Which are your favourite vintage machines and why?
 

Reading Mimibug123's recent thread about machine names, prompted me to ask what is/are your favourite vintage machines and why? If you could have only 2, perhaps 3 machines which ones would they be?

Clare

Great question, Clare! Well, let's see. I love my centennial Singer 201 for its beautiful stitches and the Singer 15-91 for the way it makes FMQ so much fun. Both are great straight stitch machines. In addition, I know I could not get by without my Bernina 830 Record which never gives me a moment's worry about tension and produces lovely stitches. It can do a few utility and decorative stitches too. And my ruby red Viking 6570 is equally reliable and worry free with a few more stitches. It's also portable which is a great advantage. But wait, that's four, isn't it? Honestly, that's as low as I would go -- and only then in case of dire necessity!

I'm eager to see what others say.

Singer 201, and Singer 401.

My Singer 201K hand crank. I have others, but that is the one I use 98% of the time. Beautiful stitches, so quiet. Absolutely love it.

for daily sewing, right now I seem to gravitate to: Pfaff 130(for heavy stuff), new Bernina(for fancy stitches), 201(for silks/delicates). I tried to have the Morse 4400 fill all roles, and while it does all of them ok the Morse doesn't do any roles better than the machines I have listed. And the FW for classes.

I would have a Singer 201, a Singer 15-91, Singer FW and I would need a 4th Singer 301. I keep a walking foot on the Singer 201, I keep an FMQ foot on the 15-91 and I use the FW and the 301 for piecing.

Clare,

Right now I have many machines. But I only have two specific machines I can call favorites and one brand model as a favorite.

The first specific favorite is my mom's old HOTHER. A 50s vintage Japanese 15 clone made my JUKI. Beautiful machine, she had it for as long as I can remember. Sewed with it until not long before her death when she got a Kenmore in a cabinet.
The other favorite machine is my Alden Model SUZ-2. Probably 60+ pattern combinations and it sews so nice.

The machine model that's my favorite is the Singer Model 66. They are big machines with a large arch, will sew threw most anything within reason and they are simple to maintain and fix. They have big parts, nothing flimsy and week in them.

Joe

Good question! I would have my 15-91 for FMQing. I would have my 1907 27 treadle for piecing. I'd have my featherweight for ruffling, tucking, and everyday sewing. I'd have my 66 treadle for sewing anything I could get under the foot! I'd have to keep my Janome 10001 for embroidery. That's about as thin as I could get my herd, I'm afraid.

My Lizzie{Singer 127} just because she's easy to sew and maintain. Sweet Baby Jane{ Singer Redeye} name says it all, she's just so sweet to sew on and so beautiful to look at! Lastly, Lil Bit, my Singer 66, just because I love her and she was my first machine!

Singer 301 for piecing and FMQ with the Elna 62C for everything else. It'd be hard to give up my pretty black clone badged MW, but the 301 wins. The others are extraneous. In fact, I'm getting ready to sell the 128, the Leader treadle and the Admiral.

My fav is my 66 Redeye. It never gives me any problem and also sews a nice stitch. Second is the two-spool for piecing it never runs out of bobbin thread during a sewing session. You can really load those old wooden spools with lots of thread.
Skip

I really like my Singer 201, Singer 301 and my Featherweight (1950 Centennial model). I still also really like my Bernina Record 830 purchased new in 1975.

I'm kinda partial to my Singer 401A, BUT I recently inherited a 66-16 that does the most perfect straight stitch I have ever seen.

My favorite, the Singer 301. She never lets me down. If only 301's could zigzag, it would be the perfect machine.

My Pfaff 1473 is my main machine and my Bernina 730E sits right beside it. Viking 6430 goes to classes. Necchi Supernova Ultra is downstairs with the quilting machine. But that's 3 oldies and there are more - -Pfaff 360 and 2 treadles. I sold over 1/2 dozen when I moved in '09 so whats left are my favorites and I would only willingly part with one treadle - the Ruby, have to keep the 1906 66K that needs a cabinet and extra feet.

I would have to say my Singer 99 since it is my only vintage one so far.

Tough choices. Hands down, I would keep my 15-91 for FMQ. I would keep my 201 hand crank for times when there is no electricity and her perfect stitch. I would keep one FW for piecing and ease of taking to classes. But I would really miss my 66 treadle... Please, can I keep 4????

I have 2 White Rotary machines. I love the fact that they have knee presses rather than a pedal. They also sew great.

My 201! I love the stitch & it's beautiful. I also just got an old Bernina 730 Record but haven't had time to sew on it yet... Also have a new Pfaff for the decorative stitches and main sewing. Anything heavy goes to the 201!

hSince I have a big collection of vintage machines (and use them), it is hard to pick a favorite but most days you will see me sitting with one of my FW----piecing away.....

My favorites are my Pfaffs 1222E(electric) and 60 treadle. I like the 1222E for its built in walking foot and the 60 for how nicely it sews; its a joy to treadle. I have a variety of machine brands and they all have their specialties.
The Singer Featherweights sew a lovely stitch and are light enough to travel easily, the Singer treadles all sew beautifully and can quilt as well as sew anything I can get under the presser foot.
Recently one of my FW went to the hospital with me to keep me busy piecing log cabin blocks while I had IV antibiotics for 2 days; wasn't sick except for the MRSA on my leg.
Sharon W.

201 wins, Bernina 830 Record second, Necchi Supernova for fun. Honorable mention Pfaff 260 and Elna SU. Most versatile Singer 319

I think I like all the ones that don't have plastic

Bernina 820 vintage, white Feather Weight and Singer 201 electric

some close seconds Singer 301, Singer 15-91, Singer 401, Singer Rocketteer, Elna, Pfaff, 201 hand cranck, Singer 15 treadle and a red eye in the nices cabinet just for eye candy

Oh I love them all.

If push came to shove, in a house fire, I'd save the 301's, then the FW's and then the Occupied Japan Bel Air and the very vintage Bernina. My very most favorite machine is my Rebeckah, my 301.

Chris

Lots of you like the 301. It's a machine I haven't come across in the UK. Is that because I haven't looked hard enough or because they were not manufactured in the UK?

My Singer 301 and my Singer 201. Great machines!

oh this is a hard one. I am very partial to my Singer 15's. One is a 1946, the other was born in 1951. They are my go to machine. I have the 301's and a 66, and a 99. Heck, they are all good.

I LOVE my 301's! Great for piecing and freemotion. Got rid of all my Featherweights soon after I started sewing with the 301. They're a tad heavier than the FW but ten times the machine!! So much easier to see the needle for threading is an added bonus. As for treadles I keep a 15-88 set up for FM and another treadle has a 201 ready for all other treadle sewing. Also like my 201 hand crank.