I found one of these in the home we purchased and let my daughter use it as a table. I recently am learning to sew and decided to check it out before purchasing a new one. I am in love and it appears to be in amazing shape. These videos will help me keep it serviced. Thank you so much
I LOVE this video! I learned to sew on this same machine over 60 years ago. It was my Mother's and I still have it. I run it periodically so it doesn't freeze and I still can visualize her sitting at it making and fixing clothes for three lively kids. I even have a duplicate that I bought last year just in case I need parts for it. It's a magnificent machine and I love it but I'm a machine addict (machine nutcase if you ask my husband). I have eleven machines currently and am waiting for another vintage Kenmore that's in the restoration process right now. Nine of the machines are vintage and two are modern. I fell in love with sewing, so when I was a teenager Mom had to get me my own machine because she needed the use of hers again! I was VERY lucky as she bought me a Kenmore 158-14000. It was a beauty and it had stretch stitches - yippee! I was in heaven except for one thing - it took me a year or so to get used to a foot pedal! I was so used to Mom's knee pedal. I ran that machine into the ground and since I didn't know any better, hardly took care of it properly. But it never died! I don't have that Kenmore anymore (silly me) but last year I obtained a refurbished duplicate. I'm in heaven again. Next to my modern machines, it and a "Keatherweight" 158-10400 are my favorites. I love vintage Kenmore's. The ones I have will be around and still functioning beautifully when my modern machines are landfill fodder. Now I have to go back at watch all your videos about the restoration of the model 77. Fun!
I am still looking for proper parts and seem close to beginning reuse of my vintage White Rotary (my grandmother’s) . I really appreciate your wonderful instruction. I need the replaceable rubber drive wheel. I purchased the smaller size, so am hunting for the larger part. I have watched you multiple times and just need to thank you again from California 💙
I too am looking for parts for one of these. I need the knobs for the tension and the stitch length. Considering having a machinist friend make me some. I haven't found much out there by way of parts.
Thank you for the fantastic videos! I have 2 White 77s (pretty sure, slight differences) and both won't pick up the bobbin thread. They have different bobbin cases and both easily eat the top thread, and I have to tear them apart to clean out all the thread. Any ideas? TIA
Hello! Thanks so much for posting these fantastic videos. I have just found myself in a possession of a White Rotary series 77. It's in a cabinet and has a knee lever which I cannot for the life of me figure out how to use. I've never used one before and it looks as though it needs to be "released" somehow. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks very much!
Good evening, I came across your page, gratefully am I!!! I just purchased and had serviced a white model 43 . I’m hoping to learn how to navigate this machine. Do you have any advice on how to thread and fill the bobbin? I would appreciate any advice please. Thank you
I just purchased this beauty...love the cabinet too...my question is there a place to find information on this brand, ismac does not have much to offer as to dates of manufactured etc...thanks for all your videos ❤️🍁
I got this machine a few weeks ago it's in amazing condition but I am having trouble with the feed dogs. The feed dogs are not pulling the fabric through. I have tried to adjust them. I watched all your other videos on this machine but I didn't see anything about feed dogs. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have found a 77 in a cabinet I'm contemplating to purchase, however I'm really curious how these are for sewing through thick layers. For example in purse making all the featherweight team girls go on and on how theirs so through everything. Leather, many layers of quilt cotton with batting, interfacing, etc. Would this machine in prime running condition be able to do the same thing? I am really hoping the answer is yes. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Wendy
Just got one trying to learn more about it. Most likely you already sold your already. But I also have the magic key button-holder in the plastic container. Is that really necessary / worth taking apart and attaching it. ps I don’t know how to saw husband finally going to teach me, after asking for years.
If you have the manual for how to use the buttonholer, they can be great devices and often make very nice buttonhole pattens. You might compare the holes that makes with those from a machine with built-in buttonhole features and then you can decide if its worth using.
I have one of these machines that came in a cabinet. The wiring was absolutely and completely crumbled and degraded. I have the plug. But the rest of the parts of the wiring, in addition to being degraded, were unsafe. I can't find any videos to help with rewiring the plug to new wiring.. to the wall and to a new foot control. Can you point me in the right direction?
