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

Originally Posted by grannysewer

I just got gifted 3 more machines! One was for my bday by my DD and her husband. Its a '57 chevy-looking clone in turquoise and white. The other 2 were given just to get rid of and are probably not going to stay around here long. One was a touch and sew in a cabinet, and the other a kenmore in a cabinet that fell apart. Maybe next time it will be nice Singer.

Grannysewer, don't discount the Kenmore just because it is a Kenmore! Those were some nice machines!

Nancy

Originally Posted by PBobbin13

Hello. I am cleaning up a beautiful lady I've dubbed Madame Martha after the woman who gifted me with this beautiful machine. It's an Eldredge improved model B treadle. So far have mostly worked on her finish which is coming to life after lots of elbow grease. I finally was able to get the head lifted up to search for treasure in the belly of the cabinet - and found two more bobbins giving me a total of five. They need to be cleaned with Brasso but I'm excited to have found them. One spot on the bottom is frozen up that controls the stitch length selector but I'll get it free. Everything else works smoothly. I'm fairly new to this board and wonder if the pictures of these old beauties are in the pictures section or somewhere within this section. The Eldredge was originally made in Chicago, then merged with the June Co. (maker of the Jennie June treadle) and after 1890 became the National Sewing Machine Co. which then became New Home and eventually became Janome. Very interesting history. Thanks for directing me to pictures of old machines.

Barb it is really interesting when you try to research these old companies! But, don't forget the Free Sewing Machine Company who merged with New Home in 1927 - then Free/New Home merged with National in the early 1950's right before the Japanese Janome company bought them out in 1954! It gets really interesting doesn't it? Congratulations on Madame Martha!

Nancy

Originally Posted by terriw

Hi Billy,
I am new to this format and your post was very timely for me. I just purchased a Willcox and Gibbs machine at an auction. I'd never seen one, and actually wondered if it was a child's toy due to it being a bit smaller than what you would think a real sewing machine would be. (I've started collecting old toy machines.) In fact, the auctioneer thought it was a salesman's model. It is 8 inches tall, and 10 inches wide. Can you tell me anything about it?

Terri

Terri, please post photos and let us know how you like sewing with that machine. Those Wilcox and Gibbs make an awesome chain stitch! I love the stitch for a little decorative touch, especially when top stitching something! It is also great for hemming jeans - to get that nice stitch look!

Nancy

Originally Posted by miriam

If this were my DG I would give her a Singer 401, 403, 500 or 503. Since you are afraid she will lose the cams then you need the 401 or the 500. I say this for a couple reasons. First, those machines are relatively light weight it might be a bit easier to get the machine up and down in the table. Second, if you sit in front them and compare how well you can see you will notice you can see what you are doing a whole lot better on those model Singers. The tension and the nose get in the way on many machines. I had two Necchi machines for awhile. One I liked and used a lot, the other I hated. I also hated my Janome. One day my daughter and I were making something and using the two Necchi machines... she commented that she could not see past the nose on the one I hated without craning her neck. We started looking at machines a bit different after that. Can you see without craning your neck or hunching over? How is the light? I would prefer a Singer 403 or 503 to the 401 - I know what stitch I am getting every time. The 401 drives me up the walls unless I have a manual right there. Being able to see may be why I like the Singer 15 or a clone for FM so much. I can see real good. Nothing in the way.

Thank you Chris, Irishrose, Candace, and Miriam for your input! I would like to have the Necchi - just for kicks, but Candace and Miriam are probably right - the kids would rather have the 401 - it looks more 'modern!'

Miriam, I never thought about the nose and being able to see what you are working on!!!!! What a great little tidbit of knowledge! So that is why I don't like certain machines and love others! I never thought about it before you brought that information forward! I have a blue Morse like Charlee's new Morse - I tried to sew with that machine and hated it! Charlee let us know how you feel after trying to piece or do something involved with that machine - maybe it was just me!

Thanks again everyone - I will just fix the cabinet up that the 401 came in and give that to the kids. I have two granddaughters (sisters) who sew. They both have a portable plastic wonder, but one lost her foot pedal (go figure), and the other one has no place to put the machine up unless it is on the dinning room table - which her Dad doesn't appreciate!

Nancy

Anyone have this Singer binding machine? Looks pretty cool! http://chico.craigslist.org/atq/3140212594.html