Material Witness

At a thrift store today I found a decent looking, clean Kenmore in a cabinet with a top that would fold over and close, but did not seem to have any drawers. It was charcoal gray and had a crinkle finish. Wheel turned freely, but wasn't sure what I'd do with it. $15 seemed reasonable.

janegb

I think I would buy it, but I collect old machines so the $15 price would appeal to me. You could also use it for parts, most are interchangable with Singer clones.

caroloto

I like the look of the Crinkle now! Did you get it? I love deals but I have learned besides just checking for the wheel to turn freely that I always check that it must have a bobbin case and bobbin and in good shape down there!

Material Witness

Oh, yes, I know to look for the bobbin case, but completely forgot! I do like the look, but I did not get it because I have two treadles that are just for looks, and we are supposed to be downsizing. The idea of buying it anyway is still simmering. Last summer I found a Morse at a flea market for $20, but bypassed it and now am regretting that.

J Miller

M W,

You don't use your treadles .... "treadles that are just for looks". For shame. If you're not gonna use 'em, you need to rehome them.
Otherwise their trauma will cause them to rust and eventually the veneer will peal away. Poor things.

As for the crinkle Kenmore, I have one that is very close to being the best straight stitch machine I have. Very solid, very easy to use, and not fickle at all.

Joe

Material Witness

Reprimand received, Joe. I just don't have time to fix the belt, or to do much sewing at all with working full time. But they are part of the family and I love them.

J Miller

Understood. And I was just teasing. I have so many machines that I can't use them all either. But I try to keep them up and in running condition so they don't deteriorate.

Joe

tessagin

Hope you bought it! $15.00 is a steal.

Rose_P

Material Witness, your description of the cabinet without drawers seems as if it could be like the parlor cabinet with my mom's 1949 Kenmore. There was a chair that had a large drawer fitted under it that opened to the side, where it would be reachable without getting up from the seat. The back of the chair fit closely into the cabinet, with the back designed to look like a stack of 3 drawers, grooved and with drawer pulls where they would be if they really were drawers. It had a beautiful mahogany finish, and really looked just like a small chest of drawers when closed. I have missed that machine, which was given to my SIL in 1969 because by that time my parents had gifted me with a new White zigzag machine and I clearly didn't need the old one. The SIL divorced my brother after 5 years, but I think she still has that machine! I learned to sew on that old Kenmore as a kid, and at the time had nothing to compare it to, but it gave me no problems. If I found one like it - with the complete cabinet - I would buy it, but without the chair the cabinet wouldn't look very nice. Still, $15 for the machine - not bad. My mom's crinkle finish was brown, so maybe this isn't the same machine, but probably close. The sad thing is that someone at the thrift store may have tagged the odd looking chair separately not realizing it went with that machine. It might be worthwhile going back for a closer look at their stuff. Can't imagine anyone would want the chair alone.

Material Witness

The chair sounds intriguing. This cabinet is in bad shape, but I have an antique furniture restorer friend. I believe I will go back and search for the chair, too. Thanks, everyone.