1917 Singer Red Eye | Cleaning and Servicing
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- I recently picked up a 1917 Singer Model 66 "Red Eye" just so I can make "period correct" clothing on a "period correct" machine. While this machine was made after the height of the "Wild West", it's very similar to what would have been used back then.
Follow me as I talk a little about the machine and clean and polish a few of the plated parts of this Ol' Gal!
SINGER 2131E All Purpose Machine Oil, 4-Fluid Ounces (Amazon):
amzn.to/3ldEpHv
GOJO ORIGINAL FORMULA Hand Cleaner, Fragrance Free, 14 fl oz Crème-Style Hand Cleaner Canister (Amazon):
amzn.to/3X4SXGP
Check out some of my favorite channels dedicated to the "Old West" and other firearms related stuff!
Arizona Ghostriders
/ @arizonaghostriders
Guns Of The West
/ @gunsofthewest
Chuckin'
/ @chuckintv
Squib Load
/ @squib1911
They made millions of those. There's not a whole lot of collector value. You'll have some people that collect them but they're really is not a collective value. I picked those up for $25 a piece all the time. $20 a piece. $30, I got several singer sewing machines and I've paid between 50 and less. I got several 66's. I got two red eyes that I paid $20 for both of them I got a singer 15.90 that I can converted over to a hand. Crank, I've got several 15.91s all of these still need to be refurbished on in the process of working on those, but I picked up a singer 99 which is a 3/4 size 66 for $30 they're out there. You can pick them up and even if the finish is not real good, the internals are real easy to get back working. I tear them all the way down, clean them up and put them back together. Clean the outside and stuff like that but you don't have to do that to get them to where they just function and function. Good. I go a little further and I bring them back to about 99% of what they were new
I have a dozen or so other machines myself. I think they're really fantastic works of art. Thanks for watching!
Excellent find!👍
As a kid in the 50's, I'd watch my mother using a near identical machine. She made clothes for our whole family. In the early 60's my dad added an electric motor, and the tredel was backup. She used that same machine until 1975 when her hands began to fail her to operate it.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
I hope it was a good trip! There were millions of these machines made, I'd like to think they were all used to create good memories. Thanks for watching!
I've managed to get a 1917 red-eye here in NZ from an expat American who brought it over with her from the States when she settled here. Red-eyes a very rare here - most early 66s in NZ have "lotus" decals. My treadle table is identical to yours too. It came with a 1905 Singer 15, which oddly enough, came from the USA too. Most NZ imports were from the UK.
Thanks for this video! It's most helpful.👍
It seems like Red-eye machines are everywhere here, but the Lotus' are pretty rare. They're all pretty cool machines, made in a time without computer aided design or CNC manufacturing. Thank you for watching!
My Grandma had a 1928 Model 66. I plan to restore it. I've read that the clear coat Singer used was shellac, so that's why water or alcohol should not be used for cleaning.
I knew about alcohol, I've never heard anything about water though.
They're not delicate but age has made the lacquer rather delicate. So anything that's very aggressive at all can pull the lacer off and then that will damage the decals underneath. But you can buy the reproduction decals if that's what you want to do. What he's doing here is perfect light pressure. Small movements you've also there is a a cleaning wax that you can use and don't have it with me but will also work very well as well and that's what I use
Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching too.
Gojo is my go-to gentle cleaner for my vintage machines. 👏👏👏
It works great. Thanks for watching!
This is a beautiful machine! I have just recently become obsessed with antique and vintage sewing machines and refurbishing them That's how I found your channel. Thank you!
I feel your pain! I'm up to 11 machines currently and I keep looking for more!
My most recent Singer is a 1882 Model 12. I plan on making some "cowboy gear" with it. I picked up a Wilcox & Gibbs chainstitch machine that I plan on using in some upcoming videos too.
@@SmallCaliberArmsReview I'm looking at a Wilcox and Gibbs next week.
@@sherriharris6142 They are very cool little machines! I hope you get it and enjoy it too!
