Featured Singer 66 Hand-Crank Sewing Machine (1919)

So.

Like.

I picked up this thing, right? And it's heavy as all hell? And I lugged it home...like...literally lugged it home...humped it back along the road for four or five solid blocks. This was just yesterday, and my arms and shoulders are now torturing me without mercy for daring them to do stuff.

Anyhoo...


The huge-ass (12-inches-long) tailors shears came with the machine. I spent all of this morning wrestling and fighting with them, and FINALLY pulled them apart...


Since I had absolutely NO desire to try and clean these things by hand, I filled a basin with loads of vinegar, and crushed salt, and so far, have left them in there for three and a half hours. The colour of the vinegar-bath is a testament to how much rust has been scrubbed and washed off the surface of the metal so far...


This is after three and a half hours in the vinegar bath, and some light scrubbing...



I changed the vinegar for some fresh stuff, and tossed in more salt, and put them back in for another soaking. Will check back again in another few hours, and then leave them overnight, if necessary.

 

Before...


Five hours later:



Still letting them soak away. Will check on them again when I go to bed.

 

Took the paint off the handles too, looks like.

 

The paint was already off the handles. What you're seeing is the rust.

 

That machine took some mastering!!!

 

Those sheers will definently take more soaking, lol. I've picked up some Singer machines in the past in far worse condition, being attracted by the decal artwork alone. Yours looks pretty clean. You may already know, but just in case, should you decide to brighten up the machines finish, sewing machine oil on a cotton ball, or more painstakingly with a Q tip safely cleans the finish.

 

The shears are done. I'm gonna send them off to be sharpened. The machine is up and running. I'm waiting for the good word from some friends about some extra parts.

 

I do know how to overhaul a sewing machine. I've done dozens of them.