Hello Lori. Well, the good news is that these machines were made in very larges numbers, second only to Singer in popularity. You can get brand new reproduction replacement cords with plugs at a number of sources. If you get this at Sew-Classic, you can also get a new foot pedal and for a few dollars, they will wire the foot pedal you purchased from them to the cord you get. I think its a pretty great value. Note that your machine may need other types of repairs, but for the power cord issues you have, it may work well. For the pedal, I normally go with their generic electronic 1.2 amp pedal. If you have questions, you can email them when you are on their site. When you are at the site, there is a menu on the left to help shop. Under the Foot Control/Pedals selection, there is an option called, "Get it Wired". You can add that to your shopping cart if you choose to. Here is the link to the page with the cord to get you started. shop.sew-classic.com/Cord-3-blade-slot-Kenmore-White-Sewing-Machine-SCE-660-5.htm
Hello Dwight. Unfortunately, not very much. Unlike the ISMACS site which has quite a good database for vintage Singer serial #s, I have not come across any good resource for White Rotarys or any of their private label brands such as Kenmore Rotarys. Some years back, there was a great blog on the history of the White sewing machine company, but I am not sure it still exists. The best resource to check might be a vintage sewing machine group or club on sites such as Facebook and others. Please let us know if you come across a good one. The most I can tell on Rotarys is their model numbers and approximate decade of production. Fortunately, they were slow to make changes which makes is at least an approximate guess.
Hello I am starting a rehab of this exact machine. I would love to systematically watch the videos you created as you did all the steps listed in this debut video. Could you list them and maybe even suggest an order to approach the project? Thank you so much!
Hi Lisa. Yes, here is the first in a series that cover this model. If you search the channel Playlists under "ROTARY SERIES", you should find all of them.
I have been cleaning a White 77 for last 2 days. Your videos are so helpful. I decided I could restore it after your videos. I'm also cleaning a Riccar RZ-204BW. I can't find any info. One video but not helpful in restoration. It also had the number 302 on bottom. I would love to see the Riccar model I have, restored on your channel. Any info about that sewing machine helpful. They both look pretty good besides some rubber belts. It's so helpful when you talk about each piece part. I don't even know the names of parts yet. I have never sew before. I like the hard way! Very well made machine's. I'm inspired:)
Great video! I'm new to sewing on a machine and we found this guy in the garage. Does anyone know why the needle isnt grabbing the bottom thread when sewing? I was able to pull the bottom thread through just fine, but when i run the machine it wont make a stitch (just pokes holes). Thanks!
It could also be that the needle is not in the correct position. I'm used to my modern machines and this is something that I experienced. Once I adjusted the needle position, it was able to make stitches.
I purchased a white rotary 77 and did the maintenance very similar to the things you have explained on your series. My problem is I can't control the speed of the stitching. It had a side knee lever, I thought that might be my problem because of not being accustomed to knee levers I changed it to to foot pedal. It did not help, the speed just continue s to climb. Any suggestions to what may be the problem?
Hi Juliet. Can you recall what kind of foot pedal you replaced your knee controller with? Some analog speed controllers are not as sensitive as others. Most of the time, replacement with a generic electronic foot pedal can sometimes offer more speed control.
I hope that solves it for you Steve. If you get the electronic pedal and it still has speed issues, it may have other electrical issues that need to be addressed.
