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-   For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts (https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/)
-   -   Sticking my toe in the waters of Vintage Sewing Machines (https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/sticking-my-toe-waters-vintage-sewing-machines-t191776.html)

quiltingweb 06-17-2012 06:19 AM

Friday I was so excited to be going to two more estate sales. Neither one of them had ANYTHING I wanted, no sewing machines, no fabric, no antique quilt tops ready for me to take home and quilt...What? A house with no sewing? Is that even possible? I guess so...I wonder how my kids will handle all my STUFF when I'm gone. I've already told them, my sister and my best friend should get first chance at all the sewing stuff. They'll know what they're looking at...not just a bunch of fabric, but POSSIBILITIES! (There was a dumpster at one of the houses. My 13 year old wouldn't let me look inside. She knows me too well.)

Tink's Mom 06-17-2012 06:29 AM

If all else fails...check on Ebay for some drawers for your new machine.
I sold some there years ago from a treadle cabinet that was beyond help....the base was fine, with a paint job....the drawers were fine...the top was water damaged and destroyed. So installed a piece of marble to the legs and wa-laaaa.... a new table for me.

Silver Needle 06-17-2012 07:04 AM

Congratulations to your toe! BEWARE,!! We started with one working treadle in a cabinet (pd too much but sews like dream). We now have 7 different vintage machines! HELP we need a 12 step program for addiction to vintage machines. Luckily or unluckily DH is as addicted as I am. Looks like you have a fun project on your hands.

Charlee 06-17-2012 07:11 AM


Originally Posted by quiltingweb (Post 5293620)
It's also the name of a town here in Minnesota. There's also Minnehaha park, Minnehaha Falls, Minnehaha Ave...etc. (Lots of American Indian influence in the town names around here...I live in Mahtomedi) I thought maybe it was a branded machine with a local connection...maybe Montgomery Wards answer to Sears. I really can't find a definitive answer to who made the machine, where, when. If the last patent date listed is 1904, can we determine she was made on or around that date?

No. Patent dates are only good for saying that the machine was NOT made before that date. Some patented "things" were made years after their original patent dates listed. Seldom is a patent date for an entire machine, most often it's for one feature or another, i.e., the bobbin winder or handwheel, etc..

If you know that your machine was sold by Monkey Wards, try a Google search for old catalogs or newspapers in the "Google Books".....you might be able to get a good line on a date from there. :)

quiltingweb 06-17-2012 08:48 AM

No, Charlee, I don't know where my machine came from. I'm just trying to figure it out. If it was a branded machine, made by "Company A" for "Store B"...and it's named Minnehaha...trying to guess what the local stores would have been that would have sold this machine. It's not top end fancy, in fact, it looks like the one "Montgomery Wards does not recommend" that keeps popping up when I do my search. It's charming, but not fancy by any means. Maybe I should concentrate on local department stores of the 1900-1920 era. I found a site that sells a manual for a Brunswick machine that looks very much like my machine.

quiltingweb 06-17-2012 11:03 AM

I want to be an OSMG! The knowledge they have about these machines is amazing!

quiltingweb 06-18-2012 08:24 PM

After looking at all the wonderful vintage machines here, I'm going to look at old machines at thrift stores and garage sales differently from now on. And next time I have a box of accessories in my hand, I'm not putting them back, even if I can't use them, someone here probably can!

Caroline S 06-19-2012 05:42 AM


Originally Posted by quiltingweb (Post 5299740)
After looking at all the wonderful vintage machines here, I'm going to look at old machines at thrift stores and garage sales differently from now on. And next time I have a box of accessories in my hand, I'm not putting them back, even if I can't use them, someone here probably can!

Good girl Quiltingweb. You are getting good training. Sounds like the vintage bug is biting. Can't wait to see pics of the first vintage machine you find. We all know that should happen soon.:thumbup:

quiltingweb 06-22-2012 01:56 PM

Oh Caroline, I have a Kenmore that looks like it's from the 60s or 70s and it works great, a singer from 1969 that needs a little attention and my treadle machine, oh and a Singer ( I think it's a 99) that my neighbor GAVE me. It was her grandmother's. It works perfectly. Yes, this bug is biting all right.

xxxxxxxxxx 06-22-2012 02:45 PM

because of the badge on the upper right side, I'd guess it's made by national.

here 's a list of who made what .. I didn't see a Ha ha in this list ? you see many manufactors were only around 2 to 3 yrs

http://www.sewmuse.co.uk/american%20...ufacturers.htm


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