Help please with Singer sewing machine issues!

[sittinghippo]

I have been given a very old (circa 1890) Singer Sewing machine. I am desperate to have a go but am damned if I can figure out how to thread the bottom. It is on what I believe to be called a 'boat shuttle' and I CAN NOT work out how to fit the shuttle back on to its carrier.
I think once the shuttle is fitted in place I will be able to thread it all correctly, this is the only thing holding me up.
There is thread on the reel, thats not a problem, it is the fitting of the shuttle onto its carrier. I hope I'm making sense??

The model number is 11264297 if this is any help at all.

TIA

www.ehow.co.uk/how_5649063_thread-antique-singer-sewing-machine.html

Try the link above

Can you post up a pic, will be easier to tell how to do it then?

Thank you, I was lucky enough to discover a friend of mine is au fait with old Singers, and she came round to have a look for me.

Really embarrassing but I was literally trying to put it in back to front.

All up and running now so I can embark on my new hobby of patch-working! Woohoo.

I am so jealous, I'm desperately trying to find a working one of these for DD to learn on, it was my first sewing machine at 8 & I loved it, so much better for kids to learn with as much easier to control the speed, I just wish they'd bring back a modern version for kids - especially the hand pedal type