This video has useful information about the Model 27. I acquired one identical to yours only it’s missing the heart shaped bobbin winder piece and the shuttle. You’ve encouraged me to find replacement parts and get my machine up and running.
I have a 128 (basically and updated and slightly smaller version of a 27) from the late 1930s that I use as my primary sewing machine. It makes great stitches, is very powerful, and is really easy to use once you figure out it's little weirdnesses. As far as my experience goes it's compatible with most antique Singers as far as feet and attachments are concerned as well. Vibrating shuttle machines were made for something like 100 years, it's kinda weird that you don't see more of them around. I realize that this is an old video, but if I had that machine I wouldn't let it go. Love those sphinx decals.
It was really hard letting go of it because it was my first treadle cabinet and machine it was original. The machine was in such bad condition I did not think I could get that machine cleaned up! It was pitch black you couldn't see any of the decals and so I was actually going to toss the machine, and when I made that decision it gave me the freedom to explore so that machine taught me how they work. My husband and I had a time getting the hand wheel off, I ended up buying a puller that you use for cars to press in the center as it pulls off the hand wheel. And the black that I got off of that machine fortunately in the beginning of my self-teaching of how to repair a sewing machine, I read on the internet the best cleaning solution that is safe for the decal, safe for the finish, safe for the machine and will clean the metal so that it's silver again. It removes all that gold shellac that if you used turpentine you'll never get rid of, I use lighter fluid. And it gets the machine so clean that once you've removed all of that old shellac you must immediately put clean oil so that the parts will move because it's so clean it actually locks it up. So because of space I had to make a decision when I was able to locate a parlor cabinet which I put my Singer 27 that was made in the 1800s it is a dogwood decal and it's simply stunning and I had to remake the doors on the bottom of the cabinet and all of the decals on the bottom doors. Once I refinished that cabinet I decided I had to get rid of my other treadle I just couldn't house both. I still have over 50 machines and with that kind of stock for my collection, you can't keep them all unfortunately. Thank you for your comment.
Fear not the mighty vibrating shuttle! I'm afraid some vintage sewing folks think these machines are a bit intimidating. I like the way you've got this one set up to work either treadle or powered. I own a 1910 machine that is obviously a transition model. Someone, probably a Singer dealer, removed the low bobbin winder and moved it up to run off the hub rather than the rim of the balance wheel. The wheel itself was changed out from the large six spoke wheel to a smaller nine spoke. The frame was drilled and tapped for an L-bracket and a vintage US-made motor. The manual tension release remains in place. The old light has a bakelite rather than metal housing. As you mention, these machines are easy to use and just about trouble free. In re backtacking, if the work is noncritical, i.e. cosmetics are not much of a factor, I just raise the presser, move the fabric back a half inch and sew over it. Thanks for a nice video, and I agree that the patina on these old machines is preferable to a complete restoration and re-decaling.
I really enjoyed your very kind words and your information on your machine. One other possibility with your machine is that you know Singer used to refurbish machines especially industrials but what would happen is they would offer you to send in your machine as a trade in and that's how that gorilla finish came about they took in machines and they gorilla finish them and then resold them so that they didn't look the same. But that's what I would suspect with yours with all of that tooling that had to have been done you now it can be very tricky to tap a machine that is cast iron. But of course we're all just guessing on what happened but that's what I would think is the most potential for what happened that singer itself did those modifications to that machine. I own a singer 107W102 that she still had the Box from 1970s when it was refurbished by singer and it was shipped in a new singer Box made for it and it was marked I think reconditioned I still have the Box but it's up in my attic. Before I had gotten that machine I had no idea that singer itself did that because it had their address and then her shipping address of the store she bought it from I think it was like a 1976 that she got it and so since just she had it it still like it was what it came from Singer so it's beautiful condition. I did sell this machine to make room for my Singer 107w102. I still own the 3/4 size shuttle's in cases. My collection is at about 50 machines.
The presser foot lifter lever when you lift it all the way up on my 27 releases the tension. But I also have the same type of tension device yours does where you have to push the little flapper to release the tension. I have found that I can release the tension while my needle is down by by pushing the button.
Love your videos about this machine, which is like mine. I recently bought a light to go on mine, and it's hot as hell. I was surprised, but remembered you mentioning finding LED replacement bulbs for just this reason. Can you respond with a link..I am so in the dark about bulb sizes, wattage, volts..yi yi yi...and online it's a rodeo. Help!
I didn't know you had written. I try to always respond. There are two types. Screw in and bayonet(which is push and turn clockwise to insert and counterclockwise to extract). Bayonet is all the same size. Screw in comes in 3 sizes. Appliance bulb size which is E17. Nightlight size which is also Candleabra size and mini Candleabra. I buy all of mine at Amazon and I like daylight. But you can choose warm if you prefer. Here are some links. smile.amazon.com/KINDEEP-Microwave-Appliance-Equivalent-Daylight/dp/B01KX765TE/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=appliance+led+replacement+bulbs&qid=1601064253&sr=8-6
This video has useful information about the Model 27. I acquired one identical to yours only it’s missing the heart shaped bobbin winder piece and the shuttle. You’ve encouraged me to find replacement parts and get my machine up and running.
I am so glad I could be of help. I love 💘 these machines.
