I couldn't resist......

[Chayse]

First off, I need to stay off CL, LetGo, etc...this is becoming a sickness....and my better half agrees! So, the usually browsing of the previously listed sites over the morning cup of coffee found me calling an unknown person 2 hours away! Seems that he had a Singer 7-33 Centennial up for sale. At first, he was a bit standoff-ish but as we talked, it seemed we had a bit in common..sewing machines!

Long story short, I drove 2 hours to a farm to find an older gentleman on a tractor, carefully extracting the Singer from the barn, where he had used it to repair his horse tack for many years. It was a site to see this gentleman move that tractor with such precision. We all know these things weigh...well, ALOT! When it came into the light, it was a site to see...seemed to be in good shape, on the original Singer table w'motor. A quick check of the serial number yielded 1 November 1950, with 500 being made that year. It was also neat to see a Centennial Badge, as I had never seen one. We chatted and he gently placed the machine on my trailer with surgical precision. I paid the man his asking price of $400, strapped it down and the ride home was bitter sweet. 

Seemed as if he was 'cleaning house' as he was moving soon and was downsizing...that was 1 of a mere 50 machines he had..although in another building...3 deep and gently stacked 2 high in some cases. He said it was a hobby....well, we all will have an opinion when it comes to things like this....

I know that this machine is more than I needed for a couple projects but the price was right and I honestly just really 'wanted' it. Although I have had a few requests from fellow 4wd enthusiast to sew then up some recovery straps, well, now I have the tools to do so...to say the least.

I will say that he thought outside the box, in my opinion, when it came to the pedal....odd location but it worked for what he was doing. He also had adjusted the pedal to the point at full throw, the machine just slowly thumped along....I would guess at 60-100 spm. Given that the factory motor is rated at 1750 rpm, he had it adjusted to the point that it was manageable...without 'running away'. 

When I got home, I soon realized why he used a tractor and boom....that thing nearly gave me a hernia! Now...how to get it into the house........

Here are a few pics. I will clean it up, oil it, and make sure all is well before stitching the first piece.  

[YinTx]

That is sweet!  Great story to go with it.  Thanks for sharing, look forward to seeing it cleaned up and in service!

YinTx

[Constabulary]

uuuuuh - good luck with this beast!

I always wondered - is the presser foot driven or is a a jump foot system?

[CowboyBob]

It is a spring loaded jump foot.Singer did make some 7 class with a driven foot but with the way the mechanism works it limits the foot lift..

[Fire88]

Very nice pick up and great story!

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Nice looking machine, never seen a stand made up like that, but like it and see the utility in it.  All parts are still available for the Singer 7-33 as well, and this machine is far from dead.

 

 

[GPaudler]

Great find! I've never seen one in person but have always been fascinated with their appearance.

 

[RhodesAveDesigns]

That is really, really cool.... I can see why there was a "need". Good/ bad thing it looks like the machine's last owner (with the barn full if machines he will truly need to sell) in Florida, far, far away from me in Michigan, and my own "needs" for more cool stuff. 

- Elizabeth

[Chayse]

Thanks to everyone and the kind words...I really couldn't pass it up! The table is original to the machine...I am still trying to decipher how to remove it to get underneath the machine to give a good cleaning and inspection. So far, in between installing over 600 sqft of flooring in my house, I have sat and just looked at this behemoth...wondering what friends I need to call to get this in my house! 

For the most part, it is operational and need to get a few more bobbins and the right size needles for what I need to sew. The needles are a 'similar' size to my Chandler 305-64..huge! I know the factory size might as well be made out of unobtanium, so I will just adjust the needle bar to the 7x3 or just modify a needle to work. I know I have read a few threads here on needles for this machine and what needs to be done. 

I am on the fence when it comes to stripping and repainting the machine...a resto-mod situation. I don't think I will ever get rid of this machine, so I guess I can do what I want, color wise, although probably not Singer Gray/silver or black! I am sure I will have an epiphany and manage to tick-off a few Singer purist. 

In between passing by the machine and my mill, it occurred to me that I may try to make a few different style presser feet for certain things..it would give me a reason to get on the mill and see what I can come up with....

I will update as things progress, although maybe slow, but will update none the less.

Edited November 13, 2017 by Chayse
Spelling errors

[RhodesAveDesigns]

Pick a color that never would have passed standards or consistency.... purple, turquoise or green might be attractive, lol. I know those are my current top contenders in my own machine renovation, but I will probably change my mind 300 more times before spring, as I doubt I will try a repaint inside this winter (by then I hope to have @ least 2 machines ready for new color/topcoat). While I somewhat understand the "purists" standpoint, black was chosen mainly due to manufacturing and economic concerns, and if I am going to do all the reno work myself, I may as well choose a "pretty" color. 

- Elizabeth