SCORE! A Singer Athena 2000!

[danemodsandy]

I am SO HAPPY!

I have just gotten a replacement for my late, lamented Singer Athena 2000 that I had to leave behind when I moved from Atlanta to Waterloo.

For some time now, I have had a Singer Touch-Tronic 2010, which was a later machine than the Athena. It's a very nice machine, but it's not an Athena, which was the machine I lusted after when it came out in '75. $1500 was the price - plus another $400 for the TOL cabinet I wanted - and at the time, I stood as much chance of winning the lottery as I stood of affording all that. And there wasn't any lottery then.

Attached is a photo of an Athena, though not the one I just got. I'm busy giving the one that just arrived the spa treatment - she's a dirty girl, though she's sound under the grime. I also have to order a round of consumables - rubber feed dogs, foam inserts for the spool holders, etc.

Hopefully soon I'll be back to sewing on my favorite machine - it has been way too long. Just being able to touch an Athena brings back good memories. When this old girl is back in good shape, she goes into my No. 266 Swing-Away cabinet, the TOL cabinet Singer introduced with the Athena. Four feet wide, and solid wood.

Life is good.

[this post was last edited: 3/13/2013-13:17]

 

[danemodsandy]

This Was the Atlanta Athena:

This was the Atlanta house, with my Athena 2000 in a No. 266 Swing-Away cabinet.  I have the identical cabinet here in Waterloo, currently housing the Touch-Tronic 2010.  Soon, the Touch-Tronic will give way to the new Athena, and I'll be back in Singer Nirvana.

 

Yes, the cat - Tony - is still with me.  And yes, he still likes to play house in the sewing machine cabinet.

 

[yogitunes]

MAJOR Congrats are in order.......

I too have an Athena and a 2010.....the 2010 is my favorite, and in the cabinet as of now.....

my sister was using the Athena, but it seems to be overheating, so I have to look into what the cause is....it may have to go into service...

great machines......many years of happy sewing

 

[petek]

Hip hip hooray an Athena's come your way!!!

We will be expecting a video performance LOL I've never seen one operate.

 

[gansky1]

Just thinking about you last night when I came across this Athena on our CL

http://omaha.craigslist.org/art/3665627669.html

 

[maytagbear]

Tony is a handsome fellow,

and I am glad you got a dream machine!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[danemodsandy]

Yogi:

If your Athena is overheating, it may be due for a replacement motor, which is not the end of the world. Checking/replacing the motor and timing belts should be part of this, plus doing the recommended lubrication. As you know, Athenas are designed to be lubed by a technician instead of being oiled by the owner.

There are other possible causes, but none of them are all that likely.

 

[danemodsandy]

Greg:

Golly, I'm almost tempted!

That thing is is really NICE shape - not even any UV/nicotine yellowing. And I've kind of hankered after a second cabinet, because I have a Lady Kenmore 1914 machine back in Atlanta, and the Swing-Away cabinets fit that machine, too.

A pair of Swing-Away cabinets would make great small buffets in a dining room, dontcha think?

Nah. I'd better be good. Plus, a dining room is a little ways off. [this post was last edited: 3/13/2013-18:08]

 

[twintubdexter]

It's nice to see these vintage TOL-in-their-day Singers being taken care of and appreciated. Those cabinets are really very nice too. When I recently got my Singer 380 cabinet it came with a new-looking Touch-Tronic 2001. A friend who's a "know-it-all" when it comes to sewing machines said "you might as well put that thing in the trash because it's junk" but of course I didn't. It runs very smoothly and all the stitches work. It's resting comfortably in the bottom section of the cabinet.

 

[norgeway]

I still have..

My Mothers Slant Needle 301 she bought new in 58, and a newer zig zag model 503, I love these machines, its sad what became of Singer, in fact what became of all the US sewing machines, My Aunt still has her 1948 Free Westinghouse.

 

[yogitunes]

Thanks for the info....I am checking a few things out first....but as mentioned, it will be better to go in for service by a technician who knows what these really need to get it back in top shape.....

these are some nice machines.......

I still have my grandmothers trendle Singer.....I still play with the pedal getting that big wheel spinning as fast as I can....we never grow up....

and theres also my Mothers 60's Slant-O-Matic....

amazing all the stitches these machines can do....with a disc, or a simple push of a button.....

I like the puppydog stitch....have not found a reason to use it, but like to make it sew that pattern, just to watch it in action...

 

[petek]

They're all so nice looking and replete with buttons. Pray one doesn't show up near me. I've only had one sewing machine which was a vintage little green Elna but I left it behind in the big move east.

 

[danemodsandy]

Petek:

Why do you want us to pray one doesn't show up near you?

You know you want one of these puppies!

 

[ovrphil]

Nice machine - congrats big time!

 

[petek]

Karma from my above post or what

Good gawd. I'm out poking through the thrift stores earlier today and what is sitting at the Bibles for Missions Thrift.. An Athena 2000 for $80, no cabinet. There didn't seem to be a case for it so I asked the guy in the back and he said there wasn't a case for it but that they had had the service guy from a local vac/sew shop in to clean and lube it and it worked perfectly.. Normally I'd grab it but I'm really really trying not to buy any more stuff

 

[lokringbob]

I just saw one at the thrift store today!

There was the same Athena machine at the thrift store today. I think i will go back Monday and see if it is still there. I did not look closely so don't know if all the parts were with it. I have my Grandmother's 1956 Singer. I was told it was one of the first zig zag machines? Maybe I should trade up?

 

[dsely]

athena 2000 and cabinet how do I get them together?

I have an Athena and a swing away cabinet bought seperately but I can't figure how to get them together. See pics. Can anyone help. [email protected]

 

[yogitunes]

its been a while since I had mine pulled out to use.....

and of course, once it was put into the cabinet, never had a reason to remove it...

push your rear panel down for the free arm.....

there should be a, "L" type bracket that slides in to the machine just behind the free arm(there should be a round hole for this)....the smooth section goes into the machine, the threaded end goes down through one of the holes of the platform, then a washer and a wing nut fasten it in place...