Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell

**miriam** · 02-10-2012, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by Crossstitcher

OH my goodness my Hubby would just love to be turned loose in that room. Glad it's in TX.

me too - just keep that Amish guy away.......

**deplaylady** · 02-10-2012, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Rose_P

I've been wanting a hand crank for awhile for no good reason, but you all know how that goes. Anyway, this turned up on Craigslist and the price seemed reasonable, so she's joined my menagerie. I have been trying to learn something about the Harris No.9 and about all I have found out is that it was a German-made machine sold by the Harris company in Great Britain (as it was known at the time). I have exactly one needle, one presser foot, one bobbin spool and the shuttle. Everything seems to be intact and in better-than-usual condition. The crank makes things turn with no resistance, and no loud noises. The serial number is 1634982, if that means anything to anyone, and the front slide plate is engraved with the Harris company name, London, and the information that it was made in Stettin. I don't have a manual for it, but the seller gave me a Singer #28 manual, and it appears to be pretty similar.

A little extraneous research turns up the fact that the town that used to be known as Stettin has during various periods of its history been part of Sweden, Prussia and, since WW2, Poland. It is now called Szczecin, so it's quite certain my new baby was born some time before that war.

I have not gotten myself together enough to pull the needle and see if it looks like any commonly available today, so that will be an important hurdle. Even if it does, that wouldn't mean that the needle is one she's happy with just because it's in there now. I'm not sure about threading, and at the moment haven't figured out how to remove the bobbin, but I'll psych myself up for all that eventually. I like to look at her and will probably just park her somewhere as a conversation piece. I may be a little spoiled by having had electricity all my life, but I'm impressed with what people could do without it. We had no power here for 5 days after Hurricane Ike, so it's possible this machine will someday get to strut her stuff for me.

If anyone has information about this machine, or a source for parts and a manual, I'll be eager to know. Thanks for the great community we have here!

Really pretty machine! I have been bitten by the hand crank bug. I love them. I hadn't realize how relaxing they would be to sew on -or how easy to control until I got my first one. Yours looks like my 128, or actually maybe a 28 because the bobbin winder is low? Either way, I love it. Beautiful box, too!

**J Miller** · 02-10-2012, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Charlee

Joe, have you checked with Guy Baker to see if he has your brush caps? I think that Guy has just about EVERYTHING... google him.

Yes I have. He was less than helpful. Said right off he didn't have anything like that. I told him I'd bring a sample in and he said don't bother, he wouldn't have it.

I have done search after search on sewing machine motors, parts, service places, and this motor is virtually unknown.

Joe

**jljack** · 02-10-2012, 12:31 PM

Hi Joe - That's the case with some of the older parts. I have a Singer 66-1 from 1909, and I needed a new spring for the bobbin winder. Turns out my machine's was a very early design winder, with a much smaller spring. The very nice and helpful lady at Sew-Classic.com helped me look far and wide, but that spring is no where to be found. I had to buy a later bobbin winder from another 66-1 and replace that section of my winder so I could use it. So...as much as we would love to keep them all "original", sometimes for the sake of using them, we have to adapt. Que sera sera.

**purplefiend** · 02-10-2012, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by BoJangles

Sharon beautiful quilts! I can see you like flowers! I bet you garden too!

Now that you have had that 237 in treadle for a while, what do you think of treadling her? Does the 237 do decorative?

Nancy

Nancy,
I grow some roses and DH grows delicious veggies. Thank you for the nice comment about my quilts. I love floral fabrics and bright colors.
I love treadling my 237,treadles very easily; it only does straight and zig zag stitches. I have FMQ with it and what a lovely job it does.
Sharon

**purplefiend** · 02-10-2012, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by jljack

OK Texas folks....here's an eBay listing you can't pass up!! Wow!! Don't you just wonder what is in all those bentwood cases?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-ANTIQUE-A...item2314395bed

I only want a few...50 machines?? OMG where would one store them?? (whimpering)
Sharon

**sew wishful** · 02-10-2012, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by BoJangles

I hope so, that would be a fun machine to put in my collection!

Randa, I tried the walking foot I have and no go! It doesn't work! Sorry!

Nancy

I got an e-mail from Aprils...she said it's the same walking foot that she sells. But she did tell me the thread cutter has to come off. I haven't tried that yet, but am going to later tonight. I'm taking my camera along, too, (it's all the way upstairs) cuz the quilt gal thinks I have a strange presser foot bar for it not to fit. I'm glad yours doesn't either. Not glad, but glad I'm not crazy dumb for not getting it to work. Thanks, Nancy!

**jpete523** · 02-10-2012, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by jljack

OK Texas folks....here's an eBay listing you can't pass up!! Wow!! Don't you just wonder what is in all those bentwood cases?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-ANTIQUE-A...item2314395bed

He's had those machines posted on ebay since before Christmas. My DH found the posting and was ready to go after a few of them, it's only a few hours' drive for us, even offered to rent a trailer. Surely wish I could succumb to temptation but I just don't have the room. ~sniff~

**Charlee** · 02-10-2012, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by J Miller

Yes I have. He was less than helpful. Said right off he didn't have anything like that. I told him I'd bring a sample in and he said don't bother, he wouldn't have it.

I have done search after search on sewing machine motors, parts, service places, and this motor is virtually unknown.

Joe

That's too bad...I've always found him to be really helpful, it surprises me that he didn't even try!

**Bennett** · 02-10-2012, 03:23 PM

Wow, playing catchup tonight! I've been oohhing and aahhing over the "new" machines, plus now I'm hungry for scones and maybe some tea with milk, especially after seeing the action footage of that cabinet like Charlee's Margie is in. Just beautiful.

Welcome Joe!

Has anyone else noticed how well the ladies in Charlee's video links have matched their outfits to their machines? (Or how their hair doesn't move at all?) No more plastic hair clips and cartoon-character pajamas for me. It's going to be poufy black taffeta skirts and striking gold jewelry from now on when I sew so I too can match my machines.

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