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  1. #1
    Senior Member hk2001's Avatar
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    New Thread Injector

    So a few days ago, I get a phone call from a friend saying

    "Hey, you do sewing for your hammock stuff right? My wife and I found a sewing machine in our shed, it's been there for years, you want to come over and take a look at it?"

    Ugh... These guys live in the middle of the area that got ^&*%&^ by Tropical Storm Irene 2 years ago, literally.. parts of the town they live in completely washed away. The shed they found this thing is not the best, by any means.. It's held together by duct tape, and a prayer. Last winter the roof partially collapsed. But I figured what the hell, something I can scavenge for parts, or maybe accessories.


    So I get there, and they're still unburying this thing. So we finally get to something covered in a canvas drop cloth.. And to my shock, underneath it is a sewing table, in amazing condition.

    So I pick it up, bring it outside, and open it up to find this:



    What you see in that pic is what I saw when I opened it. I hadn't cleaned it, hadn't done anything to it.

    So after a minor heart attack, I look through the drawers finding every single accessory, 2 dozen still in package needles, 10 bobbins for it, and a dozen spools of crappy thread on wooden spools and the manual!!!

    I do a quick run through of my finances in my head, then ask what they want for it. The response I get gave me my second heart attack: We're getting ready for a garage sale, either you just take it, or we're going to sell it for $5-$10 this weekend.

    In the car it went.

    Unsure of how to take it apart, I brought it to a local sewing machine service place. They showed me how to open it, and inside : All metal gears.. According to them, if it was ever used, it wasn't used often. It didn't need any repair, they oiled everything down just to do something to get paid.

    So I brought it home, tossed the thread in it you see, and played.. and played and played and played.

    It was made in 1958, and it cost me a grand total of $25 to have the service place show me how to open it, and oil it.

    The cheapo "Simplicity" Thread injector I've been using for 2 years is now unemployed, and it talking about running away from home.

  2. #2
    New Member
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    blimey that was a great find well done that will last forever, atb wayne

  3. #3
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    Congratulations!!

    That's one fine piece of equipment you've got there. It survived Irene and years of neglect, just think about how long it will last now that it's been brought inside.

    Don't baby it - it's a workhorse!

    Oh and the table it's in is identical to the one my 401A is in, albeit yours is in better condition...my machine is a bit jealous...

  4. #4
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    When I looked at the thumbnail photo, my first thought was "how do I tell this guy he has the worst all metal Singer ever made?...the 285 (looks just like the 185)"

    I was very relieved to open the large photo and see the model #185 on the manual. The 185 is a newer style housing with model 99 innards and is a good machine...so NICE SCORE.

    I suggest you place a felt under the spool to protect the finish or better yet, get or make a Cone Thread Holder for a cone that size.

    51BvM7A-juL.jpg

  5. #5
    Senior Member hk2001's Avatar
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    Any idea how Mara 70 thread will work in it? I've got Tera 60, but I really like the colored thread (makes it easier for me to see)

    The Simplicity I was using HATES the Tera 60.

    Any Suggestion for needle size for this thing with the above threads?

  6. #6
    Senior Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by hk2001 View Post
    Any idea how Mara 70 thread will work in it? I've got Tera 60,...
    Any Suggestion for needle size for this thing with the above threads?
    Mara 70 (my go to thread) generally works well with home machines except the spool it is on doesn't always play well with the normal short and small diameter spool pins. They tend to let the spool bounce around and jerk on the tread. Either come up with a larger diameter sleeve to slip on the pin or simply use a cone holder.

    The Gutermann site recommends size 14-16 needles for both threads.

    Mara 70

    Tera 60

  7. #7
    Senior Member bowl-maker's Avatar
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    Are you kidding?!?!?! Score! That's almost as nice as my Atlas ;-)

  8. #8
    Senior Member hk2001's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gmcttr View Post
    When I looked at the thumbnail photo, my first thought was "how do I tell this guy he has the worst all metal Singer ever made?...the 285 (looks just like the 185)"

    I was very relieved to open the large photo and see the model #185 on the manual. The 185 is a newer style housing with model 99 innards and is a good machine...so NICE SCORE.

    I suggest you place a felt under the spool to protect the finish or better yet, get or make a Cone Thread Holder for a cone that size.
    The service place gave me a little felt disc... Now I know what it's for.

    Thanks for the suggestion on the cone thread holder, I'm going to have to make one up once I get some of the mara 70.

    And yes, the light worked with the original bulb. The led light behind it is just brighter

    And even if it had been the 285, vs what I had the worst would still be an improvement

    I'm in love with how this thing reverses.. Being able to set it in reverse and not have to hold the switch is going to vastly improve my stitches

  9. #9
    gunner76's Avatar
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    Nice score.

    I am going thu thread injector withdrawals right now as mine is in the shop getting cleaned.
    I am still 18 but with 52 years of experience !

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by gunner76 View Post
    ...as mine is in the shop getting cleaned.
    You'd thing a DIY'er would............DIY.

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