Sunday, September 11, 2011

Singer 500A ‘Rocketeer’ & Cabinet Transformation

I blogged in a post just above this one, about this Singer 500A, also called the ‘Rocketeer’ sewing machine, because of it’s style. My husband bought it before I could even blink, and think about it. The cabinet is home made, and built well, but had some design flaws that I thought needed to be changed. The extending table to the right, and left, fold UP and OUT from each side to make the table much TOO MUCH longer.

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Now, who has THIS much space in their home to have it extended? I can’t think of many, including me. (The piece of wood on the top of the left table is the piece that fits into the top of the table where the head of the machine is now when the machine is lowered into the cabinet.) As you can see, the right table is just leaning open against my desk.

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You may have to enlarge the picture to see, but there are two ‘bars’ that slide OUT of the machine to hold up the left table. There are bars to hold up the right table as well.

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Of course, you all know me, and after I sewed on this machine, I fell in love, as I do with all my orphans (in this case Louie’s orphan), and I had to figure out how I could keep this machine in the cabinet and make it usable. As you can see, the cabinet maker used piano hinges to attach the tables, so what did I do? I took out all the screws in the piano hinges and flipped the tables over on both ends! Now, instead of the table flipping up and laying on the top, it folds down and lays against the side. The cabinet length is now 36” shorter, and can still be functional!

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I really can’t think of any reason why the left and right table would ever have to be extended but if the need ever arises, I am ready! (Louie says I can use his machine any time I want to!)

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Did you notice the little bracket the cabinet maker made to set the foot control in to keep it from sliding? There is a notch in it to hold it up against the back leg of the cabinet. The lady’s name who owned the machine was S. Hessler. Her name is on a piece of tape on the side of the foot controller. I think I’ll just leave it there.

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Be blessed!

Michelle

9 comments:

  1. You have such great ideas - turning the hinges around!

    All the sewing cabinets in this house have extensions that fold over the top. If one leaves the machine up, the extension is in the way.

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  2. That table would take up a huge amount of space when it is extended - and your solution was ingenious. Now it looks totally usable! Brilliant!

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  3. Louie is sew generous. It is nice he shares "his" new sewing machine. Have fun playing.

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  4. What a great idea to change the hinges! I would never have thought of that. :) blessings, marlene

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  5. Oh I love it. He really did do good.

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  6. Ha! You can use Louie's machine anytime you want to. ROFL!

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  7. Do you know how smart you are? I never would have thought of turning the hinges around.

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  8. Love it. I had a table built for one of my machines and I also had the arms hinged to fold down instead of up. Only I have to use a 2x2 leg for support because I didn't think of arms to support it. I am jealous that now you have TWO 500's. Take care. Lane

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