How /Why do you acquire "another" vintage machine?
 

How do you choose (or does the machine choose you?) which machines to bring home or look for?

By a specific model that you've seen or heard about?

Because it is/was "cute"?

Because someone gave it to you and you could not say "no"?

Because it was low priced?

Because it came with other machines and it was an "all or nothing" deal?

Because you felt pity for the machine?

Except for passing on the "all or nothing" deal I have to say yes to all. Now that I have way too many I won't buy just because it is cheap anymore. As my collection got bigger then I started looking for specific models. I am a gear head and like oddities. I had a rotoscillo Free on my want list and had one given to me. Huge score. I like VS and transverse shuttle machines . Bkay just sent me a F and R transverse as a surprise. I was stunned. Some I have bought I have thought. "I know I can sell this one at a profit if I ever get desperate." Not so much pity, but the challenge of bringing a rust bucket back to life is one of the appeals.

F and R Frister and Rossmann[ATTACH=CONFIG]583243[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]583244[/ATTACH]

Getting cleaner, moving easier.

Does that machine has mother of pearl inlay? I would love to have an old Singer with Mother Of Pearl.

I have around 100 machines and now I am a bit more selective of the ones that I purchase but when you can find a Singer in a dome case with a knee bar for $10-$25 I just cannot pass them up. I mostly have Singers, Kenmores, Brothers, a few Japanese Clones, Mont Ward, JC Penny, Elna, Necchi & Bernina. I have lately taken an interest in the little child's machines made by Necchi, Singer, Kenmore, Dressmaker, etc.

The old Singers I have were bought because of what I heard about them. I have a 201, 15, 301 and several Featherweights. I love them all but not really into collecting anymore. With the help of this board I got a couple of them running beautifully. It was fun as well. But now I guess I'm at my limit.

I buy machines that expand the range of what I can present in the shows we do. Pre-1900 machines are exciting for me because of all of the attempts at various technologies. some worked, some did not. Seeing the gradual tapering of the myriad of designs to basically 3 or 4 "systems" that we still use today is, for me, the coolest part. Each machine has a place in the show. At this point I am "one in, on out" regarding space. Each machine is stored in a position where it can be used, so when the 1864 Singer Letter A with MOP came available, I sold my Florence Plain leg treadle to make room.

yes, Blackberry, the F and R does have mother of pearl. Worn but still appeals to me. Perhaps we should have a KC area meet up. I am in Topeka.

Yes! LOL!

I am still trying to figure out how I ended up with all these machines. I started with an itch for a Featherweight, why? I do not know, but it just snowballed from there. People ask why and I just cannot explain and I am finding it darn near impossible to turn around and sell the ones I have. This is one of the strangest things that ever happened to me. All of my looms, those I know why I have them. The sewing machines, no idea whatsoever. Not much help, but there you have it.