Converting a VIntage Singer Electric Sewing Machine to Hand Crank: What You Need to Know!

[@Hippiechick11]

I converted an old 27 to handcrank. Fortunately, I didn't run into any problems. I do have ave an old pre WW1 Kohler handcrank that that is locked up. I know where the problem is, but I haven't yet taken it apart. Love your channel, it's so helpful!

[@sunnasmilieu]

I'm just gonna pop in to say that it's fairly easy to swap the cable in those lights to get them working without the motor. I've done a related operation where I moved a light between two different motors while replacing the cable for it. Just buying a generic replacement cable with a switch on it and taking the lamp apart and replacing the cables as you take them out.

[@diannemh2250]

Great video - have not seen the small hand cranks that attach to the stop motion wheel before. I have converted 3 machines to hand crank now - first my 66K, because she was a hard rubbish fb group find, just the head ( had been removed from a treadle base), already had a spoked wheel so that was easy! Then a friend found a 99K at hard rubbish, so I removed that motor which looked damaged & I did not want to touch the wiring. Spent ages cleaning the machine because it was utterly filthy, then fitted a hand crank after swapping out the solid wheel for a spoked one. Last was another 99K at the local museum, again dodgy looking wiring but she had a spoked balance wheel already, so it was easy to unbolt the motor & screw the hand crank in. Now visitors to the museum can have a go at using the machine, it emphasises the difference to new modern machines by being hand operated rather than electric, plus of course there is nothing like that lovely “tickety clack” sound ! PS. A bit of black enamel paint - or black nail polish! -works well to cover the “ made in China” transfer on the reproduction hand cranks.

[@SimplyStitchy]

I bet the working hand crank at the museum is a big hit! Thanks so much for sharing and for watching! 🙂

[@jenniferclifford4669]

Thanks - really interesting. Can you tell me why you would want to convert an electric to a handcrank? I have a couple of 128 handcranks that I love but never think to use. Also are you aware if a featherweight could be converted to a treadle. The wiring on my featherweight shorted out and I can't see me being able to get it fixed.

[@SimplyStitchy]

The featherweight was built to be electric so I'm really not sure that you can turn it into a treadle. Check with these guys: singer-featherweight.com/ they might know. Or, they might be able to help you with rewiring. As for converting an electric machine to a hand crank... I don't want to mess with my wiring issues either 🙂

[@scottsews]

Hi I would also say that a treadle machine with a spoked wheel would also be difficult to convert into hand crank because I have one of those and I had the intention of turning it into a hand crank only to discover that because the wheel is so large it wouldn't accommodate the hand crank..... could I say Hand crank anymore 😂

[@SimplyStitchy]

Definitely room for at least one more hand crank in there 😉 Good to see you back! How about swapping the wheel out for a smaller one? Or maybe try the stop motion screw mounted hand crank?

[@carmencolon3520]

I have a German Veritas that been told is like Singer 28 model Would like to change it into a handcrank. Now the stop motion screw wouldn't come out. It seems the head is damage and their's no connection with the needle . The hand wheel move but nothing else. My question how to remove that difficult screw ? Are all handcrank fix any European machines? How do you call those specialty handcrank for machines that doesn't have a motor boss?

[@SimplyStitchy]

As far as I know, Singer hand cranks only fit Singer machines. I'm not aware of any being fitted to different brands. Best thing to do is check FaceBook to see if there is a group for the Veritas. I'm not familiar with that particular machine. I think it's called a wrap around hand crank... at least, that's what I know it as.

[@ran2wild370]

Probably within SInger15 class they would fit. But as you can see not that smooth sometimes.

[@charliepeers7825]

The Chinese hand cranks are terrible, get an original singer. Don't forget to get a suitable bobbin winder. I match them and fit them together. Great video, keep them coming! ❤😊

[@ran2wild370]

:-) So mostly get the handcrank machine for cheap or... just drop it all and buy a walking foot industrial machine for sewing heavy fabric in 2020s... 100 years after those handcranks. Okkkaaayyy Sailrite.. :-))) Actually SInger15 class reperesents good machines including those 66/200 series. but they are all 100 years old and of course they can't compete with a modern and cheap industrial machines when you need to work with upholstery class fabric.

[@SimplyStitchy]

Maybe, maybe not... but you don't get the musical clickety clickety click of a vintage hand crank if you go for a modern industrial.

[@historygradstu]

I have a 15k80 and a industrial 111w155 triple feed machine....I see your point of having a one size fits all machine. But it would be hard to darn or do free motion work on a sailright and it's kungfu variants. Likewise, the sailrights don't have the triple feed and the pressor foot height is less around a 1/4 inch. Sometimes it's easier to have a few machines to approach the task at hand....sure you could have a Juki 441 or the Chinese Kung Fu clones of it....and you could sew 7/8 thick leather with it too and easily do upholstery work...maybe even clothing with 50wt thread all the way to tex 415 thread but how cumbersome will be a one size fits all machine? As far as age being a disqualifying factor...the singer 111 series machines are approaching 100 years in age and will easily handle any upholstery job under it's 3/8 of inch or more pressor foot height.