MAJOR score! Got on an online auction for a formalwear shop that was selling off all of its equipment, and I just bought TWO old industrial machines! The one I wanted was a singer 251-3 (circa 1952), and it works beautifully!
The other one is a singer 31-15 (circa 1908). The motor runs, but the machine does not cycle.
They are both on heavy tables, with steel legs and wrought iron treadles. The 251-3 has a HUGE industrial motor that seems to have been rebuilt recently, and the 31-15 looks to have an older motor.
So, I paid $107 for the pair. What does everyone think I should do with the one that is not working? Take it to the sewing machine repair shop, bring it up to speed, and sell it? Or sell it now not working?
The 251-3 weighs over 100lbs altogether, and the 31-15 weighs like 80.
Thoughts?
A couple photos from the site.
Here is the 251-3 (lot 864)
http://www.auctionbymayo.com/index.php?subp=1&slb=1&linkgroup=1&cid=6646&io=1&lp=50&search=&psearch=&msearch=&cat=&sort=1&pn=18#
And here is the 31-15 (lot 1165)
http://www.auctionbymayo.com/index.php?subp=1&slb=1&linkgroup=1&cid=6646&io=1&lp=50&search=&psearch=&msearch=&cat=&sort=1&pn=24#
based on the auction photo, it looks like the older one is missing the belt. Try finding one and see about repairing it yourself. I did that with my 1950's sewing machine and I got it to the point where it's working. most of these early models are very simple machines,
Belt was there! The photo showed it placed in the hole backwards. I put it in right, and hooked the strap up. I think it is leather. The machine itself does not cycle when the flywheel is turned. It goes just shy of 1 revolution and stops. It will turn back and forth, but stop at the same point; never making one complete revolution. Hopefully it is nothing major, but not sure I wanna sink much $ into it. Yeah, you're right, it probably would be relatively simple. According to my cursory research of looking up the serial number on a Singer site, I believe this one is from 1908.
If that's the case, it might just need a good cleaning and some oil. It's probably just gunk built up over the years that needs to be cleaned off.
Our local sewing machine repair shop gives you an estimate when you take your machine in. If you find a shop that will do that, at least they can give you an idea of what it would cost to fix before doing any work.