I have a domestic rotary, I think it's model number 153. I got it in 1974, it has recently started to freeze when I try to sew. I now have to manually turn the wheel each time I try to sew to get it going. I took it to be cleaned and see if they could find the problem. The guy kept it for over six months before I took it back, he said the machine was built around the mechanisms so they could not be taken out to be cleaned or degunked. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you
What you were told is not true, nor necessary. Once I have gone over a machine to inspect it, as long as its not frozen, I begin cleaning the mechnahisms with alcohol (91 %) but those mechanisms are left in place. Any parts I remove for cleaning are meant to be taken off or apart such as the shuttle hook/bobbin case as well as any area that has access screws such as the stitch length regulator or hand wheel. Once this is all tended to, I install new needels and thread and do some testing to see how the machine responds. The shop you took this to likely has not worked on these or does not care to. Causes to what is occurring with you machine could be varied so I don't know for sure. Always check your machine's needle and threading. Threading can sometimes be redone and issues resolve or it might involve how the bobbin case is threaded. Take a look at any of my vidoes for this machine by just searching my channel under key words like White Rotary and see if any of these issues appear on your machine. Last but not least, look at my videos on cleaning the hand wheel and rubber friction pulley. Don't forget to inspect the pulley for bals or dimplse spots as that can cause the symptoms you describe. There is no reason why, without some detective work, you can bring your Domestic back. Your 153 model was made around the same time and in the same factory as my White machine was.
Hey Vintage Sewing Machine Garage thanks for your kind replay it's greatly appreciated. I have watched all your videos which is why I contacted you. Your home page didn't have an email link so I could not contact you personally. I tried to use 91 alcohol and it didn't work because I couldn't get it up inside to the mechanisms that can't come out of the machine, I didn't have a spray bottle which probably would have worked so I used goo gone spray to get to the parts and it runs much better but I still had to manually crank the wheel just not as hard, then I noticed if I lightly touched the motor to pull it closer or tighter to the wheel it ran better and I didn't need to crank the wheel but then I tried to sew with it and it hesitates then takes off so I think the motor needs adjusting or spring may need to be replaced. Thanks again for your help
i have the 153. I have not sewn on mine because i have never used an older machine and i am pretty new to sewing but i want to use it i already bought feet for them and a rubber tire. I want to work on mine. If i need any help i can get answers
There isn't a wiring diagram but the plug on my machine says right on it which wire color goes where. Also, I have seen replacement pedals online. They are listed under Kenmore
There can be many causes for this, but a simple step would be to completely rethread your machine both upper and lower thread. Also, try installing a new needle and double-check to ensure its installed properly. This process can eliminate simple causes of the issue and allows you to inspect things like how the bobbin is threaded. It only takes one of these settings to be off and a machine can not function properly. If this does not solve it, it may need further inspection.
You mean the hook doesn't grab it on 1 one rotation? These are cool, they turn clockwise instead of back towards you, thought it'd be confusing having both, but it's like having a 4 speed coup and a 5 speed bike, you just know what you're driving when you get behind it. Might be your hook needs to be timed or wrong needle
There's is a manual online kinda through singer but you might be able to dl that👍🏻 walks you right through the 77 front to back and all attachments, ours is killer for denim, wouldn't trade it for a truck, goodluck
One time I was frazzled & it turned out the person didn't have manual & didn't know to draw up thread 1st before putting in fabric lol, after an hour of trying to help them, we figured that out, they were sewing in less than 2 minutes later, was their 1st time lol, kids don't know sometimes because schools have replaced sewing with learning computers & apps, kind of sad really
Oh yeah, lift presser foot before setting tension dial, when you drop the foot it engages your tention, without lifting you could turn it from 2 to 7, doesn't change dial it where desired, then drop lever & sew
great video was wondering if you know anyone who might want to buy these machines i have i have a singer ah396910 singer c4673255 and a white 243-9004 i dont kno if they are worth money thank you
No entiendo tus explicacion poque no hablo incles pero ledigo que yo tengo una de lsa primeras rotari y la vendo para coleccion le faltan la bobina y caretel estoy en el salvador es original
I found one of these in the home we purchased and let my daughter use it as a table. I recently am learning to sew and decided to check it out before purchasing a new one. I am in love and it appears to be in amazing shape. These videos will help me keep it serviced. Thank you so much
Wonderful!
