Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

Sue will be typing away in Rochdale....



Two for the price of one. I have almost finished the con-rode and started on the guide bars for the crosshead slide. (Note the knurled cap on the lubricator to tickle David's fancy. He does like a bit of knurling!)

[Sue]

Morning

Gosh, we have just woken, thats a good eight and a half hours sleep. My daily lateral flow test is running whilst I write and Bob will start doing them again today to see of he is clear, though Adam and Claire were still testing positive on day 8 .

It was another cleaning of the machine day yesterday. Whilst re assembling one particular part, using a you tube video to help we realised there was a washer missing and the screw was too long. I know there was never a washer there as I put all parts in a container as I went a long, as for the screw the obvious answer was we had put the wrong one back somewhere else, but this one had a special shape, it was the only one of its kind. We assume therefore that someone had had this unit apart sometime and lost the washer and replaced a screw, which was the wrong length. It must have been a long time ago from the state of the machine when I bought it . Anyway, Bob did his magic in the workshop and hopefully it will now work as it is the bobbin winder. In this case the bobbin is a small spindle and the bobbin holder a metal shuttle . I did have a look online and found 4 so replacements can be obtained, mainly from stripped down machines.

Whilst Bob was doing his bit in the workshop I cleaned the wooden base. There was a lot of yellow muck came off, a mixture of nicotine and grease I think. It was worse at the front which you would expect. Todays job is to oil the now clean wood, touching up where needed with a dark furniture renovation stain . I cleaned the cabinet some time ago so that is ready for oiling too. Its looking good. I will have to find a BEFORE photo so I can do a before and after one. The wood renovating should take some time today though there will be time delays between applucations.

So fridge is looking emptier. The turkey has been converted into a turkey and ham pie, plus soup. There a few days portions of both. We need to think now wether Claire and Adam will come over on New Years Eve as planned I must contact them today.

My test is still negative. Have a good day

[Stanley]

All good news Sue. Glad you had a good sleep. Nice to hear Bob saved the day in the shed..... Don't rush to go out, it's a dark wet morning as far as we are concerned.
I'm off back to bed for second sleep....

[Sue]

Just found this...June 12 th 2019

Is it electric. I looked up the number on this machine, the code indicates it was one of 120,000 made between July and December on Clyde-Bank in 1910. I bought it as 1896 but am happy with 1910. It has what is described as a coffin lid, it certainly looks like one. The lid has one latch missing and the machine has the wooden sliding cover to the storage cavity missing but other wise seems perfect. I found out that the enamelled design is called Victoria. It does not use a traditional bobbin but uses a type of shuttle. I managed to get a reproduction copy of the manual on Ebay and found loads of spare parts there. I am looking for the tools and accessories box.

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i found a cover, an instruction book and tool kit on ebay. The latter has now been cleaned

[Big Kev]

A nice project there Sue.

Another walk today, not very far just to Kelbrook for lunch at the Craven Heifer, eldest offspring bought us a voucher for Christmas.
Today's LFTs are negative.

[Wendyf]

A nice project there Sue.

Another walk today, not very far just to Kelbrook for lunch at the Craven Heifer, eldest offspring bought us a voucher for Christmas.
Today's LFTs are negative.

It's a bit wet! I've found that there is a nice footpath from Kelbrook to Salterforth then you can walk back to Foulridge along the canal. Just go up Vicarage Road beside the Craven Heifer and follow the path, the only muddy bit is where you cross the railway cutting. Perhaps wait for a better day!

[Big Kev]

A nice project there Sue.

Another walk today, not very far just to Kelbrook for lunch at the Craven Heifer, eldest offspring bought us a voucher for Christmas.
Today's LFTs are negative.

It's a bit wet! I've found that there is a nice footpath from Kelbrook to Salterforth then you can walk back to Foulridge along the canal. Just go up Vicarage Road beside the Craven Heifer and follow the path, the only muddy bit is where you cross the railway cutting. Perhaps wait for a better day!

I may get the bus today then

[Sue]

Just need to check it sews now, that is after I have worked out how to fill the bobbin .

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I stripped off all the old varnish from the wood and put two or three applications of wood oil on. Then when it was dry I hand buffed it. The wooden case has co e up so much better than I had expected or hoped

[Big Kev]

It'll look very decorative and a bonus if it sews

[Sue]

It'll look very decorative and a bonus if it sews

Hopefully will have a go tomorrow .

[Stanley]

We used to have an old Singer and that had a shuttle instead of the modern bobbin Sue. It looks grand, you've made a good job and I have little doubt it'll sew all right.
I might miss the shed, we'll see. I shall do my weekly shop today early doors so that will cut an hour out of the shed. Susan and Mick are visiting at dinner time bearing fish and chips..... Any bookie watch depends on their timing and the weather. There might be a break in the rain at dinner time...

[Stanley]

As we approach the witching hour of 7AM when the Cathedral of Choice opens I have to report that i failed to make it into the shed. I shall concentrate on my shopping and enjoying time with my bubble of Mick and Susan! It will be the first time I've seen Susan since a week last Friday.

