Let's get started...
- artbykpgarner
- May 23
- 2 min read
Opening up a box with a machine inside is always a bit fraught. I mean, you never know what will be going on in there. Will it be full of packing peanuts? Will the machine be 'padded' by someone's kids stuffed toys? An old towel? Nothing at all?
I've purchased my fair share of machines off eBay at this point and I can tell you that I dread it so much that I've been known to put off opening the box for over a week. I mean, what if it's so moldy that I cant even have the machine inside my house? (That has happened - I had to basically take that case down to the wood and it's still just a bare box at this point)
This listing was an "As is" challenge for me. There was a video showing the machine moving but VERY slowly. I was aware that despite the perfect decals and lovely paint, she might be a loss. But hey-what's wrong with a challenge? If we can take a machine that doesn't function and make her purr wouldn't that be amazing?
So with all that in mind, it's time for the intake...
This machine arrived lightly packed in bubble wrap with little to no padding inside. It was also put in the box wrong causing the spool pin to puncture the case (they had to work to do that!) and become loose on top. That will definitely need to be replaced!
Cosmetically you couldn't ask for much more that this machine! Her decals are beautiful and the varnish is lovely. There are very light pin scratches and so far I haven't noticed any paint chips.
She came with a manual and a box of assorted accessories but no foot pedal. I missed that on the listing but I have extra so it's all good.
As for the case, there are some stickers on the top, and that puncture wound but the Tolex is in fairly good condition and the hardware on the front is near perfect. with some careful patching of the lid the case might be salvageable.
Now for the heart of intake, does it work? The light flickered when I first tried to turn it on but either the switch is bad, or the bulb went out. If the stop motion is engaged the motor hums along nicely. But as expected, the machine doesn't move at all otherwise. It wont even move when you move the hand wheel manually.
Normally, my next step would be to address the case. That gives me a place to store all the cleaned goodies as they go through the process. That said, the puncture wound might be reason enough to scrap this one and go straight to stripping down and cleaning the machine.
I'll let you know what I decide in the end. Check back for more updates as we go forward with the restoration.
