Darlene

I have a chance to buy a Model 128 singer machine. It was made in 1925. Does anyone have one of these? It has a bullet bobbin which I thought was interesting. I would appreciate any feed back.

ptquilts

DH uses a treadle with a bullet bobbin - my observation is that the bottom thread tension is not as consistent with the long bobbin as with a modern bobbin.
How much is it costing?

carolaug

I can understand buying a old machine if you are collecting them for show...but with all the ease of the new machines...I would not want t sew on the old ones...just me... : )

Charlee

I sew on "the old ones" all the time, and LOVE it! I don't have a 128....yet... :lol:

If the price is right, the machine works, and you're happy with it, buy it. You'll be surprised at how much fun they are!

Stitchnripper

I have three "old ones", black singers, and one less old, green, bought new in 1964, and all sew great. They all have round bobbins though.

KathyAire

Carol, I agree with you. I know so many people love the old machines. In fact, I read so much about being in love with them, that I purchased a nice 301 at an estate sale. It didn't do anything for me. I sold it to a Bee member and she loves it. I like new things. I have my mom's industrial Singer 95-10 that was made in 1932. I like it because it was hers. I hardly ever use it.
I always say the only thing old that I like is my husband.

hobo2000

I have a Bernina 830 and used it twice this year, my Janome 11000 I use for its incredible embroidery. Other than that its my FW all the way. #1 They are toooo big and hard to handle. Bernina is tooo tempermental and you can't do anything without going thru the manual. The Janome is easier to use but I keep it setup for Emb. I could buy a fancy car with what I spent on these 2 machines. They impress customers who come in to my studio but they just sit there. I quilt on a Brother Nouvelle 1500. Piecing, repairs and everything else is in my Featherweight or my 301. They are too big, the Bernina is tooo noisy and they both take too much time to setup for special projects though the Janome does super embroidery.

Boopers

I have a model 128 that I converted to a hand-crank (see avatar). I can convert it back to electric if I want to. It was my DM's. I also have 2 FWs. I love the old machines.

thepolyparrot

I have a 128 treadle and I have had two or three 128 hand crank machines which I refurbished and gave away. I still have two 27's, which are the larger version but basically the same machine.

They're wonderful for piecing! Lots of people even like to do their free-motion quilting on a treadle, but apparently I'm not coordinated enough to do that. :D

The stitch is beautiful on the 27/28/127/128 machines - but the bobbins don't hold much thread compared to a class 15 bobbin.

Finding authentic vintage bobbins and shuttles can be expensive. There are modern repro bobbins and shuttle springs available really cheap, but the repro bobbins are too short for the automatic bobbin winder to work properly. (That just means that you guide the thread with your fingers, rather than allowing the machine to do it.)

The modern shuttle springs work just fine - when you find that your shuttle tension is inconsistent (or non-existent) just replace the tension spring and you're back in business.

If the 128 that you're looking at is electric, you're probably going to have to replace all the electrical components or convert the machine to a hand crank. A new motor, cord and foot control is going to cost you about $50.

Hope that helps! :)

Darlene

Thanks for all of the comments.