Singer 201

There is an auction held about 20 miles from here every Friday. The auction house has a website where they post photos of items in the upcoming auction. I saw this picture

and knew from the potted motor, lack of tension on the end cover, and light shade that this was a 201 and there was also a 66 Redeye in the same auction. Now, I have too many straight stitch machines but I REALLY like the 201 and I need a Redeye to install in my parlor cabinet so I headed to the auction.

I had figures in mind for both machines before I went to the auction but when I got there, I saw that the 201 was missing the terminal block

 and part of the tension assembly,

 so my mental number decreased. I should have tipped it over and seen the rust underneath but didn't want to appear too interested.  When the bidding was over, I walked away with it for the princely sum of $12.

The wires are hooked directly to a two-prong plug so as soon as the plug is energized, the light comes on and the motor runs full speed.  I don't believe anyone sewed on it that way.

Surprisingly, the motor did run and the needlebar went up and down, so I set to cleaning and lubing.  A few squirts of oil and the speed increased but the machine was quite noisy for a 201. One look at the gears told me why - they were totally dry, looked like they had never been greased.

  I spent an enormous amount of time trying to remove one of the rusted screws holding the cover over the gear set below the hook. I used liquid wrench, heat, vibration and finally ended up drilling the last screw out.

The terminal block is going to be a challenge. I have a terminal block from some machine I stripped in the past but it doesn't have the box for the light switch.  Lowe's carries a switch that looks very much like the original (although silver vice white) with enclosed wiring.

 I will need to fashion an 'L' bracket to mount under the terminal block to hold the switch.

 I didn't stay at the auction long enough to bid on the Redeye. The photo showed just a table top and the sewing head but when I got there, it included the rest of the treadle stand and cabinet - all in pieces - so I thought the price might go higher than I was willing to pay. Besides, it was going to be one of the last things to go up for bids and I didn't feel like waiting that long.

Here is one of the photos for this Friday's auction. In the early days, I would have been salivating all week but now, I think I'll skip this week unless something more interesting comes along.

Much of my collection has come from local auctions. Probably the best was a nice Pfaff 130 in a cabinet with the chair for $5! I love local auctions.