Resurrected Red Eye: 1928 Singer 66

Resurrected Red Eye
 
I finally put the finishing touches on the custom 1928 Singer 66 last night! Remember, this was a machine that was picked out of the trash last year; it was rusty, missing parts, and the finish was totally shot.   
 
Resurrected Red Eye
 
You can see a few of my earlier posts about painting the 66 here, and here. I totally free-hand painted these designs on the machine, inspired by the decals of another Singer 66 Red Eye in my collection. 
 
Resurrected Red Eye hand crank
 
It looks pretty eclectic, and a little funky. But, I like it. As for the machine itself, all it needed was a little tension adjustment and it sews like a dream!
 
 
Nice stitches! My plan for this baby is to use it for events like small crafting and sewing projects, so I am able to host pop-up events anywhere regardless of access to electricity. I'm already thinking of using this for my next small project, a patchwork apron.
 
Well, that's one more unfinished project to check off the list! Only 3 (or maybe 4) more to go so I can be all caught up to start the NEXT batch of projects!

Comments

JustPam said…
It's beautiful! I am looking for one of these-hand crank and or treadle. I lost my grandmother's during a difficult move. :(
Michelle said…
Love it! You are so creative!
Love. love. love. it! Very nice restoration. I want one too!
This is fabulous!! I happened past your metallic blue one on Pinterest. I too, found an old beat up, left for dead Singer machine but wasn't sure what to do with it. This is perfect! It's rusty and missing parts, but the body is still intact. Not sure I could do free hand though...
Claire said…
Ok, so here's the deal.....when the detector goes off in the middle of the night.
Grab this baby first and don't worry about anything else.......
It's goooooooorgeoous. I love it......
Great result after all that work and I hope the smoke alarm never goes off in the middle of the night!!



Christina said…
I'm so happy for you! Every time I see it I'm just in love
Anonymous said…
Maybe I have the oldest Singer handsewing machine, it is from 1879,with the violinshaped bottomplate! I inherited it from my mother, who bought it secondhand.It still sews nicely, but I want to cuddle her and not overdo things. So, although I own an electrical Bernina, a Lotus Elna and a Brother (el.) I did not hesitate in buying on the twelth of this month a really "as new" Singer 66 handsewer, the wooden cap was missing, but that is allright, you can not carry them by the cap, it is just to keep dust away. The Singer 99 cost me the grand sum of the equivalent of 20 US dollars, how lucky can one be. I just cleaned and oiled it and it sews like new and hums very quietly. Luckier still, I had seen a wooden Singer cap for about 3 dollars at another thriftstore that same day, so I went back and bought that too. The lock does not fit, so I unscrewed that, I have still to wax the cap. The Singer 99 is teh 3/4 size same model as the Singer 66. I will use the 66 for short seams in patchwork, I love being able to stop midstitch with a handsewing machine.
Anonymous said…
I am the proud owner of my late ums Singer 1879 with the violinshaped bottomplate and since one week a perfect Singer 99, the 3/4 sizes Singer modelled after the 66. The 99 cost me the grand sum of 30 US Dollars an it sews like new and hums very quiet. All it needed was dusting, dustbunnies removing at the inside and a good oiling. I love being able with a handoperated sewingmachine to stop midstitch when doing patchwork.
Linda Kay said…
It reminds me of a Swedish dalarna horse. Beautiful!
Erika Mulvenna said…
Thanks Linda, it kind of does have that feel to it, doesn't it? :-)
Laura said…
I recently acquired one of these that was getting thrown out too! Mine has the base and the wooded top, however it's in poor condition. Did you make the base of this as well, as it's a beautiful colored wood, or did you purchase it? :)
Erika Mulvenna said…
Hi Laura, thanks for stopping by my blog! That is a new base, I bought it online. Not sure this particular seller has any more of these bases, but I've seen others online for sale, too. Good luck with your old Singer!
Anonymous said…
Incredible !! I love it .. really !!

Lara
Erika Mulvenna said…
Thank you so much lara viau-desmarais!
Beverly said…
Nicely done! It is totally fabulous and I'd love to have one just like it!
Unknown said…
Hi
i really lovo what you did with the machines you rescued, and i'm allways coming back to your blog to see more =)

i really needed your help and so let me say sorry in advance if this is not the right platform to do so...

i'm trying to repair and repaint a singer 15k, wich i thrifted, she wast moving at all but i oild it and worked a little on it and now the only thing that doesn't move is in the undercarriage, the bobbin rod, the one that is right in the midle.
i wanted some advice on how to replace it (if needed) or how to salvage it if possible , i dont see any rust and i've been using wd40 but without success.
another thing that is proving to be doficult are all the screws that seem to be glued on.

thank you
keep up the lovelly work =)
looking forwsad to your advice.

Erick
Erika Mulvenna said…
Hi Erick, thanks for visiting my blog! I love meeting other machine enthusiasts who have a passion for saving these old machines. Unfortunately, I can't give any advice on the mechanical ends of replacing the parts you mention. Other than basic cleaning and oiling, I've never had to take apart the inner workings of a machine. My only thought (and you might already have done this) would be to check around the bobbin hook area to see if there may be an old pin or needle stuck in the mechanism so that it can't move freely. There's also a product that helps stuck metal move again, I think it's called Liquid Wrench, and this might help also. Best of luck to you!

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