I LOVE this video! I learned to sew on this same machine over 60 years ago. It was my Mother's and I still have it. I run it periodically so it doesn't freeze and I still can visualize her sitting at it making and fixing clothes for three lively kids. I even have a duplicate that I bought last year just in case I need parts for it. It's a magnificent machine and I love it but I'm a machine addict (machine nutcase if you ask my husband). I have eleven machines currently and am waiting for another vintage Kenmore that's in the restoration process right now. Nine of the machines are vintage and two are modern.
I fell in love with sewing, so when I was a teenager Mom had to get me my own machine because she needed the use of hers again!
I was VERY lucky as she bought me a Kenmore 158-14000. It was a beauty and it had stretch stitches - yippee! I was in heaven except for one thing - it took me a year or so to get used to a foot pedal! I was so used to Mom's knee pedal. I ran that machine into the ground and since I didn't know any better, hardly took care of it properly. But it never died! I don't have that Kenmore anymore (silly me) but last year I obtained a refurbished duplicate. I'm in heaven again. Next to my modern machines, it and a "Keatherweight" 158-10400 are my favorites. I love vintage Kenmore's. The ones I have will be around and still functioning beautifully when my modern machines are landfill fodder.
Now I have to go back at watch all your videos about the restoration of the model 77. Fun!
That is such a gorgeous machine.
I am still looking for proper parts and seem close to
beginning reuse of my vintage White Rotary (my grandmother’s) .
I really appreciate your wonderful instruction.
I need the replaceable rubber drive wheel.
I purchased the smaller size, so am hunting for the larger part.
I have watched you multiple times and just need
to thank you again from California 💙
I too am looking for parts for one of these. I need the knobs for the tension and the stitch length. Considering having a machinist friend make me some. I haven't found much out there by way of parts.
Thank you for the fantastic videos! I have 2 White 77s (pretty sure, slight differences) and both won't pick up the bobbin thread. They have different bobbin cases and both easily eat the top thread, and I have to tear them apart to clean out all the thread. Any ideas? TIA
Another question. Have the 77MG machine which hasn't been used for years. Should I blow out the oiling points before adding new oil?
Hello! Thanks so much for posting these fantastic videos. I have just found myself in a possession of a White Rotary series 77. It's in a cabinet and has a knee lever which I cannot for the life of me figure out how to use. I've never used one before and it looks as though it needs to be "released" somehow. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks very much!
Good evening, I came across your page, gratefully am I!!!
I just purchased and had serviced a white model 43 . I’m hoping to learn how to navigate this machine. Do you have any advice on how to thread and fill the bobbin? I would appreciate any advice please. Thank you
I just purchased this beauty...love the cabinet too...my question is there a place to find information on this brand, ismac does not have much to offer as to dates of manufactured etc...thanks for all your videos ❤️🍁
Thank you
I got this machine a few weeks ago it's in amazing condition but I am having trouble with the feed dogs. The feed dogs are not pulling the fabric through. I have tried to adjust them. I watched all your other videos on this machine but I didn't see anything about feed dogs. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have found a 77 in a cabinet I'm contemplating to purchase, however I'm really curious how these are for sewing through thick layers. For example in purse making all the featherweight team girls go on and on how theirs so through everything. Leather, many layers of quilt cotton with batting, interfacing, etc. Would this machine in prime running condition be able to do the same thing? I am really hoping the answer is yes. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Wendy
Is there a way to repair the crinkle finish?
Just got one trying to learn more about it. Most likely you already sold your already. But I also have the magic key button-holder in the plastic container. Is that really necessary / worth taking apart and attaching it. ps I don’t know how to saw husband finally going to teach me, after asking for years.
If you have the manual for how to use the buttonholer, they can be great devices and often make very nice buttonhole pattens. You might compare the holes that makes with those from a machine with built-in buttonhole features and then you can decide if its worth using.
I have one of these machines that came in a cabinet. The wiring was absolutely and completely crumbled and degraded. I have the plug. But the rest of the parts of the wiring, in addition to being degraded, were unsafe. I can't find any videos to help with rewiring the plug to new wiring.. to the wall and to a new foot control. Can you point me in the right direction?
