By special request, here are a couple of videos of my new-to-me Singers

 

Here you go, proof that I DID get them both back together and running, haha.

 



 

Singer Model 99-13

1923

Made in Clydebank, Scotland, UK

 

 

Singer Model 66 Treadle

1924

made in New Jersey, USA

 

 

Please ignore my outfit, that's my hot weather uniform :D

Singer Treadle

I've been really itchin' to try sewing with the new (to me) treadle machine even tho I haven't started cleaning it yet. 

I did oil the big wheel under the cabinet (no more squeaking!!) and I've been practicing pumping the foot thingy a bit trying to get the hang of it

So tonight I finally got the new belt on (after hammering 4 holes thru the rolling round leather strip, grrrr)

And I've learned a few things.  First, it's hard to keep the wheel rolling in the right direction! 

Second, if u let the wheel turn backwards it screws up your thread. 

Third, if u use your hand on the balance wheel in an attempt to keep it rolling the proper direction, make sure you don't poke your finger thru the spokes and get it caught between a spoke and the bobbin winder. 

And finally, it's probably not realistic to expect a perfect stitch from a machine this age before u show it a little love with the wd40 & some machine oil

Tension assembly adjustment

The tension assembly's job is to apply an adjustable amount of tension to the top thread. After sewing a few patches I realized it wasn't releasing the tension when I raised the presser foot.  

 

So I took it apart & here are all the pieces.  The technical names for them (from left to right) are thumb screw, spring, little cone, tension plate 1&2, screw rod thingy, Thread guide spring dealy-bob, and pin.  (If that pin looks a little like a straight pin with the pointy bit cut off, you have a sharp eye)

The thread passes between the two plates (beside my thumb) which are pressed together by the spring below them

 When the presser foot is raised it activates a pin (seen above at my fingertip) which pushes the tab on this little cone 

And pushes the spring off the plate & releasing the tension on the thread

I guess the old pin was worn or cut too short so I replaced it with a slightly longer straight pin with the pointy tip cut off. Perfect!

Bobbin mechanism

This bit was kinda scary to take apart.

Ewww, look at that cruddy old wheel!

I kept taking pictures to make sure I got it all back together

But you'll just have to take my word for it because I took 0 pictures when it was in twelve different pieces, lol.

 Nor when I had to take it off two more times to fine tune it, but look what She just did!!

Singer decals

I love how ornate these old machines are.

After three days of WD40, machine oil & elbow grease...

Plus some new wiring...

Before

After

New project: Singer 99-13 (I think)

Now that the snake is done, I get to spend my time working on this little beauty!  It's 3/4 size

I know they're a dime a dozen but I just love 'em!

Check out the beautiful bentwood case

And...

It also runs already! BONUS! :D. Although it was a little scary to plug it in. I had Sugar Daddy standing by with a 2by4 in case it lit me up ;)

30' anaconda/rattler

Stuffed in the car

And there's still room for BestDrest Mil

In situ