Posted 3 years ago
FreeNumber5
(4 items)
I am looking for information on this machine. It is missing parts and need to find out where to buy the parts for it. I think it is very similar to a Singer 27, or 127, or 128. I am wondering if the Singer parts might fit this Free #5, as it seems much easier to find Singer parts. Particularly, it needs a front slide plate, and a shuttle and bobbins. Oh, and that 4 th picture, is the foot controller for the motor. I would appreciate any help or advice. Thanks.
Oh, it is also missing a presser foot, and its a top clamp. I can't even test it out till I find parts for it, I did plug in the motor, and was shocked that it still runs after all these years of sitting in the case in my closet for over 10 years now. Thank You.
I was looking for some amazing sewing machine ideas, and suddenly get up to your article, my problem is solved now.
FreeNumber5, Cool. :-)
Here's some history of the Free Sewing Machine Company:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/pastperfectonline/images/museum_298/184/20160179001-2.jpg
https://mcleodhistory.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/68B97415-9C29-4B41-B5C6-012309421631
ISMACS actually has a manual that covers the No. 5:
https://ismacs.net/free/manuals/freevs-c-e-ce-manual.pdf
Getting replacement parts might be a bit dicey, because despite resembing Singer's vibrating shuttle family of machines, the actual dimensions of the parts might be different.
Here are a couple discussions of the Free No. 5 (it does sound like the shuttle has the wasp waist characteristic of the Singer 27):
https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/free-no-5-needles-shuttles-feet-oh-my-t242305.html
https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/help-please-vibrating-shuttle-t241536.html
Here is a wasp-waisted shuttle:
https://www.vintagesingerparts.com/collections/singer-model-27/products/singer-sewing-machine-27-127-128-bobbin-case-shuttle-complete
Here's a document with dimensions for the various top clamping presser feet:
https://www.treadleon.net/library/topclampingfeet.pdf
This outfit carries the knurled nut for fastening a top-clamping presser foot:
https://angelelegancevintage.com/sewing-machine-accessories/324-vintage-presser-foot-thumbnut-rotary-top-clamping.html
keramikos I'm so glad you read my post, and am very grateful that you are sharing your knowledge with me and others on this site. I will definitely check out those sites you mentioned, and that will take a while.
I have my grandmothers's old treadle machine in the closet, and am thinking it's a Sears, Roebuck Franklin No. 45. I have no idea how old it is. She taught me how to sew on it when I was 7 yrs old. I just found the little tattered book that came with it, in a drawer. And I'm amazed how similar the shuttle pictures are, to the Free # 5. Hmmm, time to move it out of storage so I can see what that Franklin shuttle looks like. I just have so many machines in my collection, that my sewing room is full already. (Actually, I have 2 sewing rooms- my husband was afraid I'd take over the whole house, is why the big treadle with wooden cabinet is in the closet). Thank you!
Stay tuned, I'm going to do some web surfing now.
FreeNumber5, You're welcome. :-)
I'm only sorry I didn't find more information.
A Franklin shuttle, huh? Like this?:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22283683@N07/5612625851
However, the devil is in the details. First Sears was buying Singer 127 clones (to badge as Franklins) from Domestic, and then later from White (it actually looks like even Free made some vibrating shuttles machines for Sears at one point):
https://ismacs.net/sears/sears.html
Something I forgot to give you earlier was a link to my collection of vintage sewing machine links:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-vintage-sewing-machine-help
Of particular interest to you might be the links to forums that specialize in vintage sewing machines. Besides the quiltingboard, there is the victoriansweatshop, and the VSM group on Facebook. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people out there.
I figure a person with two sewing rooms, and an untold number of sewing machines needs all the help they can get. };-)
Hi again, FreeNumber5. :-)
It looks like several of the victoriansweatshop forum members have the Free No. 5, so they would probably be a good resource:
https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/post/free-sewing-machine-company-no-5-8488050
Are you still looking for parts for this Free No 5? I have this machine and would be delighted to pass it on to you.