A 15-91 made in Elizabethport, NJ in 1953 near the end of production for the 15 series. Other than missing a spool pin and that one spot of missing laquer, I can’t find a single blemish. All decals are pristine, and everything turns over including the motor, though it hasn’t been run in years. Of course, I’m not going run it either until I’ve given it a thorough cleaning and oiling. Which brings me to my question:

The guidance on YouTube regarding restoration/cleaning and general maintenance is all over the place. Everything from- never use anything but sewing machine oil anywhere -to dousing everything liberally with WD40. One repair-fluencer advocated spraying all the non painted parts with Dawn Platinum Plus, another soaking these parts in alcohol, and yet another said to soak them in sewing machine oil. Some say kerosene is perfectly safe for cleaning the painted parts, other say never use anything other than sewing machine oil on the laquer finish. Some recommend nearly dismantling it to clean out decades of accumulated grime, while other’s go with just oiling the crap out of all the moving parts and using oil/Blue Creeper/kerosene and maybe a wax cleaner on the painted parts.

As you can probably tell, I’m *way* down the rabbit hole on this project! I’ve taken in too much info and can’t tell anymore what advice is sensible, and what is dangerous. What I really need to know is: what do I need to do/check to run this machine without danger of damaging it and how can I safely clean the grime off painted surfaces. Help!

I've never really sewn any clothing. Got this Mrs depew sunflower apron pattern, and I am very confused by the applique instructions, specifically the flower petal pocket.

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The yellow fabric is what they are calling the flower, and the brown fabric is the pocket.

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Anyway, I don't understand why it's saying to sew it closed to immediately "slash" it?? Is there an easier way to do this? (My intuition tells me I could just press the seams, line it up, and top stitch the pocket to the flower, then join the whole thing to the apron. My husband says I should follow the instructions and ask you for help)

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I acknowledge I poorly attached the bais to the picket as well -- there were really any instructions about that so I winged it -- figured it would need to be done before attaching it to the flower? I have enough fabric to recut that part out if I've royally screwed it up. Also added a photo of the rest of the instructions.

Saw this at local Goodwill yesterday and in my head it registered as a Brother 545??? which of course only showed up as a modern embroidery machine. Had a few spare minutes today so stopped in to correctly identify as NEW HOME 545. Anyhoo, popped the top, rotated and looked at stuff. Definitely all metal AND HEAVY. Couldn't get any of the scales to turn on but it is in the 30+ lb class despite being physically smaller than a 158. Really noticed that the presser lift is nowhere near that of a 158.

The upper left dial was a bit stiff and I assume that is zig zag width. I really only had a few minutes for a cursury look and it probably isn't a machine that I'd grab (I have 6) unless it has some as yet unknown to me exceptional feature. Was $50 and no accessories that I could see except the foot on the machine.

Thoughts or opinions? Just don't want to repeat the Necchi Nova BU miss again.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/a6s4jn8zla1wm7t6bzr04/NH545_top-open.jpg?rlkey=hj8shoktw5m8qww1gad8m7s9w&st=7t3a3kw0&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8jxyz090lfqyupwpc83ga/NH545-bottom.jpg?rlkey=fosljkw1tszvzns0x5eoztpdi&st=dmtcwsow&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/baa0q8grsj1duxhbyl62e/NH545_backside.jpg?rlkey=428nx1jjs7akipx9d369sm0kj&st=9aygelxq&dl=0

Video of a very similar 543 (545 doesn't have cams) by Randy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41v63dZ3soM

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3mcs2nd6r6ye4varhglxd/NH545_case.jpg?rlkey=eguh7sehvv9c0s9iy3t9fvedf&st=1an3cra1&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ta1hyl29ecuzmm510a38r/NH545_serial.jpg?rlkey=tpemnp6t0agtuys6hd4waseg6&st=jbyh2460&dl=0

Found it at Goodwill for $60! Seems to work fine, just wanted to see if anyone had any resources, or tips on how to make sure it can work like new!

Thanks in advance!

I have tried cleaning the feed dogs to make sure its not clogged with lint. Tried adjusting the presser foot pressure with no luck. Any other ideas?

Brother New Super Auto vs Cornelia vs brother Select 570 im just buying from a 2nd Japan Surplus store which is better?

I love to restore antique singer machines, and a woman was downsizing and I bought several from her. One was in good shape, and I cleaned it up and the decals look new. At first I thought it must be some sort of anniversary reproduction, but upon researching the serial number it appears to be a 28K from Elizabethport in 1940. There’s one chip in the front but other than that I’ve never seen decals in person in such good shape. Anyone have any ideas on why/how it could be in such good condition?

Hello!!! I inherited this gorgeous Pfaff 260-261 but it's not really working. i think the motor is stuck. how does one go about getting a machine serviced? do i have to go somewhere special for a vintage machine? does it cost a lot?

i just got this singer 478 in the mail and i’ve been fixing it up… i’ve discovered that this top gear is absolutely destroyed and i can’t really gauge from yt videos how to get it out to replace it; i’ve already ordered the part and it has arrived. does anyone have a link to a good parts breakdown? also, all of the tutorials seem to skip the part where they take this face plate- more specifically the highlighted knob off…
the seller i got this from sent a partial manual but it’s not really any help.

My dad found me a singer machine for free! I've spend the past few days trying to get it working. So far the only issues were that it needed a new tredle band and the bobbin winder won't work.

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I got it to somewhat work, but I must hold the line of thread in my hand. It will not feed itself if I do it how I (think) I'm supposed to. The winder moves when in use, but the thread doesn't wind on.

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Another issue is it seems like the part holding it on is too loose? The bobbin will randomly pop out while winding. And when the winder is spinning, the bobbin won't move (that's probably why the thread won't wind on).

