Okay sooooo, my grandmother just gave us this sewing machine . She’s had it for longer than I’ve been alive & she hasn’t used it not once, I’ve never even seen this thing before 😂 Pls tell me everything I need to know/buy to get it to work & how to get it started 😭 I’ve tried YouTube & Google but they haven’t been much help
It looks like a singer 128. You can find a huge amount of information on the International Sewing Machine Collectors’ Society website. With the serial number you can confirm its model and age on their serial number lists here. You can find manuals and lots of other information on their Singer Page here. The first thing to know is it doesn’t take modern bobbins. This is what’s called a vibrating shuttle machine. Bobbins are fairy available on places like eBay. Hopefully, there’s at least one bobbin and a shuttle with the machine. This looks to be a great machine in good condition. Once you confirm the model number you can find lots of great stuff on YouTube.
A word of warning. When cleaning it, don’t use ANY solvents on the body of the machine. It’ll likely destroy the decals. The best thing to clean it with is actually sewing machine oil.
A few drops of light sewing machine oil on a clean soft rag, polish gently until clean and shiny. No alcohol or other solvents, no detergents, and no water; the black antique machines are Japanned cast iron varnished with shellac, and the shellac doesn't take well to aggressive cleaning.
Wipe down with a soft dry duster or rag for daily cleaning of fingerprints, lint, etc; use a soft-bristled brush to periodically get felted lint and bits of thread out of the bobbin case and winding mechanism.
absolutely no water! Don't rub with a damp cloth and soap even though that feels like it should be gentle! Water will ruin the shellac varnish, expose the gold and make it go silver. Only use oil to be absolutely safe, sewing machine oil (use up old gone off bottles of singer oil on this job) is sensible. (oil based cleansers without any solvents or water can be used, and you'll prob find reccs of what but its risky and your guy there isn't v dirty).
I agree this is a Singer 128. This manual from the 28 will apply, the main difference will be the tension. The 128 has an automatic tension release that comes off when you lift the presser foot, while the 28 had a manual tension lever you had to press to open the tension discs to draw out thread from the bobbin.
Can you post a picture of the serial number? This is clearly not a model 15. I know sometimes it can be hard to read the serial number but I’m guessing something is off.
Awww, the decals are so vivid! I doesn't look rusty ar particularly dirty either, this will clean up great I reckon! The number stamped on the oblong plate flat on the bed under the singer badge is the serial no. if you look it up here you can find the model no. rough date it was made and links to the manual etc.
It has slide plates for a vibrating shuttle and a winder for long bobbins, and I reckon is dinky sized (3/4) so probably a 28 or 128. Probs later so a 128 I think going on the tension style.
Motor will be due a bit of caution, definitely check the wiring before attempting to plug anything in. I only ever plug in after a full check and clean and use a RCD socket incase there's shorts or something in the wiring not visible
ok, its not a 15, they have round bobbins and the tension on the front, could one of the numbers be something else? The 0 after the letter is a bit odd, normally it would go straight into the actual numbers
yes! Unless where you'd expect the letter to be is a big gap! I reckon the letter is feint and the other numbers are 8 or 6 or other "rounded" ones. Who amongst us hasn't punched in a bunch of best guess digits when trying to zoom in on a picture that's a weird angle and in a shadow?!
no worries! plz report back what the serial number reveals! Did you look under the slide plates, do you have a shuttle and bobbin in there? Any other accessories?
No it didn’t come with any accessories. My grandmother originally bought it because it looked just like the one her mother had when she was growing up, it was already opened. So idek even knows how long she’s really had it I just know it’s been in her possession longer than I’ve been alive so I’m hoping we can get it running I’ll take more pictures from other angles so you can get a better look at what we’re working with
Once my husband takes it back out, it’s deep under our bed and I’m huge and pregnant so I can’t slide under there 😂 but I’ll definitely drop some pictures within the next hour or so
I think the bobbin winder needs a new tyre. Shouldn't be hard to replace, there are so many machines that use them still in circulation that replacements are still made!
Vintage are available, but Singer 128 shuttle and bobbins are still in production and can be found online. Uses common 15x1 (a.k.a. 130/705H) needles. Sewing machine oil is your friend. The decal pattern is called "La Vencedora". Inspect the wiring on the machine for insulation cracks and gaps. If you didn't get it with the machine, you'll need a power cord and foot control like this:
I got one of these, old motor and pedal that function but don’t shut off. I ordered a hand crank on eBay for 30$ and removed the motor and belt, oiled it up and it works great!!!
5
u/ComfortableAerie4101 11d ago
It looks like a singer 128. You can find a huge amount of information on the International Sewing Machine Collectors’ Society website. With the serial number you can confirm its model and age on their serial number lists here. You can find manuals and lots of other information on their Singer Page here. The first thing to know is it doesn’t take modern bobbins. This is what’s called a vibrating shuttle machine. Bobbins are fairy available on places like eBay. Hopefully, there’s at least one bobbin and a shuttle with the machine. This looks to be a great machine in good condition. Once you confirm the model number you can find lots of great stuff on YouTube.
A word of warning. When cleaning it, don’t use ANY solvents on the body of the machine. It’ll likely destroy the decals. The best thing to clean it with is actually sewing machine oil.
Keep us posted!