Why the Mystery Singer is not an Improved Family.

1896 Improved Family 

1890 Special Variant Singer AKA Mystery Singer

They look so similar, don't they?  In the manual there is a drawing of an I.F. with the same decals as on the S.V.  or Paff as I have named it.

I bought the machine from a very nice gentleman.  He has a passion for treadles and has restored many.  He and his wife are off on new adventures now.   They are, thus, divesting.  I named this machine Paff.  It is a combination of their two names.  I don't name many machines.  Because this one is unique, I named it. 

If you have been following, Rain commented on a previous post stating that likely this is a Special Variant.  I could call it that.  I like Paff better. 

There are differences even though the beds look the same.  They are the same size.  I measured.  They have the same tension assembly. (See previous post). 

Flower (the I.F.) does not have thumb screws on the needle bar.  Her BW is different and, the most important distinction, while she is an oscillating shuttle, her bobbin case is part of the race and is not removable

IMPROVED FAMILY

Paff

 

The underside of the IF looks less hefty to me.  Now I know that the two views aren't the same, but I think you can see what I mean.

Oh, and that crud that I removed?  Well, me thinks it was an oil wick.  I wondered about it when I was removing it.  It sure was stuck to that screw.  I think it was wicking oil to the roller.  It wasn't wicking anything in the shape it was in.  If I were to get really brave, I coud take this whole mess apart and replace it.  Yeah, like I am ever going to do that. 

I did some reading on line last night (Thank you Peg).  I found out that Singer did have shops that would outfit machines to certain specs.  I bet that's what happened here.  The cut out for the knee lifter looks as if it were meant to be there, not cut out as an afterthought. 

Paff needs more work (and it looks like Flower needs a good cleaning, too).  But it is so much cleaner now.

 I am using a 130/705H (15X1) needle.  I wish it threaded right to left.  The roller foot does lift up but now that it is so clean it wants to flop back down again.  Gets in the way when I am threading the needle.

I hope to get it installed in its stand soon.  I won't be putting another machine in that stand ever, so I think I will just use a leather belt for this machine.  I must look for a nice one.  The ones I have are rather red colored.  I'd prefer something more authentic to the time.