traveling to grab a machine, How far?
 

Yesterday I picked up this Domestic 153MG. It was on craigslist 2 months ago. but 50 mils away in a direction I don't often travel. If it were a fabulous machine I would have gone for it quickly, but I let it rest. I happened to be going near it yesterday and grabbed it.
I have picked up machines in the four states that surround mine, but those trips have been tied to other reasons, not just VSMs. I know Steve has crossed this country picking up sewing machines, but those trips have been tied to family. Who has travelled the farthest just to get a sewing machine? My record would be about 100 miles. [ATTACH=CONFIG]583283[/ATTACH]

most of my trips were first for sewing machines and second for any other reason that came up. Based on where I live, it would be rare for me to get one without having to drive at least 60 miles one way. I have made several trips into the Twin Cities specifically to pick up machines, but always do a bit of shopping while I'm there.

Maybe the farthest I've gone that I did nothing else but pick up a machine was maybe 150 miles one way. Interestingly enough, it wasn't even for me - it was to pick up the Politype for SteveH. I also drove quite a way ( to northern NE) to pick up the Featherweight cabinet.

For me, 50 miles away is nothing, but I drive 84 miles one way to get to work. Living rural does that to one.

I once bought an original Handi Quilter, you know the kind you would tape the tracks onto your counter and use your DSM? It was about 280 miles away, but we met in the middle. The farthest for a machine was about 115 miles.

10 years ago it was 400 miles from Kansas to Iowa for a Wheeler & Wilson #(1?3?). Now it’s no more than 2 hours.

200 miles one way for a Singer 301a.

Oh My, maybe I should have asked for machine pictures too. Making me feel like a slacker.

Ohoh, It looks like I might be the craziest- 365 miles one way, from south of Milwaukee to outside of Minneapolis for my 15-88 in a cabinet. All in one day, makes for a long day with over 10 hours road time. Of course, I have driven all the way to Virginia for a loom! LOL

Years ago I was talking with Jason Collingwood, a very good rug weaving teacher. I was giving him a ride after one of his workshops and I told him that I would be going to Pennsylvania in July for MAFA, which is a regional weaving conference & we were in Wisconsin at the time. He laughed and said Americans think 200 years is old and the English think 200 miles is far:-)

About 180 miiles, to pick up a gifted treadle and stand. It was such a fun trip, new years day, and the machine was a gift from Dick Wightman, the man behind the treadleon group.

I bought my First Grover & Baker Doublechainstitch treadle from a thrift shop in Walla Walla Washington (775 miles each way)(drove there, visited for 30 minutes, drove home)

I just "daytripped" to Corvallis Oregon (578 miles each way) for my Singer Letter A treadle about a month ago (drove up, loaded it, drove home)

I did drive to Kansas from San Diego, CA to get a treadle machine from my grandmother, but that probably doesn't count. Since I love road trips I would drive pretty far. A friend of mine lives in Phoenix and I would go there without thinking twice - Same with Las Vegas.