At the moment I am cleaning up a 1949 Singer 15K hand machine. When I bought it the metalwork was unusually clean and it turned well. I polished up all the exterior metal and finally took off the faceplate yesterday. This is what I found.
The needlebar and presser bar are completely clean. There wasn't even any fluff in there, and none of the dried up residue of oil that is usually lurking behind the faceplate.
In this picture I have used a torch, so you can see there is a very thin yellowish film on the bars, so it must have been oiled at least once. But I doubt that it was regularly oiled, because there is no trace of residue underneath the machine either.
This is where the oil needs to be applied. The tops of the needlebar and presser bar are tubular and have wads of felt inside, which act as a reservoir for the oil.
Today I will be giving a generous soaking of oil to the felt at the top of the bars.
So if the machine was dry of oil behind the faceplate and underneath, why did it turn so well when I bought it? All will be revealed tomorrow...
I did not know to remove the face plate to oil it! I have a 15, although noone seems to be sure of what kind! LOL Thank you for this info!
ReplyDeleteHello Missy Shay,
DeleteNo you don't need to remove the faceplate to oil it - just soak the oil into the felt at the top.
If a machine hasn't been used for years you need to take off the faceplate to see what is hiding behind it - dried up sticky oil, big balls of fluff, broken pins... It's all part of the clean-up process.
Love,
Muv
SNAP!
ReplyDeleteI have been working on a Singer15K80 over the last week. Check out my brand new blog if you'd like to see some pics and how I've been following all the good advice you give in your videos.
G
x
Hello Gavin,
DeleteI've nipped over to your blog and seen your machines. Very nice! Also , what a pleasure to see that you are using your 1899 28K for your log cabin blocks. I'm looking forward to seeing the end product.
Love,
Muv
all was not revealed tomorrow! What is the answer!?!??!
ReplyDeleteIt turned well because it was coated with vaseline. All right in the short term, but frightful in the long term because of the sticky residue, which I had to clean off with paraffin.
DeleteLove,
Muv
ahhhh! Thank you!
DeleteSince I got my lovely beauty last June I have only oiled it (cringe) once..... Until I took another look at the tutorial, and Helen's very helpful site, and got my finger out, and my Singer oil out too (ha ha) and although I thought it was pretty quiet before, it's even quieter now!! It runs a litle smoother, it feels, too. Please let my shame be enough punishment.
Thanks for your labours of love with this site and the youtube work, it's making a big difference in many lives.
Felicity
Hello Felicity,
ReplyDeleteNow you understand the great satisfaction and pleasure in getting an old machine running smoothly. There's nothing quite like it.
Love,
Muv