What used machines to look for?
06-15-2012, 07:15 AM
#1
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 611
What used machines to look for?
I have a local thrift store that keeps an entire ROOM of sewing machines. They are usually $15 or $20, never more. They have so many, I get overwhelmed! Literally hundreds! I don't have a lot of money, so this is about my only option for getting a decent machine.
Im thinking to look for the "big" names like Berina, Pfaff,etc? I am currently using a cheapie Brother that was still in the box, never used, from there for piecing. It does fine for piecing.
I'm using an old White for quilting, and it's about to fall apart,lol! I want something that the feed dogs drop, that would work decent for quilting.
What should I look for? I wish I could take you guys with me! I know there's some real gems just waiting for me!
Im thinking to look for the "big" names like Berina, Pfaff,etc? I am currently using a cheapie Brother that was still in the box, never used, from there for piecing. It does fine for piecing.
I'm using an old White for quilting, and it's about to fall apart,lol! I want something that the feed dogs drop, that would work decent for quilting.
What should I look for? I wish I could take you guys with me! I know there's some real gems just waiting for me!
06-15-2012, 07:25 AM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 7,741
Wow, I rarely see a vintage machine in the shops around my place. You are blessed. Singer 301 and 401 are great. The 401 has zigzag if that is important to you. The 301 is a straight stitch only but easy to change bobbin, service yourself, weighs about 16 pounds so great for taking to classes.
Click on the link below, it will take you to the Vintage Sewing Machine Shop on this site and put you on its last page. There are hundreds of pages you can glean from for all the info you could want about machines. Careful though, it can be addictive!
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/vintage-sewing-machine-shop-come-sit-spell-t43881-892.html
Click on the link below, it will take you to the Vintage Sewing Machine Shop on this site and put you on its last page. There are hundreds of pages you can glean from for all the info you could want about machines. Careful though, it can be addictive!
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/vintage-sewing-machine-shop-come-sit-spell-t43881-892.html
06-15-2012, 04:33 PM
#6
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Carmel Indiana
Posts: 440
Where it Kentucky? Time for a road trip LOL.
I would be very surprised to see a Bernina - remember the sewing machines in that thrift store were bought new 20-50 years ago. Bernina is a brand for very well off ladies, as far as i know. (I have never seen a thrift store bernina around here, lol) I would look for the very best Singers: 15-91, 201, featherweight, etc.
I would be very surprised to see a Bernina - remember the sewing machines in that thrift store were bought new 20-50 years ago. Bernina is a brand for very well off ladies, as far as i know. (I have never seen a thrift store bernina around here, lol) I would look for the very best Singers: 15-91, 201, featherweight, etc.
06-15-2012, 04:38 PM
#7
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 611
Originally Posted by Ginaky
I'm curious where you are in Kentucky with that room! I'm in Richmond, and I haven't seen anything like that around here. And I love my 2 Pfaff machines.
THanks for the link, Linda, off to check it out.
1000projects, I know, right? LOL! A girl can hope......
06-15-2012, 06:21 PM
#8
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
OMG! Sounds like vintage machine paradise!!!
Vintage Bernina's are absolutely wonderful machines and have all the glamour, as far as I am concerned. Vintage Pfaff, Singers and Viking can be outstanding. You may want to limit yourself to looking at a particular brand (Singer is popular) that has the feed dog and other characteristics you want (post here so people can give you the model numbers to look for).
I would probably bring along a very long extension cord (so you can plug a machine in and make sure it works without having to lug the machine over to an electrical outlet), some machine needles (standard Singer from JoAnn's and also the more modern machine needles), thread, threaded bobbins (I would purchase a few bobbins for class 15 machines and also class 66 machines; both very common for Singer and other manufacturers), scraps of quilting fabric, small scissors, and a cheap needle threader.
