On Sun, 10 May 2009 20:13:15 +0100, Harry Bloomfield wrote:

Very old 1950's basic Singer sewing machine (201K), which was given to
us twenty odd years ago and we never needed it until now. It is one of
those black painted things with gold decoration and the optional
electric motor.

The instructions are still with it, so I'm fairly sure it is threaded up
correctly and it looks right, but it doesn't sew. The lower spool of
cotton just sits in the bottom, with a large very tight screw head below
it, which I have not been able to budge.

From the beginning...

The upper thread goes down through the hole with the needle, is dragged
around by the hooked rotating thingummy underneath going around the
lower spool, it brings the lower thread up as it should [1]. Leaving the
two cotton threads out the back I insert the cloth, bring the foot down
and start to stitch -except it doesn't.

It doesn't actually create any stitch in the material, it just moves the
material forward with no stitches, then eventually the thread knots,
jams and then breaks.

[1] The hook doesn't always catch the thread, when trying to get it set
up to start sewing.
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You might have the carrier / cotton spool threaded incorrectly. From
distant memory..


The spool carrier for the lower spool should show a curved steel spring
with a small slot and hole in it. The spool should go into the carrier so
that the thread unwinds to the left and is inserted through the slot in
the spring.

You might also have the thread tensioner set incorrectly. Look for two 1"
diameter dished disks held together by a spring - on the left hand side
above the needle. Check that the cotton can only be pulled through this with
some friction.

Also check which side the thread goes through the eye of the needle - your
manual should tell you the correct entry for your machine.

Cic.

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