Beautiful piece of history there.
I agree! Thanks for watching Santee!
I have that exact same set in my basement both the machine and the base . Still in the same family and proudly displayed . Cheers .
I love all these old machines .I have about 11 different ones currently. Thanks for watching!
I'm am looking for that gojo stuff as we speak . Thank you the video was very helpful . Looking forward to cleaning it .
You can usually find it at your local Auto Parts store. Just get the original WITHOUT pumice!
I found it’s big brother to your machine, three drawers instead of two. My machine was bought new back in 1917 from a Singer traveling salesman. They were wheat farmers who lived seven miles from town. They paid $62 and was put on Singer credit. I had to convince the family I was going to actually use it. What’s amazing to me is how simple the machine is but at the same time complex. I don’t know if you noticed but there is no gears. You mentioned in your video you were interested in making shirts, exactly the reason I bought mine. It will be fun to see how you manage that with this machine. I do sew myself, on vintage Singer machines but it didn’t take me long to figure out this machine is going to take a different skill set to make something as intercut as a shirt. I wish you luck and look forward to seeing how you accomplish it. If you do make more videos using this machine please include any tidbits of info on your journey.
These machines have always amazed me and continue to do so more every day. They were built back in a time where there were no computers, no CNC machines and no 3D modeling and rendering software. They were designed by people that could visualize, analyze and do the work. I currently own 11 different machines and will probably pick up more in the future. I have always used modern machines for my projects because of the power and ease of use but almost always use a simple straight stitch. I hope to do a couple Western shirts this winter, when the weather is just too unbearable to enjoy the outdoors. I will do my best to show and describe my experiences with the project I choose. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching too.
Beautiful machine and one that is still useful even though it's over 100 years old unlike most other technologies from that era!
Lot's of things evolve, I'm glad some things still stay the same. Thanks for watching!
Beautiful machines.
I agree! Thanks for watching!
My In-laws have a very old one similar to that. They have promised it to my wife. Now I want to learn how to sew!
Don't let any stereotypes deter you. I just enjoy making things, no matter what the medium is. I have been a pipe welder for more than 30 years and I have used metal, wood, concrete, leather and fabric to create all sorts of things, I'd like to continue to do it for another 30 years. Other than Home Economics in Jr. High, I've never had any formal sewing lessons, just what I've picked up along my journey. Give it a try, you'll never know what you're capable of until you give it a shot. Thanks for watching!
@Small Caliber Arms Review I'm a retired firefighter who is good with a lot of things. I just think it's a skill I should add to my repituar. I reload, build things, smoke food, and am active in my community. Im very secure in my manhood, so I don't care what anyone says.
@@64samsky ABSOLUTELY! I just wish you hadn't mentioned smoking food, I'm hungry now!
Really fun to watch.
Thanks!
@@SmallCaliberArmsReviewtoday I’ve got to figure out how to oil my 1919 hand crank. We’re making little pillows in my Sunday School class. The little ones will crank while I feed fabric. Haha.
I love this machine! It’s so pretty. To me, they should be worth a lot of money!
@solosaloon1959 any place that has moving parts can pretty much benefit from a little oil. There will be specific spots with small holes that are meant to be oiled regularly too.
Thank you so much for "cleaning" info!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!
Well that was different, fun and informative!
Kind of weird how I'm tying my hobbies into a gun channel, isn't it? I've always enjoyed making things and I like the "Cowboy Era", so, it seemed like the thing to do! Thanks for watching!
Love your hat
Thank you!
Should be interesting to see you get Isaac's baby running again. You have to appreciate the treadle machines.
Very cool history of his company and a very well made product. It cost him $40 to get it all started way back in 1850! Thanks for watching James!
I have the same machine! If I remember right it was a 1916 per the serial number? All I have the head unit. Some day I want to make a box and get a motor for it.
The cabinets do take up a little room. I'd like to get a couple different machines and I'll just swap them out in the same cabinet from time to time. It's amazing the things we built back in a time before computers and CNC machines.