Hello Lori. Well, the good news is that these machines were made in very larges numbers, second only to Singer in popularity. You can get brand new reproduction replacement cords with plugs at a number of sources. If you get this at Sew-Classic, you can also get a new foot pedal and for a few dollars, they will wire the foot pedal you purchased from them to the cord you get. I think its a pretty great value. Note that your machine may need other types of repairs, but for the power cord issues you have, it may work well. For the pedal, I normally go with their generic electronic 1.2 amp pedal. If you have questions, you can email them when you are on their site. When you are at the site, there is a menu on the left to help shop. Under the Foot Control/Pedals selection, there is an option called, "Get it Wired". You can add that to your shopping cart if you choose to. Here is the link to the page with the cord to get you started.
shop.sew-classic.com/Cord-3-blade-slot-Kenmore-White-Sewing-Machine-SCE-660-5.htm
Have an off subject question. What can you tell me about a White Rotary 43X108627? Have a hard time finding serial number information.
Hello Dwight. Unfortunately, not very much. Unlike the ISMACS site which has quite a good database for vintage Singer serial #s, I have not come across any good resource for White Rotarys or any of their private label brands such as Kenmore Rotarys. Some years back, there was a great blog on the history of the White sewing machine company, but I am not sure it still exists. The best resource to check might be a vintage sewing machine group or club on sites such as Facebook and others. Please let us know if you come across a good one. The most I can tell on Rotarys is their model numbers and approximate decade of production. Fortunately, they were slow to make changes which makes is at least an approximate guess.
Hello
I am starting a rehab of this exact machine. I would love to systematically watch the videos you created as you did all the steps listed in this debut video. Could you list them and maybe even suggest an order to approach the project? Thank you so much!
Hi Lisa. Yes, here is the first in a series that cover this model. If you search the channel Playlists under "ROTARY SERIES", you should find all of them.
I have been cleaning a White 77 for last 2 days. Your videos are so helpful. I decided I could restore it after your videos. I'm also cleaning a Riccar RZ-204BW. I can't find any info. One video but not helpful in restoration. It also had the number 302 on bottom. I would love to see the Riccar model I have, restored on your channel. Any info about that sewing machine helpful. They both look pretty good besides some rubber belts. It's so helpful when you talk about each piece part. I don't even know the names of parts yet. I have never sew before. I like the hard way! Very well made machine's. I'm inspired:)
Great video! I'm new to sewing on a machine and we found this guy in the garage. Does anyone know why the needle isnt grabbing the bottom thread when sewing? I was able to pull the bottom thread through just fine, but when i run the machine it wont make a stitch (just pokes holes). Thanks!
I was going to say I had the same problem, but I was cranking the hand wheel the wrong way. But it seems that is not your problem.
It could also be that the needle is not in the correct position. I'm used to my modern machines and this is something that I experienced. Once I adjusted the needle position, it was able to make stitches.
I purchased a white rotary 77 and did the maintenance very similar to the things you have explained on your series. My problem is I can't control the speed of the stitching. It had a side knee lever, I thought that might be my problem because of not being accustomed to knee levers I changed it to to foot pedal. It did not help, the speed just continue s to climb. Any suggestions to what may be the problem?
Hi Juliet. Can you recall what kind of foot pedal you replaced your knee controller with? Some analog speed controllers are not as sensitive as others. Most of the time, replacement with a generic electronic foot pedal can sometimes offer more speed control.
@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Hi this is Juliet's, husband, thank you for the feedback. We will get an electronic controller shortly.
I hope that solves it for you Steve. If you get the electronic pedal and it still has speed issues, it may have other electrical issues that need to be addressed.