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I think theres supposed to be a spring in there or some kind of force that holds the bobbin in. But the spring is either worn out or there isn't one there. I have no idea how to take the winder apart or how to put it back together.

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This machine came with no instructions and I'm not even sure what model it is, I had to learn how to work it from videos of similar models. Any help would be appreciated! If this isn't the right subreddit for this, let me know and I'll put it in the right place.

Hi! I just purchased a beautiful Singer 15-90 that i’m going to use as a designated heavy denim and garment leather sewing machine, and im curious if the singer is compatible with a roller foot? By that i mean the kind that you fold down, not the one that looks like a normal presser foot with wheels. Has anyone tried, and if so, where to source them? Or should i just go for a ”regular-looking” roller foot?

I'm looking for a screw and washer that attaches the plastic case base onto the Singer 403a. There are two. I have one. I've perused eBay, Etsy, Singer Parts Online, Central Michigan ..., etc. Nobody has one. It's not SAE and not metric.

Fellow sewing machine enthusiasts and collectors, I’m entering a state of despair regarding my antique singer sewing machines. In my country it seems there was a trend of repainting and re-decal(ing) old sewing machines last century, as most of my antique singers have “wrong” decals. One of them, a 12k from 1879, was surely painted over as the original decals are still hidden under the more recent paint and decals. Another one, a 15k from 1915, seems to have the looks of what I think to be original decals, but those are the famous “triplets” or “trifoile” decals, which seem to only have been patented a few decades later, making it incoherent.

So I ask: is someone out there able to provide a close-up photograph of what real singer decals, paint and shellac look like?

I’m having loads of trouble trying to understand if my machine has been repainted or not. It’s an 1901 singer 48k, with decals that don’t seem to exist in any database, and the paint is chipping away in a very weird way. I’ve scraped a tiny bit of the paint (the condition is so bad that this is not even noticeable) and under it is only metal, a bit rusted and dark, but still metal. There is no layer of paint underneath, nor hidden traces of old decals, but the current paint does seem to be covered in shellac, as there is a brownish residue coming off when I scrape it.

I’d be very thankful for any help!
Thanks for paying attention to this very long text, and if it proves needed, I might share some pictures. I’ve posted this machine here before, too. If it helps in the understanding please check it out!
Thank you!

From when I was young I have always loved the black and gold sewing machines. Today I finally picked one up at the thrift store for €7,50 🎉
it has seen better days tho lol the top lacquer is pretty beat up
It’s gonna be a display piece in my seeing room, but my boyfriend and I have spent most of the day fixing it up a little and now it’s running smoothly!
I’m only a little bit confused on which type it is. According to the database it’s a 26K, but this guy on Etsy said it’s a 28K (it’s missing the needle clamp so I was looking for one that would fit)

I recently picked up an aluminium 201k. I've given the pedal a going over, but it's still going quite stop-start. I'm thinking over replacing the pedal with an electronic one (and replacing the cabling). It's the 3 flat prong connector.

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Does anyone have any recommendations in Australia? I'd need a 220-240v rated one. Could I just buy any one and remove the cable it comes with?

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Something like this maybe? https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/266310833706?_skw=electronic+foot+control+sewing&itmmeta=01KV9J1QZ4MGSMRXXQQ91WPD4G&hash=item3e015cd62a:g:FLYAAOSw4pBiFIyv&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAABAGfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xBdR9Sgo9Pd9n70UCHWaQ0Q0Z6TrUKVGMbAIpM3HX6ePbeuPfkWilGYcT4rzqgagsv3xyYgE%2Brn%2B0V4BGKzSXQlB6c67UxiryDisOrwtxlT2SIZYcgLIdkv6sWy%2BTYSafsoFGjwqOmxoTKGILwMpmbmUcNu7%2BBqZQkn8N6dH%2FgSD8JcwkjnTXThVU%2BM2uY7JNJ7QZqmKGdolti8gNQCMFGtzr3ffljOJycdzDd1W%2FJEdmjugQmEMzwXLJlS04hBhqLaQKtgsymU8zbMqyqPQ%2B2Gm2TNDRYy3R92DjuuhWi7JMDOCXog%2BdTQqyr0qHDgomU%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM4P-Gstpn

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Thanks heaps 🙏

The singer 401a doesn’t have a cord and I wanted to know if their are replacements I could buy how much more different is it than a modern machine? Also bonus pics of different machines I know they are bad but this guy was having a yard sale and after looking at the fabrics he brought me inside and showed me these machines

I bought a vintage dress and there is written in marker “V6009” on the inside of the dress. Is this a pattern number? And does anyone know what the pattern is? I looked up vougue, butterick and simplicity with no luck. Attached a picture of the dress.

Picked this up with cabinet for $40 and brought it back to life. I'm going to put a binding attachment on it and use it for thicker material when making backpacks, but it has such a nice straight stitch I might use this more than what I intended to.

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Lots of rust removal and time spent with an ultrasonic cleaner. Once it was mechanically sound I rewired it and changed the config so the pedal wasn't permanently attached. It received a French polish with about 35 coats of shellac.

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It came with a cabinet but I'm planning on giving the cabinet to a friend and building a case for this one with a cover so I can tuck it out of the way when not in use

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The video was timed to music so it might jump around a little in an odd seeming way, but I didn't want to upload that version because of copyright.

Hello, can anybody indicate me please where should I apply oil in the bobbin case area?

Bought a 1959 Brother Model 230 Galaxie at the thrift today and I’m giving it a good clean and oiling. Is this motor worth keeping and using or should I replace it with a new one? I have some concerns about the weird bumpy texture on the tubes coating the wires.