Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 420
Here's a vintage puzzler for someone to answer. I was watching the old "Little Women" film (with Margaret O'Brian) and Meg was sewing on a treadle machine, but the machine was turned so needle was toward Meg. Is there such a machine, or was it a film booboo. Didn't recognize the machine type. There were some interesting quilts in that movie also!
Well, I went to an estate sale today. Picked up 2 machines there - haven't run the serial #s yet - one I believe is a 99 with a motorectomy and no knee bar and case in very bad shape. The other has the Sphinx decals and no shuttle or anything. That one needs some majotr TLC. The suspected 99 may become a donor parts machine.
Anyhoo, while I am picking up these 2, a lady asks me if I like old Singers. Of course, I said yes and she told me she had several and did I want to follow her home. Long story shortened, I followed her home and she has a 401A in a blond wood cabinet and it is a complete machine to include a manual and 4 cams. She wants $50 for it and it is now my machine. She says she has 2 more to show me so we go into her house. She shows me the 2 cabinets and one is a trapezoid cabinet with a 15-91 and I told her that honestly the cabinet was worth more than the machine cuz it was a very desirable cabinet in good shape with just a few small spots with finish issues on the top. That cabinet has the blond wood and is really in good shape. The other cabinet has a vintage Kenmore (117 something) but again cabinet more valuable than machine. It's one of those blond wood cabinets that the chair pushes in tight and it looks like all one cabinet and the chair is in good shape with a good seat and everything. This machine has a buttonholer with all 4 patterns still plus the manual and the attachments and quite a few bobbins and such. We spent quite a bit of time talking and I left her with my number for when she wants to rehome those 2 machines. I especially want the Singer but would also happily take the Kenmore but more for the cabinets than the machines. She is a nice lady and gave me her number so I can call closer to Christmas for the Singer if I want it. I did not ask her price because of the 3 machines already purchased today but I will go back and visit if nothing more. She also had old canning jars with wooden spools in them, old working rotary phones and a working turntable/8 track player faux mantle/fireplace. She really wants to sell that piece. All in all, a good day for me for vintage machines. ~ Chris
Anyhoo, while I am picking up these 2, a lady asks me if I like old Singers. Of course, I said yes and she told me she had several and did I want to follow her home. Long story shortened, I followed her home and she has a 401A in a blond wood cabinet and it is a complete machine to include a manual and 4 cams. She wants $50 for it and it is now my machine. She says she has 2 more to show me so we go into her house. She shows me the 2 cabinets and one is a trapezoid cabinet with a 15-91 and I told her that honestly the cabinet was worth more than the machine cuz it was a very desirable cabinet in good shape with just a few small spots with finish issues on the top. That cabinet has the blond wood and is really in good shape. The other cabinet has a vintage Kenmore (117 something) but again cabinet more valuable than machine. It's one of those blond wood cabinets that the chair pushes in tight and it looks like all one cabinet and the chair is in good shape with a good seat and everything. This machine has a buttonholer with all 4 patterns still plus the manual and the attachments and quite a few bobbins and such. We spent quite a bit of time talking and I left her with my number for when she wants to rehome those 2 machines. I especially want the Singer but would also happily take the Kenmore but more for the cabinets than the machines. She is a nice lady and gave me her number so I can call closer to Christmas for the Singer if I want it. I did not ask her price because of the 3 machines already purchased today but I will go back and visit if nothing more. She also had old canning jars with wooden spools in them, old working rotary phones and a working turntable/8 track player faux mantle/fireplace. She really wants to sell that piece. All in all, a good day for me for vintage machines. ~ Chris
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millville, NJ
Posts: 1,835
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millville, NJ
Posts: 1,835
I've been saving a spot for a Raymond or New England style sewing machine. They were made in the 1850's and 60's and are a walking foot chainstitch. Job Davis it is claimed was influenced by the walking foot part for his Vertical Feed. Really neat story behind Raymond: http://www.sewalot.com/charles_raymond.htm
Jon
Jon
Well, I went to an estate sale today. Picked up 2 machines there -
Anyhoo, while I am picking up these 2, a lady asks me if I like old Singers...She also had old canning jars with wooden spools in them, old working rotary phones and a working turntable/8 track player faux mantle/fireplace. She really wants to sell that piece. All in all, a good day for me for vintage machines. ~ Chris
Anyhoo, while I am picking up these 2, a lady asks me if I like old Singers...She also had old canning jars with wooden spools in them, old working rotary phones and a working turntable/8 track player faux mantle/fireplace. She really wants to sell that piece. All in all, a good day for me for vintage machines. ~ Chris
Yes, button in center of pinwheels and supposed to be buttons where I lazy daisy stitched flowers around the border but I didn't have access to them so I just stitched them in. The picture didn't turn out very good, it's way cuter than it shows up. I think I'll make another one for a friend who doesn't have time to sew for herself yet.
I also enjoy meeting people like that and she really made my day, too. I talso cost me nothing to spend some time with someone who was wanting some company that day. Am working on trying to build up my treasures in Heaven by doing unexpected acts of kindness. Probably sounds silly but am convicted that if we all stepped outside of ourselves and spent time with others, the world would be better place but so would we as a person. ~ Chris
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