question about electrical safety with antique machines

[songbird857]

I've been watching some singer featherweights on ebay and Craigslist - saw a potential one...
My hubby has expressed some concern because these are not grounded. Has anyone changed the motor on theirs? any issues? My sweet hubs doesn't want me to get electrocuted
Ohhhh and I saw the sweetest cherry red featherweight on ebay ending tonight - it will be out of my budget range when it's done, so I won't be bidding - but it sure is a beauty!

[mpattylou]

I live in a house where none of the electrical outlets have a ground plug....use common sense....you won't get shocked. I plug and unplug things lots of times a day...do not get shocked.

[Simply Quilting]

I just checked all three of my sewing machines including the new Babylock Symphony that I bought this year. None of them are grounded. For older machines, just do a really good job of checking the cord. My old Singer has to have a new cord before I use it.

Also just an FYI some houses have the three prongs outlets that are suppose to be grounded but there is the possibility that the outlets are not grounded. We found this out on one house when we went to have some electrical work done on a house.

[Sandy Navas]

I agree with Simply Quilting - check the wiring, it's easy to get replacement wiring harnesses. Even my computerized machine isn't truly 'grounded' (aka no three prong . . . check what you are using now). And often there are three-prong outlets in homes but they aren't wired or aren't wired correctly. I have only changed out the motor on one of my old machines.

You do realize that the cherry red machines have been repainted??

[songbird857]

You do realize that the cherry red machines have been repainted??

Yes I just love red appliances! (call it the "oooh, pretty!" factor ) I will probably end up going with a black one anyway because I'm buying it for functionality over beauty
I appreciate the info on the electrical aspect - I will just check for faulty wiring on whatever I get and it will be fine

[Deegles]

Ok, I work with electrical engineers and posed the question about grounded vs. not grounded. They told me that grounded just means if it is grounded you are less likely to be electrocuted because the energized part can be sent to ground. I have an old model sewing machine from the 40s, all it has is a polarized plug. All that has ever went wrong with it once, the foot treadle went bad. I hope this helps.

[lourixe]

I don't know about vintage machines, but the modern ones are only 70 Watt, that's similar to the power of old incandescent bulbs so even in the eventual case of electric shock, it would be just tickling.