Abstract: A sewing machine having a modular oil reservoir attached to the frame and having a wick disposed above the lubricant level with one end abutting a wall of the reservoir and relies for its wetting upon the vibratory action of the machine during its operation. Normal machine operating vibration causes the lubricant to wet the walls of the reservoir and through capillary action the wick is wetted to supply lubricant to the needle bar and take up mechanism. This serves to supply relatively small but sufficient quantity of lubricant for lubricating purposes and when the machine is shut off, since the wick is not immersed in lubricant, no lubricant is fed through the system.