Motor rebuild

[Sam Cogley]

...just not on the 'Vette. :rofl:

The 1931 Singer 66-6 that I was using for upholstery work was pretty worn-out (partially my fault when I tore it down for a rebuild years ago, I've learned a lot since then...), and this gear-drive 1949 15-91 dropped into my lap for free last weekend. Unfortunately, all of the wiring was shot and the motor needed a total clean-out, new brushes, etc. Now it's running just fine and has quite a bit more torque than the old belt-drive 66. It still needs to be cleaned, waxed and have the embossed numbers on the stitch-length/reverse plate re-filled with gold paint, but bring on the fabric for the Recaro seats! :thumbs:

The base is one I built out of red oak years ago for the 66. It's not perfect, but it looks pretty good and keeps the machine in place. A real bentwood portable case would be nice, but they're few and far between in good shape. Most have lots of delamination and chipping on the curved lids.

 

[JPhil]

Nice! A good tool, especially a good old tool, is always worth using & respecting.

 

[Sam Cogley]

Nice! A good tool, especially a good old tool, is always worth using & respecting.

The desk under it houses a Scottish built belt-drive 201K-3 that I bought for $5 at an auction in pristine condition. Most 201s in the US were gear-drive 201-2 models with a slightly stronger motor than the 15-91 (rated at .6A rather than .5A), so I have no idea how it ended up over here with a US-made motor (and the owner's manual for a 201-2). It also has the rather head-scratching, if not completely unheard-of, combination of a 1948 serial number and a 1951 Centennial logo plate. Adjusting the lower thread tension on these is rather fiddly, so it's easier to keep one (the 201K-3) set for regular thread and another set for heavy upholstery and/or denim thread.

My mother has a beautiful 1935 15-88 treadle machine in a very unusual art-deco open treadle cabinet. I've only run across two like it online, and both were trashed. Most treadles either had the ornate iron filigree bases that are often turned into tables or "parlor style" full-length cabinets that completely hid the mechanism when closed.

Yeah, I enjoy sewing as much as I do wrenching or woodworking. Shoot me. :rofl:

 

[mrvette]

The auto upholstery guy up in DC that did all the work on many a car/boat for me and friends, was damn good at it, and relatively cheap....the custom stuff that man could come up with a toss together of concepts, was show winning....

worked out of his garage, wife was a school teacher one of a few friends I miss from the old 'hood'.....

:beer::beer:

 

[010752]

Singer threw those centennial plates on machines for several years, manufacture date didn't seem to matter much. they are beautiful machines though.
A friend gave me a brand new one with the plate on it built in 52. He gave it to his wife as a present, but she told him she didn't sew, so it sat in the half round wooden case never ever used. Still unused.

Not too familiar with the retail machines, but if you ever run across an industrial Singer 111G or knockoff at a good price grab it. They have a walking foot and arm reverse. Almost all the car manufacturers used them for upholstery back then. A little while ago, I sold a Consew knockoff with table and motor for 350 bucks.

 

[Sam Cogley]

Every time I've come close to a 111G or a similar model, the price has been way out of reach. The little home machines will do surprisingly well with multiple layers of vinyl, leather or heavy upholstery fabric, for occasional jobs. There was a walking foot attachment made for the home machines, but it's incredibly rare and sells for $600-$700 or more when found.