In terms of narrowing down your search and keeping costs down, I would start by eliminating any machine that is not complete (you need both the electrical plug-in and the foot controller). I would also skip over any machine whose wiring is brittle, damaged, or really really old. Obvious rust would also probably send me to the next machine.
Next test would be to look for the bobbin case (unless it's a top-loading bobbin). Bobbin cases can run $25 to $35 with shipping to replace; sometimes more for authentic vintage cases that tend to be better than reproduction cases. The bobbin case is what you put the bobbin into.
The next thing I would do is turn the hand wheel to make sure that the needle goes up and down. If you can't turn the wheel by hand, go to the next machine.
Next test would be to plug the machine in and make sure it turns on. At this point I usually remove the needle and then run the foot controller to make sure the foot controller works.
Last step is to actually thread the machine and sew on fabric, to make sure the machine forms a stitch. If everything else is okay but the machine does not form a stitch, this usually means a trip to a sewing machine technician to get the timing reset on the machine.
With that many machines to check out, you could determine before your visit exactly what model of Singer you want to look for. That would help reduce the time you spend looking at machines. Me, I'd be looking at any Bernina's first!
Vintage Bernina's are absolutely wonderful machines and have all the glamour, as far as I am concerned. Vintage Pfaff, Singers and Viking can be outstanding. You may want to limit yourself to looking at a particular brand (Singer is popular) that has the feed dog and other characteristics you want (post here so people can give you the model numbers to look for).
I would probably bring along a very long extension cord (so you can plug a machine in and make sure it works without having to lug the machine over to an electrical outlet), some machine needles (standard Singer from JoAnn's and also the more modern machine needles), thread, threaded bobbins (I would purchase a few bobbins for class 15 machines and also class 66 machines; both very common for Singer and other manufacturers), scraps of quilting fabric, small scissors, and a cheap needle threader.
In terms of narrowing down your search and keeping costs down, I would start by eliminating any machine that is not complete (you need both the electrical plug-in and the foot controller). I would also skip over any machine whose wiring is brittle, damaged, or really really old. Obvious rust would also probably send me to the next machine.
Next test would be to look for the bobbin case (unless it's a top-loading bobbin). Bobbin cases can run $25 to $35 with shipping to replace; sometimes more for authentic vintage cases that tend to be better than reproduction cases. The bobbin case is what you put the bobbin into.
The next thing I would do is turn the hand wheel to make sure that the needle goes up and down. If you can't turn the wheel by hand, go to the next machine.
Next test would be to plug the machine in and make sure it turns on. At this point I usually remove the needle and then run the foot controller to make sure the foot controller works.
Last step is to actually thread the machine and sew on fabric, to make sure the machine forms a stitch. If everything else is okay but the machine does not form a stitch, this usually means a trip to a sewing machine technician to get the timing reset on the machine.
With that many machines to check out, you could determine before your visit exactly what model of Singer you want to look for. That would help reduce the time you spend looking at machines. Me, I'd be looking at any Bernina's first!
06-15-2012, 06:56 PM
#10
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 317
You are so lucky to have such a resource for vintage machines. I have a Singer 15-91 as my back-up machine and a vintage Bernina 830, which is my primary machine. I agree with the others-- if you see a Bernina, buy it.
There are some Class 15 machines made in Japan that have the same functional design as the 15-91, but often have different paint colors and interesting badges,etc. I would love to buy several of those because I could use the same accessories but could keep them out on display. You may find several of those. The Singer 15-91, Class 15 clones, and the Singer 201 have a nice sized harp for FMQ or straight line quilting. I'll be testing mine out in a few weeks on a queen sized quilt.
There are some Class 15 machines made in Japan that have the same functional design as the 15-91, but often have different paint colors and interesting badges,etc. I would love to buy several of those because I could use the same accessories but could keep them out on display. You may find several of those. The Singer 15-91, Class 15 clones, and the Singer 201 have a nice sized harp for FMQ or straight line quilting. I'll be testing mine out in a few weeks on a queen sized quilt.
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