Zooma zooma

My daughter and I made several trips out on the New York Row by Row quilt shop hop.  We have visited 8 shops, my daughter along for 6 of these, yes please do feel sorry for the 14 year old we traveled from Long Island to Albany in rain so bad we had to sit it out in a gas station at one point.

Once I got home i had to start immediately on the row by row. Of course Sparky was chosen for the piecing machine, I'm sure the neighbors are loving this as even though she's a great machine the one word I can think of to describe this machine... LOUD.  Wow! But then again, whats noise when faced with stitching like this?

Next problem to solve is the speed.  For some reason, my father and husband keep saying rheostat, the machine has two speeds, off and ZOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM.  More updates soon! 

Sparky Rides Again!

Ok so after over 20 years... Sparky rides again! While I still want to rebuild the original motor I have just ordered and recieved a replacement motor for old Sparks. So today after over 20 years of setting... Sparky sewed a single line. Now remember I ran out of bobbin thread about half way through.

Happy Bornday!

Well, today is quite the milestone in Millie's life, another year older. Today is the old 66's 96th birthday.  I had hoped to have it home by now but unfortunately the space thing just isnt working yet. Soon though must be soon!
I've been thinking a lot about how much this machine has survived through. Being "born" in 1917, I can only imagine the amount of clothing and linens and quilts, etc that she has created. Can you imagine, how many hours of work this gal has probably put in over the years, how many technical advances it has survived through. Not only survived but has not been altered like so many have been. Its simply mind boggling.

Happy 96th bornday my old friend! 

Life is Good

Life is good. Recently my husband I went to the ultimate yard sale with my in-laws, niece, step kids and my daughter. Of course the in-laws arrived first, as they and the step kids live closer to the flea market/yard sale and my husband, daughter and I brought up the rear.  My daughter and I both scoured the booths and tables for sewing paraphernalia as well as something for her birthday.  

One thing I've noticed is that there are a lot of sewing machines out there in beat up condition.  We found a total of 5 machines and only one peaked my interest, but it was too expensive.  Other then that there was nothing of sewing interest. My daughter however did end up with an unusual jewelry box.

That night my wonderful in-laws had over the nieces (there are two), two of the step kids and a long time family friend who might as well be family and we celebrated father's day, my daughter's birthday and my own (coming up soon!).  The amazing thing is I then found out why there wasn't any good stuff at the yard sale... They had bought it all!

This is a collection that my in-laws have been working on for about a year, two small toy sewing machines, a sewing box and a pin cushion which has a tape measure!  I really am lucky to have these wonderful people in my life. But the one thing I cannot get over is the sewing box. It is a match for the 66.

And now to continue the search for the regular foot for the Ole 66. 

 

Sparky!

In my last post we had just changed the plug on the Commodore branded De Luxe and had quite a light show. Well being optimistic people (stop laughing) we decided to try to change the plug to a more heavy duty one in hopes that this would solve the issue of the sparks.  Last week we picked up another plug, this time a vacuum cleaner replacement plug and gave it a shot.  Before we plugged in Sparky (now aptly named)  we grabbed a spare surge protector just in case we had to shut it down quickly without becoming fried ourselves.  When we tried it this time the light lit up just like before and worked perfectly! So then I made the hubby try the pedal. Yup, nothing, that's right no sparks, no TV  no cable box, no light, just that noise that you hear when the breaker trips and everything shuts off. Yup, no sparks just dead quiet.
So deciding that we would check out the motor to see if there was some sort of easy fix, both of us being mechanically inclined I started taking the motor off the sewing machine and can you guess what I found?

Yup that's right our culprit, or so we reasoned.  Perhaps its an easy fix, so we opened the case and started taking the motor out.  Easier said then done there is another wire inside that goes to one of the brushes that is fried too. So now its the debate of fix it now or replace it and fix it later. 

On a positive note, the other night our beautiful calico suddenly noticed there was another cat staring at her, a cat trapped inside of the Commodore, that's right the machine is that shiny... 

Bright lights and shiny stuff....

Ok so this week I spent some time working on the Commodore badged Deluxe.  I went off hunting for the belt on Friday when I was off from the main job, but was unable to locate one. I hit several stores locally looking for something that remotely resembled the belt.  I did see some vacuum belts that were almost perfect so I went off in search of a vacuum belt that would match. You would be surprised at how people are not willing to help you when you ask about a vacuum belt that is the same size as what you have in your hand... Needless to say, I wont be going back to that location.
So after all that, I ordered a belt from Ebay and set off to clean up the machine properly. Of course the beauty cleaned up so nice. A little Turtle Wax and an old pair of sweats seem to go pretty far.

The chrome on the wheel is nearly perfect and shined up with almost no work.

As you can see the chrome that Justin shined still has the awesome mirror shine and now you can see the paint is almost new car shine. Not very good pictures but they catch the shine. 

So now that I have the belt ordered, the machine shined its time to change the plug... So after changing the plug thought to leave that test for the husband.  Well when he finally came back from the race today, he plugged in the machine (after checking my handy work) and the light turned on. Woot! Or so you would think.  So lets press the pedal... Can anyone guess what happened? Big old spark shot out of the motor of the machine and I thought Neil was fried. So lets see if a heavier plug works then hopefully it will be fun to play with, if not... well lets see what the motor will cost to rebuild.  Can you tell I'm just heart broken that the machine isn't currently workable and that the belt is in transit. 

Amateur radio and sewing

A couple of years ago Neil (hubby) had his interest in amateur radio rekindled. Shortly after he got his license or ticket as they call it, he joined a local club called LIMARC, Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club.  We met a lot of great people and after a few months I started studying for my license, which I got last May.
So about that time we stopped by one of the ham's houses, to see his "shack" which is his radio room, when lo and behold we heard a sewing machine and his lovely wife is a seamstress.
At field day another ham mentioned his wife quilts. During a shop hop weekend my husband happened to mention we were headed out to one of the shops out east on the radio and another ham offered his sympathy for being made to go as his wife had already left with her friends, during the same shop hop we had a husband approach us about being a ham (do you see a trend yet?).  During the club Holiday party we were sitting with another couple, another ham active in the club too, and his wife quilts too!
Last night on my way across the parking lot, I stopped the only other female ham who works in my building, and mentioned the old 66.  Well surprise of all surprises, not only does she sew.... she collects sewing machines too! So what a conversation, showing her the remote mount radio in the car, discussing the clubs and their members updating her on some she knows but hasn't seen in a while, and sewing machines and the best places to find used machines and ham radios! I've come to the conclusion that ham radio and sewing go hand in hand!
Now to figure out how to use the treadle to power the radio...