[Sue]

Morning

I am awaiting my daily lateral flow test. It looks negative. Bobs was still positive yesterday but the test detects viruses dead or alive so really it was expected. We have decided to go ahead with a family tea on New Years Eve so I need a negative test so I can go to Lidl to do a small shop. Claire is bringing a lot of the food, bought for the Christmas they never had and sitting in their freezer so it will be just a few bits to put towards a buffet tea. I shall potter out straight after breakfast .

Once back I want to make some felt corner pads for the base of my machine. At the moment it resides on the floor in my sewing room and I don’t want it to scratch the floor. I am on the look out for a small table to put it on when I take it to France. A treadle table would be nice but most have been done up and cost a fortune, they are also a bit large. I found one on ebay, a small square Edwardian table but it was in Portsmouth ! Afterwards I shall attempt to wind the shuttle and see if it will sew. I have bought new Singer sewing needles to match its now shiny appearance. Its tempting to buy another cheap one and do that up too but to sell it afterwards. This one is not being sold.

My test is negative.

Have a good day all,

[Stanley]

Morning Sue..... I've put me shopping away and made bacon egg and tomato for breakfast.
Only one other customer in the Co-op, an Asian young man in ethnic clothing with no mask.....
Lots of orange labels for reduced prices. I think sales were less than they expected.
I look forward to second sleep and my visitors!

[Big Kev]

Still negative, I think I can safely say youngest offspring didn't infect us

[PanBiker]

. I shall concentrate on my shopping and enjoying time with my bubble of Mick and Susan! It will be the first time I've seen Susan since a week last Friday.

I was thinking about your trips out to Skipton with Susan Stanley and I know you generally have lunch whilst out. I can recommend the Saxon Cafe which is in the courtyard on Coach Street behind the Belmont Bridge Bizzie Lizzies if you haven't been. They specialise in home made pies and simple quality meals. A nice selection on the menu including Vegan options etc. Nice seating area downstairs and more upstairs. We had lunch there yesterday and it was excellent.

[Big Kev]

As we approach the witching hour of 7AM when the Cathedral of Choice opens I have to report that i failed to make it into the shed. I shall concentrate on my shopping and enjoying time with my bubble of Mick and Susan! It will be the first time I've seen Susan since a week last Friday.

Has Mick recovered after his trip to hospital?

[Sue]

Still negative, I think I can safely say youngest offspring didn't infect us

Here too I think. Bobs test was only faintly positive today Which is of course detecting the dead virions left in his body. I was clearly negative. One spanner in the works is my friend Gill. Her husband started to be ill the day before Bob, she has remained negative...that is until today ! Fingers crossed I remain negative now otherwise it affects our week in Langdale from the 9 th

[Sue]

It works . I loved watching the spindle fill

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[PanBiker]

Smashing Sue it looks really good, well done on the refurb.

[Big Kev]

Ditto, a cracking job

[Stanley]

I told you didn't I! Those old machines were beautifully made and repay even minor maintenance. A proper refurb like you did means they go back almost to new. You've evidently got the skill and the knowledge, think seriously about doing another for resale. It's such a rewarding occupation!
Kev, Mick looked all right, Susan tells me it's the first day he has had colour in his face. I didn't enquire too deeply but they have put him on medication, some of which Susan says is a lifetime course. It did him good to meet a friend who has been living with AF for years and he manages all right. Occasionally he goes into hospital and they stop his heart and reboot it. I think he's going to survive...

[Sue]

Morning

Once again I am writing as I await the result of my daily lateral flow test.

Thanks all, I was really chuffed with my efforts. It did become apparent as I removed all the grime and grotty old oil that some parts must have ceased and once clean they became really sloppy. Some screws no longer seemed to hold things in place, in fact they seemed to be the wrong screws. There were washers missing, that I had definitely not lost and i had not mixed up the screws. Bob and I decided that someone had had a go before me, lost bits and put incorrect screws back. Bob did an excellent job with the technical problems but I have now bought a job lot off ebay for £12 which has been stripped out of a similar machine and seems to contain the parts we need. I can’t wind the bobbin very often till the part is replaced so no real sewing can be done

Today will be a quiet day. Claire and family were coming over this evening but we have swapped to tomorrow lunchtime. One reason is because it is officially Bobs last day and my last day of testing. The other is that Erin will not be tired in the afternoon whereas she probably would be late in the evening. I have no plans at all but may look into seeing what sewing I can do from my stash . I have a kit that allows me to make made to measure patterns that I may have a go at. Its not as good as going to Maxine but does work. Its a bit of a challenge . I bought the kit years ago and used to use it regularly when we first got married. I used to buy material be weight from a warehouse on Great Clewes Street in Salford and made loads of clothes when I first started work.

My test is negative again. I cannot for one minute think I have escaped this and am wondering if I have had such a mild dose that it has not registered. There is no doubt I have had similar symptoms to Bob but not as obvious and a couple of days ago they started to clear up. Bob will do his test later but as it is so near day 10 he doesn’t really need to.

Have a good day all.

[Stanley]

Morning Sue, yes I can believe someone has been there before and made mistakes. All part of the charm of refurbing old machinery. You should see some of the things I found on my full size engines!



Here's what I've been up to this morning, working on the guide bars for the crosshead slide. Would you believe measurements like 21/64"? So quiet work and I'm getting there...

[Big Kev]

Last of the daily LFTs since being 'pinged', still negative. We will not test again until sometime next week before we go off to Thoresby Hall.