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sewing machine repair — Brooklynian

sewing machine repair

sweet tea
sweet tea
edited November -1 in Prospect Heights
does anyone know of a good place to get a sewing machine repaired? i've had it with my trusty old pal's tetchiness about winding bobbins. this is a singer machine from the 40s/50s. otherwise works beautifully -- i think something's just slightly off-kilter about how it transfers motion to the bobbin winding thingy.

also, any notion of what something like this might cost?

(related: i love my sewing machine. no need to convince me to get a different one.)

Comments

  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    i'll ask one of my friends to see if their uncle still fixes them.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    I have a Singer of a similar vintage. There's really nothing much to the transfer to the bobbin winder other than the lever, the rubber wheel (on the bobbin axle) and the hand wheel. Is the lever moving freely and clicking in to place? Is the rubber wheel still in good shape? It should have an almost circular cross section, not flattened, and it should still be fairly elastic, not hard. Also, check to see that the "track" around the hand wheel is clean (where the rubber wheel makes contact).

    If you need some parts, this fella on ebay sells things at reasonable prices.

    http://myworld.ebay.com/iblawson
  • veggiequeen
    veggiequeen
    I took my 1975 Viking machine here:

    Manhattan Sewing Machine Center - 212-734-7909- 219 E 85th Street (3rd & 2nd).

    They did a great job, reasonably priced, though the guy wasn't good about calling me for the estimate and it took a little while to get the work done. But, I'd go back there.
  • sweet tea
    sweet tea
    thanks! i'd still love to know about a place in brooklyn, if there is one -- i'd love to toss the machine in my granny cart and walk, without involving the subway.

    also, i did a bit more research, and it looks like my machine is actually from the 60s. it's a singer 503, i think. so it's a bit different from yours, whyfi. no visible rubber anywhere on the outside of the body.

    it's bad with winding the bobbin, but if you fiddle with the metal arm that clips against the bobbin and give it just enough gas with the peddle, you can find a sweet spot that works....until you breathe. it's driving me nuts.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    "A bit different"?! I have a 15-91 :o

    Okay, so I'm no help to you there, but I am still good with fixing... things. Most older machines are pretty straightforward. I can have a look-see, if you'd like - let me know.
  • sweet tea
    sweet tea
    WhyFi wrote: "A bit different"?! I have a 15-91 :o

    Okay, so I'm no help to you there, but I am still good with fixing... things. Most older machines are pretty straightforward. I can have a look-see, if you'd like - let me know.
    understatement, man. rhetorical device, what, what.

    thanks -- i may well take you up on the offer, but now you've aroused my competitive instincts. the ghost of my engineer grandfather is goading me.

    as long as i can get the pieces back together before the gf returns home....

    related: anyone know where to bring a box of mysterious sewing machine parts that refuse to go back together?
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    sweet tea wrote: thanks -- i may well take you up on the offer, but now you've aroused my competitive instincts. the ghost of my engineer grandfather is goading me.

    as long as i can get the pieces back together before the gf returns home....

    related: anyone know where to bring a box of mysterious sewing machine parts that refuse to go back together?
    A valuable lesson from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle (Sewing Machine?) Maintenance - lay out a paper, preferably on a cat-free surface, and lay the removed pieces on to that paper as they're taken out. Lay them out like text - left-to-right, top-to-bottom. It'll make things easier when you (try to) put things back.
  • sweet tea
    sweet tea
    cool -- know where i can get a cat-free surface? because my cats are very post-modern -- they love to deconstruct text.

    my folks used sandwich bags and index cards when they took apart and rebuilt their VW squareback. they had a few parts left at the end, but the mechanic they fearfully consulted told them the garage usually ended up with about 10 more left over than they did. (the car ran for at least 20 more years.)
  • vanilla
    vanilla
    WhyFi wrote: "A bit different"?! I have a 15-91 :o

    Okay, so I'm no help to you there, but I am still good with fixing... things. Most older machines are pretty straightforward. I can have a look-see, if you'd like - let me know.
    what about a new machine? i think mine needs a tune-up and i've been putting it off. i asked my mom for her vintage machine (that she never uses and works just fine) & she mailed me a brand new one from sears or something in the mail about 8 years ago --- can't complain! but --- yeah, any ideas for a where to get a tune up? i don't want to blow it out and i guess it's older than i remember.
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    This is what my friend said:

    He is on Ave I and Mcdonald. Just go to That corner, and he is across the street from Shop Rite. He is next door to "curves," the gym and the children's play area thingie.



    i google for sewing machine on mcdonald ave. this should be the company matches what my friend said.

    Vais Sewing Machine Co IncAddress:

    1129 Mcdonald Ave
    Brooklyn, NY 11230

    Get Directions
    (718) 677-6474
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    i'm pretty sure the sewing machine/vacuum store on 7th ave @12th street fixes machines. certainly, they were the only local place where i was able to find a button foot when i needed one.

    don't remember the name... anyone?
  • marsstars
    marsstars
    i'm pretty sure the sewing machine/vacuum store on 7th ave @12th street fixes machines. certainly, they were the only local place where i was able to find a button foot when i needed one.

    don't remember the name... anyone?
    Yes yes, I was going to suggest that one too. I brought my vacuum cleaner there yeeeeeears ago, and figured I could always bring my sewing machine there too if need be. It's right in Park Slope, so super easy.

    I think this might be it: http://local.yahoo.com/details?id=11333021
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