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Post by katievt on Jun 24, 2019 14:50:26 GMT
My latest interest is in vintage and antique sewing machines. I had purchased a gorgeous old Singer at an estate sale 2 years ago for $25 - it sat in storage and then in my sewing room since then. Turns out she's a 1923 Singer 127 in the Sphinx motif; her decals are in amazing condition! I believe she was converted from treadle to electric in the 50s. I plan to convert her back to treadle - my MIL has a treadle in the hayloft she's giving me!
But I'm just letting her sit for now while I work on a different machine. My husband noticed a sewing machine cabinet by the side of the road and it contained an old sewing machine! She is a Nelco probably from the 50s and looks like a Singer 15 clone. She is a pinkish tan color. I bought a new belt, bobbin case, and bobbins, and cleaned her up this weekend. Boy is she a fast machine!
Unfortunately, her bobbin case tangles every time I try to sew - doing some review, I believe I bought an 1 o'clock bobbin case and need an 11 o'clock case. I'll order one of those and hopefully get her back on the road.
I'll try to load photos later. |
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Post by Maura on Jun 24, 2019 14:58:46 GMT
Congratulations! I also have vintage machines. Because all the power goes up and down with no zig zag, they tend to be powerful, able to go through denim or leather with ease. I love mine.
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Post by farmchix on Jun 24, 2019 19:12:22 GMT
I have too many. *sigh*
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Post by katievt on Jun 24, 2019 21:00:03 GMT
Is there such a thing? 
I'm trying to be good - passed up a pretty 1957 Red Eye Singer this weekend. Guy wanted $150 for it; appeared to work, but needed bobbin case and bobbins and a good cleaning if nothing else. Might have been worth that, but I wasn't willing to spend that much.
My husband has told me that he's okay with my new hobby, but my machines need to stay in my sewing room AND we need to be able to get to the screened porch which is off it. I said OK, but the microwave cart needs a new home then!
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Post by Maura on Jun 24, 2019 23:02:53 GMT
Keep in mind- it is cheaper than drinking.
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Post by dw on Jun 28, 2019 0:19:23 GMT
Cheaper than drinking!!!! I LOVE that and must remember. I am a Singer fan: I have a 47, 49(my go to) and a 51 featherweight. Plus a hand crank & treadle. Two kids: one brn & one blk. A friend just gave me the 47...it works just need to master the threading.
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Post by Tim Horton on Jun 28, 2019 16:33:45 GMT
A few years ago I bought a Kenmore at a thrift store. It ran barely OK, but not well at all. Took it apart as much as I dared, cleaned a ton out of it, oiled and it worked better for the craft things I was doing at the time.
When it needed it, I took it to the service guy, with a note saying I just used it for crafts and didn't want to put a fortune into it.
His note said it was made by (I don't remember name, but good brand) in the 1960s. I did good cleaning, except for things only he would know. He said I better use it right as it will run practically forever.
I did write the name of the maker on the bottom cover of the machine, but would need to dig it out and remove from the case to see.
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Post by lindym on Jul 3, 2019 21:05:47 GMT
Is there such a thing? When we were getting ready to move to our "homestead" 5 years, I sold most of my 50 +/- sewing machines. It was hard to let some of them go: 2 Singer 221 Featherweights, a beautiful Lady Kenmore, 2 of my 3 Singer 301's, some others more than 100 years old, 2 from the 1860's, so actual antiques. Most were just 50's and 60's Singer and Kenmore's that followed me home from thrift shops and yard sales. I loved working on them and getting them cleaned up
We built a smallish house on our property and I have (I think) only 7 machines at this point. 3 are in my living room: a 1954 Singer 15 in a 1910 treadle parlor cabinet and newer 2 portables that I can't seem to find a good place to put. I have and do all use 3 of those periodically. The treadle not so much any more as DH keeps improving our solar system and I don't have to think so much about the power I am using.
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Post by lilith on May 2, 2020 14:37:31 GMT
Not sure where to start on explaining what I got going on with vintage sewing machines ... Short version is my grandfather was a hoarder, and left all his stuff to me. 7 acres, 14 out buildings, over 100 tractors, and most recently discovered, an unknown number of vintage sewing machines. Like an entire trailer house living room and kitchen packed to the ceiling with sewing supplies - and vintage machines in cabinets under all the boxes.
I found an amazing old man in town who still has a sewing machine repair shop in town. And he specializes in these old creatures. If you need repair work, I HIGHLY recommend him!!! He is extremely honest and his pricing is 1/4 of the shop across the road that I wouldn't let change a light bulb on my machines. He only charged me $57 to clean, repair, and fix the timing on my Morse fotomatic and that was with replaicing the top tension mechanism. Right now, he has my old White treddle machine with an electric conversion that was added sometime in the 50's. He said the machine is likely pre-1910 and one of the first White rotary machines but will get back to me.
It is worth giving him a call and finding out of he can help with your machines as well!
