More Zig-Zag treadle fun!

After doing the conversion last weekend, today was the time to try out all the new bells and whistles. Unfortunately it took an hour or so to find the little package containing the pattern cams, but persistance paid off and I found them. Sitting nicely under a box on my sewing shelves.
I changed the bobbin over to a generic plastic janome bobbin as the metal one it came with seemed rather sloppy and who knew how old the thread on the bobbin was. I put a new needle in, put fresh thread up top and threaded her up. I then liberally squeezed some oil into whatever looked like an oiling hole and onto any visible moving parts.
Yesterday, she was a little stiff and didn't really sew smoothly from zig to zag.

After a little while to let the oil soak in, she was purring along smoothly and quite nicely, except when I got all unco and forgot which foot to press where and when lol. a few more drops on the treadle pedal joints and wheel and we started to pick up some speed!

Then came the fun of trying out all the different cams.

These are all marked "B-0" to "B-12". That makes me wonder if there is an "A" or "C" set I can try and find somewhere. Cool, a treasure hunt!
Speaking of treasures, with an old flatbed also came with this intriguing buttonholer that I am yet to try. It also has metal cams that slide into the back to shape and guide the buttonhole. I hope to find some instructions for this before having a go.

Tell me why... I don't like dentists.

I'm up late. My whole jaw is on fire. (stoopid "wisdom" tooth). Yes I am going to the dentist. Saw the gp on Saturday and no obvious abscess or decay, I thought (hoped) it was just my ear as that was hurting too. But no.

I don't like dentists, (or some Mondays, like ones where I have to make emergency bookings). I could probably tell you why but my little Boom Town Rats tribute might explain.

The silicon chip inside her tooth,
Gets switched to o-ver-load.
And everyone's gonna go to school today,
I wanna be left alo-one!
And the GP doesn't understand it,
He says my teeth look as good as gold.
And I can see no reason, cos there are no reasons,
What reasons do you need to be shown ow, ow ow OW!

Tell me why,
I don't like dentists
Tell me why,
I dont' like dentists
tel me why
I dont' like dentists,
I wanna pu......ll, my own tooth out.

The drilling machine is kept so clean
As it grinds to a gaping hole
And your nerve feels so shocked
Because the pain isn't blocked
And they're trying to do a root canal.
List'ning to, his trips o-ver-seas,
Watching ads on the o-ver-head plasma screens,
They can see no reasons
'Cuz there are no reasons
What reasons do you need?
Oh Oh oh woe woE!

Tell me why,
I don't like dentists
Tell me why,
I dont' like dentists
tell me why
I dont' like dentists,
I wanna pu......ll, my own tooth out, out, out pull them all out!


And all the drillings stopped in the clinic now
He wants to play with the pliers now.
And he twists and pulls like he learnt in dentist school
And the lesson for me, is not to cry.
And then the tooth root crackles
And the dentist cackles
(As he sees his profits rise and rise. )
And he can see no reasons
'Cos there are no reasons
What reason do you need to cry, cry?
Oh Woe woe..

Tell me why
I don’t like dentists
Tell me why
I don’t like dentists
Tell me why
I don’t like
I don’t like (Tell me why)
I don’t like dentists
Tell me why
I don’t like
I don’t like (Tell me why)
I don’t like dentists
Tell me why
I don't like dentists
I wanna pull oo oo oo oo ull, My own, tooth , out.....

Treadle to Zig-Zag conversion

Quite a while ago I bought an auction lot which included an old style flat bed sewing machine. Unfortunately the old bakelite foot pedal was cracked rendering it rather unsafe to use. Another week I scored an old Gladiola treadle for less than $10. The cabinet wasn't pretty, The foldout lid was warped and was off it's hinges. The tension dial was missing and a bit mangled. I thought about finding parts for the treadle and re-homing it, but no success.

After enjoying using my Singer treadle (with reverse) I wished I could sew knits on it and not just wovens but without a zig zag or stretch stitch it would be impossible. I had a thought about converting an overlocker to a treadle but that seemed like hard work lol, eventually I remembered the old flat bed in the shed. The first electric models had an external motor with a small belt and flywheel. They sat inside a wooden base which enclosed the bottom mechanism, similar to the treadle body.
The concept stayed with me for a long long time, to do "one of these days". Finally, with my Janome refusing to cooperate with me this week, I decided the time had come to give it a go! I put it off for so long thinking it would take forever to do, take special parts or adapters to work. Was I wrong!? Yes indeed!
Modern appliances are disposable with redundancy built in, every model or brand built differently using different parts that are often not available, made using sealed units or using specially shaped tools to deter repairs and replacements.
I could not believe just how generic these old machines are! Different brands and decades apart in manufacture. It was pretty much a case of unscrew, slip things off, then reverse the process with the new machine.
I bet you have seen old machines in cases like this going for a song?

The first thing I did was unbolt the motor which is easily done.
Both machines tilt off their bases with hinged pins inserted into a cast base. The cast holes were identical!

 I held my breath as I swung the machine down into place and it fit perfectly! Down at the belt end, on the Gladiola there was a plate that the belt passed through. Luckily, it was just screwed onto the base but unfortunately there were no matching cast holes for this.

Not to worry, I'll figure something out. I have a bit of cardboard holding it in place. It could be removed easily but that would mean taking the belt staple out which I would rather not do right now.
To remove/fit the belt, on the end of the flywheel there is a silver cap with a little screw.

Disassemble the wheel and pull it out from the cover so the belt can be slipped over it.

Then put it back the way it was, making sure the slotted washer under the silver disk is in place. Set the belt into position on the treadle flywheel and off you go!

(Here's the new video minus the ear piercing scream from a (sibling) tormented child! My ear drums are accustomed to tuning it out, I don't want to be held responsible for rupturing yours lol)

Isn't she a vintage beauty? Sorry for the bumpy pics, it's hard to treadle and keep the camera steady.
This model comes with an assortment of cams for different fancy stitches. I hope to give it a whirl tomorrow and put it through it's paces.

A birthday gallery.

asdf

Happy Birthday Rainbow Princess Pearlie!

Bright and pretty on a cold windy wet winters day.

Felt tiara with "3" made  by me. Lolita tee with D&G print from the crafty Mamas shop and a Spotlight rainbow print made by me. Hand dyed Farbenmix Redondo skirt made by Willow and Moo. Pearl, made by me :)
And every princess needs a cape. Ottobre cape in Tequila Sunrise minky made by me - a while ago.

Thankyou Karen and thankyou Oilily

A lovely friend of mine gave me this Oilily dress for Pearl. Pink and Red predominates of course :) I love the colour combination and quirky prints of Oilily. If only it wasn't so expensive!