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Elna TSP 72c 1975

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New arrival from Ebay today. 5th April 2024. Listed as for Parts because it isn't working: ) I suspect it is the plastic Hook Gear Drive that needs replacing & I need access to it to replace it. Looks in fine order generally & will first get a checkover to see what the problems actually are. I open it up & the top end looks OK. The swing needle is stiff but moving. Needle position knob is not doing anything. The Buttonhole function is stiff also & not been used for a good while. Definitely needs a good service: ) Checking the bobbin/hook area I notice a screw missing on the feed dogs. Not aligned correctly with just one screw of two present. Not a good sign perhaps? Feed dogs are moving correctly though, so the feed dog drive is working. Looking closer I notice another screw missing...On the cover plate over the hook drive gears. The cover plate needs to be removed to get at the gears underneath... Two screws missing up to now. Looks like somebody has been in here w
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Singer 411M 1963

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  This is the Italian made version of the 411G. Not often seen here in UK but I believe it was made in much smaller quantities than the German machine, & that was not made in huge quantities by any means. It is identical mechanically & takes the Top Hat cams & can do an excellent chain stitch.  This one came in a neat desk style cabinet but it was also available as a conventional portable version with a slightly different case.  There may also be a treadle version, as a factory option, but I have not seen one. I found this on Ebay a few years ago, 2016, assuming it was a 411G & it was a surprise to discover it was the Italian version, which I was not aware of then!  Serial number is MA 038602 & the Italian made cabinet has a factory label dated January 1964. The seller told me: 'it was her mothers, was expensive new, & needed some adjustments'. It just needed a service actually! I do think this a proper 'Collectors Item', if you collect 400 serie
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Wertheim Superba c1895

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Found a real Wertheim Superba recently & it arrived yesterday, unscathed in the shipping: ) The MoP crazy paving border attracted my eye, but I didn't know it was a Wertheim at that point. (Thanks to Olaf & Unknown Artist on VSS for the ID: ) Came with a shuttle & a single bobbin but missing the RH slideplate. Mechanically it is as good as you will find. Turns over smoothly, has been well maintained, no rust anywhere & all the brightwork is shiny & clean! Bobbin winder is complete & smooth & works as it should. It is badged as Robert Nelson & Co, the UK importers. Decals are 70% I would say, just some wear on the table as you would expect on a used machine 125+ years old. SN is S6530387 which I believe is mid 1890s. Looks good from all angles & after a clean & polish it will gleam I'm sure: ) Very happy with it you could say. The woodwork is very nice, the cover also but it is missing its handle & no key for the lock... I can live wit
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Seidel & Naumann 1895(?) Transverse Shuttle machine

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 Chance online find here, which I thought was a pretty machine in fair order for not much money. On arrival it didn't disappoint. Arrived undamaged. Always a positive! It turned over freely, looked complete & has a very nice bentwood case, with a key: ) Has some Mother of  Pearl inlaid flowers on the table & shiny Nickel Plated brightwork. The slide plates are free, it turns over freely with a little oil in the right places. Not tried stitching yet, but I'm confident it will when I do: ) Only potential snag is that it uses 13x1 needles & they are long out of production. Happily, when I have a close look in the Accessory Box I find 15 needles which look unused: ) I'm just checking online to confirm. Victorian Sweatshop Forum is where I usually start. In this pic you can clearly see the 100 stamp & this relates to the group of 10 needles above. They are long needles, slightly over 44mm on my (not super accurate) Vernier calipers, but I'm pretty sure they
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Juki Frou Frou Rotary Take-up domestic machine 1979ish

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 I don't own this machine, but I'm currently looking for a similar one: ) Made in Japan in the late 1970s with iconic looks & is that little bit different from the conventional period sewing machines: ) It's a Zig Zag, but it's also got a rotary thread take up system which is/was different from the rest! Portable, compact, stylish & a brilliant design. I'm a big fan of the portable, compact Elna Lotus, but this machine takes the concept a stage further. Check the amazing separate lamp! The yellow & black colour scheme is eyecatchingly lovely also, IMO: )
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New Home, badged 'The Williams'. Manufactured in USA 1916.

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Came across this machine on my favourite Ebay Charity site last weekend, placed a couple of cautious bids & won it for £28! I thought it looked old because of its 'leaf spring' type of upper tension & the decals looked good for its age. Never heard of 'The Williams' brand so I assumed it was a badged machine from a biggish manufacturer. (a common practice at the time) I did no other research on it prior to winning it. Ebay pic above. Looking in need of some TLC & mostly complete - hopefully with its shuttle! It's my first USA made machine so I was confident that I'd find some info on the Victorian Sweatshop forum ; ) Sure enough I learned within a couple of hours it is a New Home machine. Made in Orange, Massachusets. New England. This one is a long way from home here in Old England... The company has a long & complicated history, now a part of Janome & I've actually had a 1960s Janome/New Home in the recent past. Comes with its original
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