The serial number confirms she is a 201 model and was built in 1953 in Kilbowie, Scotland
Needless to say she also came complete with a not so nice coating of grime and detritus.
After a little bit of dismantling, scrubbing, buffing and TLC she is now looking beautiful and clean and shiny again.
The cabinet is in need of some serious attention and I shall tackle that too.
A really big surprise (that I didn't notice when picking her up, nor was it mentioned in the sale details) is that she is operated by KNEE CONTROL!. I did notice that the wire seemed too short to reach the floor on the foot pedal and put it down to it being doctored for some reason, THEN I noticed this metal lever underneath and realised that it was indeed a knee control lever and the foot pedal was supposed to sit in a cradle at the side of the cabinet (cradle is there). So with the pedal in position I tried the knee control and what a revelation it is!! I can't believe how easy and effortless it is to use, so much more comfortable than a foot control! The lever is always at the side of your knee/thigh and the slightest touch operates the machine. I'm hooked and there is no way I am going to convert her to foot control!
I did the coke can test to confirm the claim about the throat size and it does indeed swallow two cans compared to my other machine which can't quite fit two! Happy quilting.
What can I say about the sewing operation that hasn't been said before? Apart from that she sews like nothing before, so smooth, quiet and glides like a hot knife through butter. Also being set into the table top is lovely as the sewing height is perfect and so comfortable. For a 58 year old work horse she works perfectly and will see me through the rest of my sewing days.
(Ps. It took all day to load these photos to Blogger so my love affair with this site dwindles with every post I make)
