Antique and Vintage Sewing Machine Repair
Treadles, hand cranks, cabinet machines and old cast iron.
The machines built before plastic were made to be taken apart and put back together for a hundred years. Most of the ones people bring us are not broken, they are dried out and gummed up with old oil. We have been finding parts for obsolete machines for over 65 years, including shuttles, bobbin cases, treadle belts and hard-to-find screws.
What the service includes
- Old hardened oil and varnish cleaned out of the bearings and shafts
- Frozen handwheels, shuttles and needle bars freed up without breaking castings
- Treadle belts, hand crank gears and cabinet hinges replaced
- Original tension assemblies rebuilt rather than swapped when possible
- Timing and stitch set on machines with no manual left in print
- Brittle wiring on early electric motors replaced for safe use
- Obsolete parts sourced from our own used-parts inventory
Problems we fix every week
If it uses a needle and thread to sew, we repair it. Home machines, industrial machines, embroidery machines, sergers, quilting machines and antiques.
The handwheel is frozen solid and will not budge
The treadle belt is cracked, stretched or missing
It is gummed up with old oil and the mechanism will not move
The shuttle or bobbin case is missing and I cannot find one
The wiring on the old motor is brittle and it sparks
The tension knob spins and nothing changes
The cabinet hinges are broken and the head will not lift
The decals still look good but it will not make a stitch
It was my mother's machine and it has not run in thirty years
The bobbin winder no longer touches the wheel
How a repair works
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Bring it in as it is
You do not need to clean it, oil it, or find the manual. Bring any loose pieces you have, even the ones you think are broken, in a bag.
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An honest look
We tell you what it needs, what parts still exist, and what would have to be made or adapted. Some machines are worth full restoration and some are worth a clean and oil.
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Bring it back to sewing
Free the mechanism, replace what is worn, set the timing and tension, then sew on it. A well-cared-for treadle will outlast almost anything sold today.
Common questions
Can you still get parts for a machine this old?
Often yes. We keep a large stock of used and obsolete parts specifically for machines the catalogs dropped decades ago. If a part truly does not exist we will tell you rather than take your money to look for it.
Do you work on treadle and hand crank machines?
Yes. Treadles, hand cranks, cabinet machines and early electrics. We replace treadle belts, free up the irons, and get the head running the way it was meant to.
Should I have it converted to electric?
Only if you want that. Many customers love the control a treadle gives, and it never needs an outlet. We can fit a motor if you prefer, and we can put it back either way.
Is it worth repairing a machine that has sentimental value?
That is your call, and we will give you the facts to make it. Call (727) 321-9344 and describe the machine. The estimate is free, and there is no pressure either way.
Do you restore the paint and decals?
We are a repair shop, so our work is mechanical and electrical. We are careful not to damage original finish and decals, but we do not repaint or replace decals.
Areas we serve
Related repair services
Home Sewing Machine Repair
Bring your machine in and a technician will look at it for free.
Sewing Machine Parts
Bring the old part in. That is the fastest way to match it.
Sewing Machine Tune-Up and Maintenance
Clean, oil, re-time, set the tension, sew on it.
Used and New Sewing Machines
Machines a technician has already gone through and sewn on.
Is your machine giving you trouble?
Call and tell us what it is doing. The estimate is free and you do not need the model number.