03/05/2018
I Clean, Time, Repair and Dismantle Sewing Machines. I have done this for the last 20 years as a means of supporting myself during lean times of the year, thanks to the investment my husband made in setting me up with distributors, accessing training programs, and hours and hours of long distance phone calls as other repairmen walked me through the process since it was unheard of to drive 600 miles "just to turn the needle around!"
The attached pictures are of a common problem that has appeared in our shop for the full 20+ years, but it needs discussing as there are still many of them in your grandmothers' closets, if not your own. My years go back to the Singer Featherweights, the Singer Touch and Sews (also lovingly termed "touch and swears") and the Sears' Kenmores and Montgomery Ward Signatures that we took with us to the Philippines for my dad's five year assignment in Subic Bay, RPI.
This particular machine was brought in by a thrift store we help out. Outside of some accumulated dirt, the case is in near pristine condition with not even a shred of thinning to the interior fabric lining, nor the sheet of 1/4" foam on the base. The keys are shiny and the locks are smooth functioning and the purchaser's guarantee is still in the front pocket letting us know it was a wedding gift from her mother when she lived in Butte, Montana in 1973.
The machine itself is slightly yellowed from sitting in a warm kitchen with sunlight crucifying its original almond color, but, other than that, it has been well looked after with frequent trips to the repair shop for it's annual cleaning. Unfortunately, this Viking 6030, like most of the others that appear in our shop, came to the final death blow that was first noticed when the stitches appeared to be shifting and getting out of time. Even in our 3-D machine age, it is impossible to actually repair the Viking 6000-7000 series, as the brown, plastic piece has "outgassed" shrinking it down in size. and now has the heartbreaking blow of a BROKEN CAM FOLLOWER. This is further complicated by the fact that the repairman tried to cinch the spring up to hold the follower together and has now further damaged the machine and rendered it irreparable.
BUYER BEWARE!! If you should see one of these lovely machines in the store and think the price is great and the shape is excellent, do yourself a quick favor and pulled out your flashlight, remove the cam from the back of the machine, and have a look at the fixed cam follower. Even the slightest crack which starts as a hairline fracture, will be the end of your purchase. Look for cracks, fissures, and all out breaks and you will know whether you have a machine worth shelling out ANY money to afford for your next sewing room project, or one that should illicit a "no thank you."
Sewingly yours!
MRS. B'S HABERDASHERY
Mrs. B
