Close

Introduction

A project log for Vintage sewing machines

Fixing up vintage sewing machines for hobby use.

joseph-eoffJoseph Eoff 02/11/2022 at 13:220 Comments

I've had my Adler class 8 machine for a little over half a year.  In that time, I have cleaned it up and built a base for it.  My Adler was built in about 1926, if the serial number tables on the internet can be trusted.

The Adler was an industrial machine - it was made for professional use by folks making clothing assembly line style.  It could sew 1200 stitches a minute when powered by a foot driven treadle.

In the last month or so, I have fixed up a Pfaff model 31 for my daughter.  The Pfaff belonged to her great grandmother.  It hadn't been used in over thirty years.  Its serial number says it was manufactured in 1939.

The Pfaff was a home machine (a "domestic.")  It was produced in Kaiserlautern, Germany.  That's about 40 kilometers from where the great grandmother lived when she bought it.

The Pfaff didn't need any mechanical work or cleanup - it sews like great grandmother put it away yesterday instead of over thirty years ago.

The Pfaff's cabinet needed a little TLC, though. It looked rather ratty after spending much of the last thirty years doing duty as a workbench in my father in law's basement.

Besides not having a cabinet (and being filthy,) the Adler had a slight mechanical problem that it took me a while understand and find.

Later logs will show some of the details of cleaning up and using both machines.

Discussions