I have certainly learned a lot cleaning up Ilona – my Singer 15-88. As you know from this post my Mom has given me her and her sister’s Vintage Sewing Machines. I even bought myself a small hammer and a screwdriver… you know, one of those ones with a bunch of different attachments? I took off all the parts that I dared, carefully photographing every step so that I would know how to put them all back together again. I wiped down all the japanning (black paint) with Sewing Machine Oil (SMO). Some areas I had to use diluted dish soap – the brown staining just wouldn’t come off. Of course, I was also wearing gloves throughout as my hands get dry quickly.
For the chrome pieces I used Brasso. As you can see, some of the pieces were dirtier than others. I was warned to not let anything harsh, like Brasso, touch the decals (gold painted designs on the machine) – so it was much safer to completely remove the parts I wanted to clean with Brasso!
The Brasso cleaned every chrome part quickly.
The difference was amazing!
Ta Da! Face Plate, Throat Plate, Round Cover Plate and Bobbin Cover Plate.
This is the Bobbin Winder Tension Discs – ick!
Chrome cleaner to the rescue!
Nasty. I wonder if this is all tarnish and/or dried up oil? I found thick brown stains everywhere – on the japanning and the chrome. I do know that my Aunt smoked most of her life. Is this normal staining or does nicotine make a mess of these VSMs too?
I got the Tension Assembly apart, cleaned and back together again, BUT I am going to do it again step by step with the manual in preparation for taking Ilona for a test drive! That way I will be sure I’ve done it correctly. There will probably be some adjusting here and there anyway to get Ilona sewing correctly!
Now the Stop Motion Screw is so shiny, I can see the reflection of my camera and fingers in it!
Some final shiny shots of the Bobbin Cover Plate, Throat Plate, and foot. This VSM actually had the original needle in it (stained, of course), but there was a package of Vintage Sewing Needles in the treadle desk drawer so I will start Ilona working with one of those!
Ilona cleaned and polished!
Ilona’s original badge brought back to life!
I’ve prepared some “BEFORE” and “AFTER” shots, or should I say “ICK” and “WOW”? I’m going to have to take apart and put back together the Bobbin Shuttle Assembly again, following the manual this time, as I can see already that it isn’t lining up properly. Lots of work to do yet, to get Ilona running smoothly again!
The Bobbin Winder beside the Balance Wheel.
Ilona’s Future’s so Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades!
Cosmetically I have finished this VSM, now I have to clean and repair the broken treadle desk, clean the Irons, attach the Treadle Belt that I have ordered, check the Thread Tension Assembly and the Bobbin Shuttle Assembly and I should check the Bobbin Winder Assembly too … and that’s it!
In the meantime, I have cut out some projects…
To continue my “Sister’s Sewing Projects“, McCall’s M7169. She has chosen two fabrics, a flowered print and a black to make this two toned dress.
For myself, Simplicity 8740, a 1999 pattern for a pair of pants. I just want to make a simple pair of elastic waisted pants with this light fabric I recently purchased in Vancouver.
Lastly, for myself, the “Polly Top” a FREE PDF sewing pattern from By Hand London. I have wanted to do this one for for a long time. I certainly have enough small pieces saved up to get a few of these done! I was thinking a denim version first, with red top stitching, to match my denim skirt.
What pattern are you working on next… a dress? a skirt? what’s happening out there?
Before I go, it’s time for me to take a couple of weeks off for summer – hopefully we’ll get some nice weather, not too hot, not too cold, but just right! Keep posting so I can keep reading and I’ll see you in about two weeks.
Happy Sewing!
47 Responses to “Ilona’s Future’s so Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades!”
Oh Linda, she looks so beautiful!! What a difference a little “spa day” can make! Although I do love how you list all the things you still want/need to do, and then say “…and that’s it!” like it’s no big deal, hehe!
I’m always the optimist “I’m almost done!” Thanks for the compliments.
She looks beautiful now. I confess to just getting my old ladies running again without too much attention to the cosmetics. I feel they deserve better now I have been shown your efforts. Well done.
Well… I must confess… I just couldn’t get past the spider webs and dust! Yuck!
What a difference! It’s great that you have those before photos so you can truly appreciate the glory of the shiny, clean sewing machine (as well as being practical, of course). Best of luck with the remainder of the restoration.
Thank you! I can’t wait until I’m actually sewing on it!
I’ll bet Ilona looks as good today as she did the day she rolled off the assembly line. Nicely done kiddo!
LOL Thank you very much!
Wow! She looks great already! I’m kind of in awe of your work here and especially your patience, I would’ve found the task of bringing the machine back to life much too daunting … It’s super fascinating to see all those little parts that belong to the machine, though, I just realized I’m really ignorant when it comes to the mechanical aspects of sewing!
Thank you! I’m just learning as I go along. Reading “how to” a lot. I am extremely motivated because they are family heirlooms. I am also very stubborn!!!
That looks really satisfying!
It was – I never realized how precise such a simple mechanism actually is! I got a good look though when I was poking around cleaning it!
It is so gratifying to see this beauty come back to life! You have done an amazing job, well done.
Thank you! I think you have one or two of these lovelies yourself! If I’m missing anything please feel free to jump in! 😀👍
A true labor of love! Who’d have known a little elbow grease (and a lot of patience) could produce such a remarkable transformation? Impressive indeed. Keep those shades handy, Maria is waiting in the wings. 🙂
Thank you! Exactly… There is a lot more work to be done. I’m going to have to do some research for chip repair on Maria. One suggestion is nail polish, another is automotive paint! We shall see!
You lucky girl to have such a lovely old machine to bring back to life and you have done a splendid job of restoring her beauty. I wish I had kept my old machine. It wasn’t a Singer Vintage but it dated back to the early sixties. Weighed a ton but sewed beautifully. I gave it to my step-daughter because I’d bought a shiny new computerised Janome and I didn’t sew very much at that stage anyway. (Heaves a big sigh) At least it went to a good home. 🙂
Thank you, these two VSMs that I have received from my mother (this one was my aunt’s originally) are very special to me. I’m sure the one that you gave away to you step-daughter is now very special to her!
There is something beautiful about the older machines. They have a solid feel to them when you sew with them. They don’t have all the bells and whistles the new ones have so there is good and bad. You have done a wonderful job bringing it back to life and that sewing project, for your sister, looks like it will be a beautiful dress…….says the sister.
It is nice seeing it all shiny and new isn’t it! And my sister, you, the Enabler, has good taste in fabric!