1940 Singer 15-91 - Pearl

This is Pearl, she is 70 years old and another rescue from the dump!  Unfortunately, this one needed lots of refurbishing. 

Instead of belt drive, she has a gear-driven motor, which makes her very unique in my collection.  Looking at the "after" photos now, "before" photos would have been good. As always, I cleaned, oiled, replaced the rubber bobbin winder tire and thought we were good to go.  The needle bar moved freely, the black finish was lovely, all the sticky residue was removed from the throat plate.

I ordered a marked throat plate, straight-stitch walking foot and deluxe darning foot for Pearl from Jenny at Sew-Classic.

What a beauty...I was smitten! So I took out the bobbin plugged her in and tried the foot pedal.  Pearl's gear-driven motor was worn out.  It would start off sewing but the longer I pressed the foot pedal the slower the machine sewed.  After about five minutes the motor would just hum and not turn the needle bar at all.  So I tried disassembling it, lubricating with singer grease.  This made no difference.  The Brandon Sewing Centre did not have a replacement motor and it is not possible to order a new motor.  I contacted Dominion Sewing in Sudbury, Ontario, they had six used gear driven motors in stock, only one was good.  I bought it and had it shipped to Brandon.  The Brandon Sewing Centre installed the new motor.  Next, the 70 year old electrical cords were worn and frayed.  So I took the plunge, bought a new electronic foot pedal, 16 feet of heat resistant appliance wire and a new plug.  On Tuesday, June 22, my husband rewired Pearl.

Now she not only looks beautiful, but sews fantastically.

This is Pearl wearing her new straight stitch walking foot.

The yellow straight stitch on white is the bottom side sewn with Pearl.

This is the top side.

Photo above is the bottom side.

This is a baby quilt for a little boy.  Happy sewing all!  For more vintage treasures, please visit Colorado Lady's blog.