MADE IN ITALY

I don't know why reading those words gives me such pleasure; probably because I have so few things made in Italy. 

This Necchi was given to us last winter.  I did some re-wiring on the light (http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/2013/12/necchi-bf.html) and found a motor in the South River stash.  For weeks this machine was sitting on the bench. I finally cleaned it all up and got it stitching.  Guess what?  I love it.  (It smells a bit musty but that is dissipating with time).

 The tension assembly is so classy.  No way did I take this one apart. 

 Basically, this is the same concept as other, end loading, oscillating, shuttles. (Is that an example of the Oxford comma? Is that even grammatically correct?)

 The race cover, however, can't get lost or dropped.  Very clever.

 I was falling in love and wondered if the feed dogs dropped.  I removed the slide plate and saw this. (Oh, I just love that this little piece is stamped "ITALY"

The presser foot pressure indicator is numbered on the face plate.  I am not sure that is all that convenient.  None of the Singers I use have numbered presser foot pressure.  I imagine it is like the tension assy, the number is arbitrary and useful if you need a reference; e.g. when you switch from one type of fabric to another and back again. 

 There is a little tab just above the spring that fits into the slot on the face plate.

 Not such a good shot.  I have dust in the lens.  New camera on the way today from B & H photo.

I used it yesterday.  I had some trouble with thread nests occurring intermittently.  I did all the usual fixes; new needle, wound a different bobbin, good thread.  Nothing helped until I changed from the large cone with the thread holder to a smaller spool on the machine itself.  WTF?  Why that would matter was beyond me.

I watched the thread as it came off the spool today.  When the thread unwound from the bottom, where the spool is wider, it would catch as it came off.  I could feel it when I pulled the thread off the spool.  I fixed that problem.  I turned the stupid spool upside down.  Now it works fine.  I have large cones of thread in neutral colors.  I want to use it up. Practice sewing is the perfect use for it.

Not many people want these old straight stitch machines.  That's why we have them.  I can see that this machine could be treadled.  It might be strong enough, perhaps as strong as my 15-90, to sew through multiple layers.  I may even try some FMQ.  The motor is fast enough. 

What I learned on Summer Vacation

How to make Chicken Broccoli Quinoa Casserole and

how to keep my mouth shut.

I am not so sure that my son and daughter-in-law will agree about the mouth.  They did eat the casserole, however.

Now that I am home and released from Granny Nanny duties, the dogs and I have plans for the next week.  Lots of walks, some sewing and some serious sewing machine repair work.

There may be vodka involved, as well, as a spray starch and a parts cleaner  (cough)

Listen Grandma....

You had better get home and take care of these machines!   What the heck are you doing playing Granny Nanny?

Wan smile.

 "Honey, can you help me get something out of the car?"

"What is it?"

"A sewing machine cabinet."

He gave me a wan smile.  I knew that he was less than pleased.

"Where did it come from?"

"Delhi."

"From a patient?"

"Well, no, actually.  It is an interesting story."

A. belongs to the Necchi Yahoo group and she emailed me about a member from this part of the country who was giving away a Necchi SuperNova.  I somewhat reluctantly advised A. that she could send along my contact information.  The woman contacted me and informed me that the Necchi was spoken for but she had a 500A and two treadles.  I indicated that I was interested in the 500A and that I could drop by after work and take a look at it and the treadles.  After I made arrangements to stop over on Monday, she contacted me to let me know that the Necchi was available and would I be interested.  I told her I would take a look.  So I stopped over after work today and got them.

"So, it's for A., right?  You got the Necchi for A.?"  I could hear the hope in his voice.

"Nope, it's for me.  I want to play with it for a while and then I will give it away."  Another wan smile.  Poor guy.

"Where are you going to keep it?"  The man is full of questions.

"Well, you won't be using your shop while you are in Alaska, right?"  Another wan smile.

We hauled it out of the Jetta. 

"It's not the prettiest cabinet in the world.  Oh but look at that cute little chair.  What is it from, the 70s?"

"Nope I bet the 60s or earlier."

"Oh well it is a cool looking machine.  And what is that other cabinet?"

"Oh, that's from the 500A.  It probably can go to the curb.  But not tonight it is going to rain."

"Right,  it will just become junk," and he hauled it to the barn.

"So, two in, two out.  That's my motto now, honey."

Right.  Another wan smile.