Just picked this up to make tactical gear as well
There may be better machines for tactical gear, but I hope it works out for you.
@@SmallCaliberArmsReview depends on your definition of tactical gear I suppose but I like this machine. Nice channel!
@@Danefrak usually tactical gear brings to mind heavy Nylon straps, at least to me it does.
@@SmallCaliberArmsReview I hear the model 66 is fantastic for strong piercing? Where do you see it as falling short
@Danefrak I've heard the same. I'm not saying it doesn't have enough power, I think I'd like to have the ability to backstitch though.
thats a beauty richard
Thanks Joe. I can hardly wait to get a new belt on it and take it for a spin.
Congrats on the sewing machine. About 3 years ago I bought my mom a singer Egyptian sphinx SN says made in 1911. Looks just like yours. Just the difference in decals. Now that my parents have passed, its mine. I hope to eventually learn how to use it. I have been thinking of fully restoring mine. Some of the decals are worn. I saw a company that makes new decals and there the water slide on just like the original. But i hate fully restoring things that old unless they a in really bad shape. mine is about the same as yours with just more wear on a few decals.
We built some pretty cool and beautiful things way back then, sewing machines and firearms both. I hope to be able to use this thing as efficiently as they did back then. I told my wife I wanted to find one that was complete but with some really bad finish so I could do a complete refinish on it. I'd like to hit it with some modern, base coat-clear coat, new decals and a durable clear coat that looks like you could dive into it. This one will continue to wear it's original finish for as long as I own it. Thanks for watching Snapper!
@@SmallCaliberArmsReview i really wish things were made like they were back then. Beautiful classy and last forever. I really hate the throwaway built-in obsolescence of modern-day things. I wonder if deep down thats why i love antique stuff so much. Looking forward to seeing that old sewing machine in action. Your videos really make me want to make some period Clothing. also a Confederate uniform based off gen john bell hood. I am a descendent of him. While at the Las Vegas antique arms show. there is a Confederate re-enacting group that has a booth. there unit was hoods. I still think thats crazy. What are the odds. But The guy who plays hood was there. after bringing in some family heirlooms that were gen hoods to show them. he let me put on the jacket..now i really want one
Don't get me wrong, I like a lot of the advancements made in technology and manufacturing, but the old stuff sure feels better. I have been collecting some patterns over the last few years, I promised my wife I wouldn't buy any more until I finished up the ones I already have. I really want to make the Josey Wales coat and the Man with No Name vest.
@@SmallCaliberArmsReview Josey Wales coat and the man with no name vest. that would be really cool. I cant wait to see that.
Where is the date of manufacture and the model name. Thanks
Hi, I just bought a Red Eye and I'm starting to clean it up. What is the white product you are using to polish the metal parts?
It's jewelers rouge on a cotton buffing wheel.
A minha avó tinha uma dessa.
São ótimas máquinas. Obrigado por assistir!
My mom had one like that, after she passed away when I was 8, I thought myself how to sew on that machine.
My mom used to sew a lot, I've worn a few homemade shirts over the years. I used to watch her when I was a kid and she always made me do the button holes because she didn't like using the attachment. Thanks for watching!
👍👍👌👌
Thanks!
I have one like that. How can you tell what year it is?
@Dan Waller For the date on manufacture, you have to look up the serial number. The best place to look them up is: ismacs.net/index.html
This will tell you the date and the model. The serial number will start with a letter prefix, you'll then find the range of numbers where yours fits. Pay close attention to how many digits are in your serial number, there were hundreds of thousands of these machines made.
"Red Eye" refers to the decals used and is not the actual model name of the machine.
Externally mine looks identical to yours, but the inside of mine is full of a lot of dirt and crusted up oil.
A little bit of cleaning and it'll probably run again. Thanks for watching Jeff.
Hey! Are the cabinets that small or you a big guy!😉
Both I guess!