually sewn anything yet, but I've been taking pictures all along so that helps to get everything back where they belong, and besides, there were no extra parts left over (which is always a good sign), and the few missing parts are in the mail.
As for the rest of the project, the cast iron treadle parts are at the sandblasting shop and will be back by the end of the week. And I've started to strip the finish off the cabinet parts and am about 2/3rd's done with them. That being said, we leave for Texas next Thursday (it's our oldest granddaughter's high school graduation and we're driving to Katy, just West of Houston) so I don't think I'll be quite done by then, but It'll be close.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
It might be worth looking into for the durability.
Looking good.
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
I've gotten all the wooden parts of the cabinet stripped down to bare wood and will be starting to apply the finish today.
I'm using a light Pecan stain and a satin finish polyurethane. My wife says we have too much 'Oak' in our house but didn't want anything as red as Cheerywood, Also the traditional 'Early American' stains were just too dark, period.
BTW, I got a quote back for powder-coating the cast iron parts; $200+. I think I'll paint them.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
All of the parts have arrived for the sewing machine itself (except for the belt which is in transit but that's the last item I'll be needing anyway) so it's all together but set aside for now.
The cast irons parts are back from sandblasting (and for $10 less than quoted) and have been given at least one coat of primer (the sandblasting guy warned me that old iron parts like these, once all the paint and scale has been removed, that they can rust in a day or two if you're not careful).
As for the cabinet, about two-thirds of it has been refinished with only the drawers and the drawer frames needing to be stained and finished. I've opted for a Pecan stain (two coats) with a final urethane clear semi-gloss finish (again two coats). The parts that are done are looking good.
That being said, everything is now going under the covers for a couple of weeks as my wife and I leave for Texas on Thursday (BTW, do you still call it a 'vacation' if you're retired?) for our oldest granddaughter's high school graduation. We're driving to El Paso Thursday night and then on to Katy (just West of Houston) by Friday evening. Graduation is on Sunday and then we're going to visit some friends up in Waco for a couple days before we return to Katy. We head for home on Sunday the 12th arriving back in SoCal by Monday. Our granddaughter is coming back with us to spend the summer so we'll get some quality time playing grandparents. If I get the old Singer done on time, perhaps my wife can teach her how to sew the old fashion way
Anyway, I'll see you all in a couple of weeks as I no longer have a laptop (it's on my wish list) so I won't be able to keep-up with everyone until I'm back.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Please remember: we're not all guys!
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Note that I haven't tried to sew anything yet so there might still be some fine-tuning required but so far everything appears to be working.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
An heirloom to be treasured for generations to come.
Nicely done!
g.
gbangs
TC 8.3.3
NX 8.5.3.3 MP11
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has. Rene Descartes
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Just started my first serious post-retirement project: Restoring an antique Singer sewing machine...
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has. Rene Descartes