Robinson Sewing Center
572 Caldwell Blvd,
Nampa, ID 83651
1 208-466-7642
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Post by mogal on May 2, 2020 15:44:59 GMT
Remember, you can't be too thin, too rich or have too many treasures that make you happy. I have two very early 1900 Singer treadles in fancy cabinets, a Wheeler and Wilson #8, a '73 Singer I bought new (okay, I'm an old lady!!!) and MIL's Singer. The W&W requires a special curved needle no longer available or very expensive if you find one so it's not usable. I sold a Minnesota a couple of years ago. I've been able to find a Singer puzzle box with most of the attachments and original copies of the owner's manuals. I photocopied those for day to day use and stored the originals in acid free paper. FWIW, I have 3 intact bases. My plan is to remove the motor, etc., from my '73 machine and fit it to one of the bases I learned to sew on my grandmother's treadle machine when I was so small, I had to sit on the edge of the chair and position one foot on the far edge of the treadle and the other on the back edge of it. My mother decided she wanted a modern electric machine. The salesman gave her a whole $10 as a trade in. I begged my mother to let me have it, that I'd give up my allowance that I earned so not a real allowance, do extra chores, whatever to earn the $10. Her response was a disdainful "What are YOU going to do with it?" That didn't matter. The machine had belonged to the woman who did so much to shape my life (yes, the grandmother I talk about so much.) Anyway, the treadle went out the door. I could have bought the machine several times over if I had a dollar for every time I heard my mother say she wished she had kept it. Lilith, could I camp at your house while that repairman has my machines if I come out there? My other collection is spinning wheels--2 modern ones, 3 "walking wheels," 6 Saxony treadle wheels and one that was built by a survivor of WWI in Germany for his wife and daughters to use. They'd managed to keep a few sheep alive and planned to use the wheel to spin yarn for his family to make garments for sale as a stream of income. The wheel is very cleverly made but doesn't spin worth a hoot. We won't talk about the auxiliary pieces like flax equipment, wool and cotton cards, combs, clock reels. No, we won't talk about those... |
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Post by lilith on May 3, 2020 18:57:42 GMT
Lilith, could I camp at your house while that repairman has my machines if I come out there? I don't see an issue with that lol, there is a nice campground not far from here with full hookups as well, or you can ship them. |
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Post by mogal on May 3, 2020 19:31:42 GMT
Thank you, Lilith. According to Bing, it's about 1600 miles from me to the repairman's shop. I bet I could find someone a bit closer. Grin.
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Post by woodwind77 on May 3, 2020 21:51:52 GMT
I'm afraid I can't compete with some of you ladies when it comes to vintage machines. I have only three at the moment; two Singer 403's in cabinets, and a beautiful, shiny, black Singer 301A long bed portable.
I still mourn after a Singer 301 short bed in a cabinet with a matching stool, that I saw a in a thrift store several years ago. They were only asking $35 for it ! Unfortunately, my MIL was with us which meant not enough room in our car for it, so I had to walk away and leave it. The store wouldn't allow us to pay for it and pick up later.
I know the newer machines are nice and have a lot of good features, but I just have a love for vintage machines. They're not only beautiful, but they never seem to wear out.
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Post by mogal on May 4, 2020 1:40:54 GMT
Unfortunately, my MIL was with us which meant not enough room in our car for it MIL probably would have resented being tied to the roof to make room for the machine, right? Only a thought. |
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Post by LauraD on May 4, 2020 13:37:19 GMT
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Post by Jolly on May 4, 2020 14:02:40 GMT
Not sure where to start on explaining what I got going on with vintage sewing machines ... Short version is my grandfather was a hoarder, and left all his stuff to me. 7 acres, 14 out buildings, over 100 tractors, and most recently discovered, an unknown number of vintage sewing machines. Like an entire trailer house living room and kitchen packed to the ceiling with sewing supplies - and vintage machines in cabinets under all the boxes. I found an amazing old man in town who still has a sewing machine repair shop in town. And he specializes in these old creatures. If you need repair work, I HIGHLY recommend him!!! He is extremely honest and his pricing is 1/4 of the shop across the road that I wouldn't let change a light bulb on my machines. He only charged me $57 to clean, repair, and fix the timing on my Morse fotomatic and that was with replaicing the top tension mechanism. Right now, he has my old White treddle machine with an electric conversion that was added sometime in the 50's. He said the machine is likely pre-1910 and one of the first White rotary machines but will get back to me. It is worth giving him a call and finding out of he can help with your machines as well! Robinson Sewing Center 572 Caldwell Blvd, Nampa, ID 83651 1 208-466-7642 Lucky you! We had a retired gentleman in the community who ran a small business at home, repairing and restoring old sewing nachines. Since he died, nobody around here works on them.  |
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Post by woodwind77 on May 4, 2020 22:29:52 GMT
"MIL probably would have resented being tied to the roof to make room for the machine, right? Only a thought." Lol, mogal, ! I considered leaving her behind, but I don't think that would have gone over well with the hubby. |
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Post by Maura on May 5, 2020 15:37:56 GMT
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