I have a 128 (basically and updated and slightly smaller version of a 27) from the late 1930s that I use as my primary sewing machine. It makes great stitches, is very powerful, and is really easy to use once you figure out it's little weirdnesses. As far as my experience goes it's compatible with most antique Singers as far as feet and attachments are concerned as well. Vibrating shuttle machines were made for something like 100 years, it's kinda weird that you don't see more of them around. I realize that this is an old video, but if I had that machine I wouldn't let it go. Love those sphinx decals.
It was really hard letting go of it because it was my first treadle cabinet and machine it was original. The machine was in such bad condition I did not think I could get that machine cleaned up! It was pitch black you couldn't see any of the decals and so I was actually going to toss the machine, and when I made that decision it gave me the freedom to explore so that machine taught me how they work. My husband and I had a time getting the hand wheel off, I ended up buying a puller that you use for cars to press in the center as it pulls off the hand wheel. And the black that I got off of that machine fortunately in the beginning of my self-teaching of how to repair a sewing machine, I read on the internet the best cleaning solution that is safe for the decal, safe for the finish, safe for the machine and will clean the metal so that it's silver again. It removes all that gold shellac that if you used turpentine you'll never get rid of, I use lighter fluid. And it gets the machine so clean that once you've removed all of that old shellac you must immediately put clean oil so that the parts will move because it's so clean it actually locks it up. So because of space I had to make a decision when I was able to locate a parlor cabinet which I put my Singer 27 that was made in the 1800s it is a dogwood decal and it's simply stunning and I had to remake the doors on the bottom of the cabinet and all of the decals on the bottom doors. Once I refinished that cabinet I decided I had to get rid of my other treadle I just couldn't house both. I still have over 50 machines and with that kind of stock for my collection, you can't keep them all unfortunately. Thank you for your comment.
Fear not the mighty vibrating shuttle! I'm afraid some vintage sewing folks think these machines are a bit intimidating. I like the way you've got this one set up to work either treadle or powered.
I own a 1910 machine that is obviously a transition model. Someone, probably a Singer dealer, removed the low bobbin winder and moved it up to run off the hub rather than the rim of the balance wheel. The wheel itself was changed out from the large six spoke wheel to a smaller nine spoke. The frame was drilled and tapped for an L-bracket and a vintage US-made motor. The manual tension release remains in place. The old light has a bakelite rather than metal housing.
As you mention, these machines are easy to use and just about trouble free.
In re backtacking, if the work is noncritical, i.e. cosmetics are not much of a factor, I just raise the presser, move the fabric back a half inch and sew over it.
Thanks for a nice video, and I agree that the patina on these old machines is preferable to a complete restoration and re-decaling.
I really enjoyed your very kind words and your information on your machine. One other possibility with your machine is that you know Singer used to refurbish machines especially industrials but what would happen is they would offer you to send in your machine as a trade in and that's how that gorilla finish came about they took in machines and they gorilla finish them and then resold them so that they didn't look the same. But that's what I would suspect with yours with all of that tooling that had to have been done you now it can be very tricky to tap a machine that is cast iron. But of course we're all just guessing on what happened but that's what I would think is the most potential for what happened that singer itself did those modifications to that machine. I own a singer 107W102 that she still had the Box from 1970s when it was refurbished by singer and it was shipped in a new singer Box made for it and it was marked I think reconditioned I still have the Box but it's up in my attic. Before I had gotten that machine I had no idea that singer itself did that because it had their address and then her shipping address of the store she bought it from I think it was like a 1976 that she got it and so since just she had it it still like it was what it came from Singer so it's beautiful condition. I did sell this machine to make room for my Singer 107w102. I still own the 3/4 size shuttle's in cases. My collection is at about 50 machines.
The presser foot lifter lever when you lift it all the way up on my 27 releases the tension. But I also have the same type of tension device yours does where you have to push the little flapper to release the tension. I have found that I can release the tension while my needle is down by by pushing the button.
Love your videos about this machine, which is like mine. I recently bought a light to go on mine, and it's hot as hell. I was surprised, but remembered you mentioning finding LED replacement bulbs for just this reason. Can you respond with a link..I am so in the dark about bulb sizes, wattage, volts..yi yi yi...and online it's a rodeo. Help!
I didn't know you had written. I try to always respond. There are two types. Screw in and bayonet(which is push and turn clockwise to insert and counterclockwise to extract). Bayonet is all the same size. Screw in comes in 3 sizes. Appliance bulb size which is E17. Nightlight size which is also Candleabra size and mini Candleabra. I buy all of mine at Amazon and I like daylight. But you can choose warm if you prefer. Here are some links.
smile.amazon.com/KINDEEP-Microwave-Appliance-Equivalent-Daylight/dp/B01KX765TE/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=appliance+led+replacement+bulbs&qid=1601064253&sr=8-6
smile.amazon.com/Lamsky-Contact-Daylight-Replacement-No-Dimmable/dp/B01HEAAAD0/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=bayonet+led+replacement+bulbs&qid=1601064381&sr=8-4
smile.amazon.com/Mini-Candelabra-Replacement-52SMD2835-Chandeliers-Lighting/dp/B07Y1LM6KZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=mini+Candleabra+led+replacement+bulbs&qid=1601064462&sr=8-16
smile.amazon.com/XRZT-Candelabra-Non-Dimmable-Bedroom-Lighthouse/dp/B07ZGDNSB2/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=candelabra+led+replacement+bulbs&qid=1601064643&sr=8-13
Hope this helps!! Enjoy