tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post3906582678011624101..comments2024-02-15T13:00:51.078-05:00Comments on Vintage Sewing Machines: Kenmore 17881Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057276731453019090noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-8519168195533916762018-04-27T11:05:25.133-04:002018-04-27T11:05:25.133-04:00I have a 385 1788180 that's like new.
IT was m...I have a 385 1788180 that's like new.<br />IT was my mom's and it had to be in the 60's when she got it. I was just a little kid. I'm going to learn how to use it unless it's worth something. Then I may sell it. What are they worth? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519124199592133766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-54033572009750571852016-12-07T19:31:31.803-05:002016-12-07T19:31:31.803-05:00Help! Can anyone help me with setting my timing It...Help! Can anyone help me with setting my timing It is skipping stitches. Different needles and material. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14279060207803613366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-83797751259201094632016-04-16T17:36:08.444-04:002016-04-16T17:36:08.444-04:00I have this machine!! I've had it since I was ...I have this machine!! I've had it since I was 17 and I can't imagine using anything else. My mom bought it for me and I wouldn't sell it for the world. I wish she was around to see all the things I've made with It. Nurse Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05934006674407859814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-18308065758433200122015-10-30T15:59:11.667-04:002015-10-30T15:59:11.667-04:00I am terninally ill and I just bought a Kenmore of...I am terninally ill and I just bought a Kenmore off Ebay; it is very clean; and paid $60+ for it; it will only sew in straight stitch and won't reverse to lock stitches. The knobs for the stitch selector would not turn at all; but I kept trying to turn it; now it will turn to the different stitch settings but will not do any stitch except straight stitch. Can anyone help? I also have another machine exactly like this one (not as good condition) but it will only sew straight stitches too.<br />Thank you,<br /> EllieEllienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-31743364235070316842015-05-04T18:13:58.517-04:002015-05-04T18:13:58.517-04:00When you say "thread holder", do you mea...When you say "thread holder", do you mean the spool pin on top of the machine or the bobbin below the surface of the bed? -EdAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057276731453019090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-61614595129093911992015-05-04T01:27:22.227-04:002015-05-04T01:27:22.227-04:00This is my Sears Kenmore 385 1788180. Mine is miss...This is my Sears Kenmore 385 1788180. Mine is missing the thread holder any help you may offer would be awesome 😁. Thanks all 💝Princess Garciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06934726028234362967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-4190850804671909352013-08-17T16:35:51.339-04:002013-08-17T16:35:51.339-04:00I'm trying to track down someone who can help ...I'm trying to track down someone who can help me out. I have a 17881 that seems to have a timing problem. I tracked down a manual but no mention of how to set the timing.<br />The needle is hitting the bottom of the flat nylon circle that holds the shuttle case and bobbin because the needle drops at the wrong time. It was sewing fine and suddenly the needle hit the needle plate cover and broke the needle. Then it rattled and crunched and shook and quit sewing. When I took it apart I discovered the timing was way off and that the needle is jamming into the nylon ring under the shuttle. <br />I am using a standard Singer needle and inserting it correctly.<br />Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.<br />I also have a Kenmore 158 that I bought in 1964 for $59 at Sears in Columbus, GA. It is the toughest monster I've ever known... never been fixed in all these years... even used it to run a drapery business for about six years and never even a burp no matter how thick or tough the task. I even used it to make wool herringbone Harris Tweed garments with leather collars and trim!<br />I got the 17881 at Goodwill for $12 because it was light and could be used in the living room or dining room with ease. The other machine would need two people to get it up the steps.<br />Thanks for any help you can offer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-34451840552605859472013-08-15T17:09:31.601-04:002013-08-15T17:09:31.601-04:00Just came across your post while searching for inf...Just came across your post while searching for info on the Kenmore 17881. I picked up mine at Goodwill for $10, then got it serviced for about $100 more. It is quite the workhorse, and I love it more than my computerized machines. I'm resisting getting too many machines, but love reading about them. I'm going to enjoy your blog a great deal. Thanks! nanaofnchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12838627952443235808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-73324380393608795632013-03-29T16:53:15.804-04:002013-03-29T16:53:15.804-04:00I picked up a Simplicity model 1170 at a thrift st...I picked up a Simplicity model 1170 at a thrift store. Made in Thailand. It has about 18 built in stitches - a nice selection of overcast & stretch stitches. I really wanted it because the machine came with the button hole gauge foot - that you insert a button into the back of, pull down a lever near the presser foot and the machine makes a button hole based on the size of the button in the gauge. The earliest Singer I found this feature on was my Creative Touch 1036. I think it's pure genius! lol <br /><br />I've found my 1170 Simplicity sewing machine for sale on eBay with a Janome logo. So I'm wondering if Janome made machines for Simplicity. Jonathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-87677026376772665822013-03-28T14:27:54.254-04:002013-03-28T14:27:54.254-04:00I'm a huge fan of the Kenmore 158s. I have an ...I'm a huge fan of the Kenmore 158s. I have an all metal 158.19460 freearm. I think it was made in 1976. It has a nice selection of utility stitches. Wonderful machine!Jonathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-56561659149616744472013-03-18T14:15:21.629-04:002013-03-18T14:15:21.629-04:00I am new to sewing (less than a year) but within t...I am new to sewing (less than a year) but within the year, I have become literally hooked on collecting, fixing and using sewing machines. The first machine bought was a crappy plastic nightmare Brother from Walmart. $60 I will never get back. I knew I liked sewing but I had to get a new machine.<br /><br />The first REAL machine I got was a Janome. It is still the most reliable machine I have. While cruising Pattern Review, I discovered that the 385 Kenmores were made by Janome. I now have 2 of them. Of my collection of 10 machines, my Kenmores get used quite a bit. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06859863110782297167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-81636087305355697042013-03-15T15:55:56.612-04:002013-03-15T15:55:56.612-04:00Michelle, I have avoided the heat method because,...Michelle, I have avoided the heat method because, with diligence, I have always been able to find the sticky part(s) and lubricate them. In this case, I got lazy and tried the heat method. in about ten seconds, four of the teeth on one of the plastic gears melted off and the stitch length dial would just spin around without doing anything. Fortunately, that gear only uses 180 degrees of its rotation and I was able to reposition the gear on the shaft so the bad teeth are not in use. Took me about 2 hours to recalibrate the stitch length but it is now working as before. I still need to find the problem with the stitch length mechanism but I won't be applying heat to plastic machines again. -EdAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057276731453019090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-78125307935856441472013-03-14T15:44:55.777-04:002013-03-14T15:44:55.777-04:00I too very much enjoy the Kenmore 385s. They seem ...I too very much enjoy the Kenmore 385s. They seem fairly solidly built and run smoothly. My wife and I bought a refurbished 385 in the mid 80s after we married and the machine is still a workhorse. I recently picked up an identical 385 for next to nothing and use it as my main machine. Two issues with both my machines have to do with gummed oil on the reverse clutch/dog shaft and the stitch select shaft. In the first case the reverse does not engage. In the second case the buttonhole setting doesn't always engage. Both were easy to fix though with cleaning. Johnsewingmachinenuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06153438317714504222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26975001.post-3636055012287064292013-03-13T18:11:48.180-04:002013-03-13T18:11:48.180-04:00To free up your knobs, take the top off of the mac...To free up your knobs, take the top off of the machine off, and point a hot hair dryer at the inside parts behind the knob. After a little bit, try turning the knob and see if it turns any better, then give it some oil. This has worked for me many times. Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11994575359990994574noreply@blogger.com