@@VintageSewingMachineGarageThe new electronic pedal worked, yay! Thank you for your advice. Juliet
I have a domestic rotary, I think it's model number 153. I got it in 1974, it has recently started to freeze when I try to sew. I now have to manually turn the wheel each time I try to sew to get it going. I took it to be cleaned and see if they could find the problem. The guy kept it for over six months before I took it back, he said the machine was built around the mechanisms so they could not be taken out to be cleaned or degunked. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you
What you were told is not true, nor necessary. Once I have gone over a machine to inspect it, as long as its not frozen, I begin cleaning the mechnahisms with alcohol (91 %) but those mechanisms are left in place. Any parts I remove for cleaning are meant to be taken off or apart such as the shuttle hook/bobbin case as well as any area that has access screws such as the stitch length regulator or hand wheel. Once this is all tended to, I install new needels and thread and do some testing to see how the machine responds. The shop you took this to likely has not worked on these or does not care to. Causes to what is occurring with you machine could be varied so I don't know for sure. Always check your machine's needle and threading. Threading can sometimes be redone and issues resolve or it might involve how the bobbin case is threaded. Take a look at any of my vidoes for this machine by just searching my channel under key words like White Rotary and see if any of these issues appear on your machine. Last but not least, look at my videos on cleaning the hand wheel and rubber friction pulley. Don't forget to inspect the pulley for bals or dimplse spots as that can cause the symptoms you describe. There is no reason why, without some detective work, you can bring your Domestic back. Your 153 model was made around the same time and in the same factory as my White machine was.
Hey Vintage Sewing Machine Garage thanks for your kind replay it's greatly appreciated. I have watched all your videos which is why I contacted you. Your home page didn't have an email link so I could not contact you personally. I tried to use 91 alcohol and it didn't work because I couldn't get it up inside to the mechanisms that can't come out of the machine, I didn't have a spray bottle which probably would have worked so I used goo gone spray to get to the parts and it runs much better but I still had to manually crank the wheel just not as hard, then I noticed if I lightly touched the motor to pull it closer or tighter to the wheel it ran better and I didn't need to crank the wheel but then I tried to sew with it and it hesitates then takes off so I think the motor needs adjusting or spring may need to be replaced. Thanks again for your help
i have the 153. I have not sewn on mine because i have never used an older machine and i am pretty new to sewing but i want to use it i already bought feet for them and a rubber tire. I want to work on mine. If i need any help i can get answers
Does anyone have a wiring diagram or information on how to wire the foot pedal plug on a white 77MG machine
There isn't a wiring diagram but the plug on my machine says right on it which wire color goes where. Also, I have seen replacement pedals online. They are listed under Kenmore
Amanda, thanks for the reply. I did get the original switch working.
What is the model number of this machine?
Hola me puedes decir donde se toca para que comience a trabajar?
What do you do when the needle will not pickup bobbin thread?
There can be many causes for this, but a simple step would be to completely rethread your machine both upper and lower thread. Also, try installing a new needle and double-check to ensure its installed properly. This process can eliminate simple causes of the issue and allows you to inspect things like how the bobbin is threaded. It only takes one of these settings to be off and a machine can not function properly. If this does not solve it, it may need further inspection.
You mean the hook doesn't grab it on 1 one rotation? These are cool, they turn clockwise instead of back towards you, thought it'd be confusing having both, but it's like having a 4 speed coup and a 5 speed bike, you just know what you're driving when you get behind it. Might be your hook needs to be timed or wrong needle
There's is a manual online kinda through singer but you might be able to dl that👍🏻 walks you right through the 77 front to back and all attachments, ours is killer for denim, wouldn't trade it for a truck, goodluck
One time I was frazzled & it turned out the person didn't have manual & didn't know to draw up thread 1st before putting in fabric lol, after an hour of trying to help them, we figured that out, they were sewing in less than 2 minutes later, was their 1st time lol, kids don't know sometimes because schools have replaced sewing with learning computers & apps, kind of sad really
Oh yeah, lift presser foot before setting tension dial, when you drop the foot it engages your tention, without lifting you could turn it from 2 to 7, doesn't change dial it where desired, then drop lever & sew
great video was wondering if you know anyone who might want to buy these machines i have i have a singer ah396910 singer c4673255 and a white 243-9004 i dont kno if they are worth money thank you
No entiendo tus explicacion poque no hablo incles pero ledigo que yo tengo una de lsa primeras rotari y la vendo para coleccion le faltan la bobina y caretel estoy en el salvador es original