:-D Today, while doing some research on a few vintage sewing machines, I ran across Mr. Ed Lamoureux's blog

http://sewing-machines.blogspot.com/

Scroll down to "Sometimes You Gotta Let Go!"

What stage of vintage sewing machine collecting are you in?

Personally, I seem to be past Stage 4 but not quite to Stage 5. Oh, BTW, I haven't sold my 2004 Bernina Artista Computerized Embroidery machine and haven't even thought of doing such a thing. It was a very sweet gift from my DH and it actually began launching me into Vintage Machine Collecting.... which has brought my DH and me a lot of fun. :-D :-D :-D

Yep I am a "Stage 4" also. It's good to know I have company. LOL :-D
I don't own anything newer than my FW so I think I need a Computerized machine. lol

I'm somewhere between 5 and 7. I've been giving some away, throwing out some that have been stripped of their useful parts, etc. However, if I should ever come across a Featherweight that's worth the money, perhaps in another color other than black. . . . . . . . . . . Or some other old, odd machine....... It's mostly the intermediate age machines I'm ridding myself of.

I am about mid-way with #3. LOL!!! I am glad you posted a link to his blog. He has some great info on the 500 that may come in handy when I finally get to use my 500A.

LOL! Yes, Faith, I will agree with you... you need a computerized sewing machine! I hope your hubby will agree with us.

I was sure I didn't want mine when I found it on Craigslist but my DH wanted me to have it. I was completely intimidated by it the first year. Now, I can actually do things with it by myself. Used is the way to go though. CL is a wonderful source as I am sure you know. :-D

Ewww... I haven't quite gotten to the place of giving them away, except for one to my DIL. But, I have thought of selling a few.... ...sew I could maybe buy a few more... :thumbup:

Yes, he does have some great info. :-D The collecting is fun, though, isn't it? As well as the researching!

I found (but didn't buy) a Feather weight on Craigslist this last weekend. It was only 150.00!! I copied the link and put it up on the links thread and noone has even looked at it.
I'm not so sure about a computerized machine though. Heck my FW intimidates me now as it is. I've only made a couple of quilts so I think I need to focus on just getting some tops made. :oops: Though I do have the 66 now. So perhaps this winter I'll get a chance to clean it up.
:XD:

I'm firmly entrenched in Stage 4 and 9. My aunt gave me 5 semi vintage machines. I already had 4 older but not vintage machines. Then I bought an embroidery/sewing machine, then I got bitten by the "vintage machine" bug and wanted a treadle got a couple of vintage machines on ebay when it seemed I couldn't win a treadle on ebay. Well I finally did win one. My family started grumbling about all the sewing machines (I live in a small townhouse). I vowed that after I found a Singer that operated with a knee press I wouldn't get anymore. Saw one on ebay, bidded on it (fully believing that I wouldn't win)--that same night I saw an "upscale" machine (Stage 9) that I fell in love with so I ordered that still thinking that I wouldn't win the ebay bid. What do you know? I won! I'm done now--not getting rid of any but also not buying anymore!

Raptureready--You can donate to my house anytime! :)

I've got the bug: I want a Featherweight! Now to find one~

Virtual Bernie... Wow, already stage 9. I think that is like crossing a checker board game and its time we crown you... Mmm, what would make a good crown.

So, what is your upscale machine? What are the goodies that came with?

Last spring I went to a Bernina Extravaganza. We all sewed on the new Bernina 830 with ALL the bells and whistles. What saved me is its price... I think with everything it could be purchased for $12,000. They were nice to sew on though, like driving a Cadillac!

Mariposa, you will like a FW when you find the right one. I love mine. :-D Happy hunting.

Mariposa, You MUST get a Featherweight!!! I got one recently and it's so much fun to sew on!! My fancy Bernina has taken a back seat lately lol
I have to blame the board for my FW b/c before I joined I had no intention of buying one :D
I also bought a 301 long bed. Those old Singers are fab machines!!
I still have my 1040 Kenmore that I used forever but was so noisy!! But I'll never part with it b/c it was my first machine.

Well, my upscale machine is not necessarily upscale to everyone else that's why I put it in quotes. I bought what I could afford and does more than any machine I've ever had. It was a Singer Quantum L-500. I got it because it had a built in walking foot, thread cutter, separate bobbin winder (I can wind bobbins while sewing), over 200 decorative stitches, an elongation feature, mirror feature, etc. It came with the normal accessories plus the "quilting" package--1/4 inch foot, darning/embroidery foot, extension table, overcasting foot, etc. Like I said upscale for me but certainly costing no where near $12,000!

I am here to tell you... I have a featherweight in my home, thank you my dear MIL. I also have a Bernina with all the bells and whistles, thank you my dear sister. I can't even think about piecing a quilt without the featherweight! I think both can work together... but I keep going back to the vintage machine!

You have a generous family!!! :D

Mariposa,
There is one on craigslist that I put onto our link section here for $150. Which is a really good deal. It is on the Portland Craigslist.
Faith :lol:
:XD:

Bernie will it make you coffee and wash windows too? ;-)
:XD:

That's too funny! That's what my grandson asked me too! :lol:

I have bought my last vintage sewing machine (unless a 201 or a pretty little 99 comes along). ;-)

Seriously, I passed stage 5 a couple of years ago when I finally asked my friends to stop bringing the machines home to me. (I swear they were always finding them in 2nd hand stores, barns and who knows where.)

I've passed stage 6 since I feel like my house is swimming in machines and I don't know where to put all of them. (I thought about moving but realized it would be easier to stop collecting sewing machines.)

I've moved on to stage 7 which is donating a lot of them to friends and organizations. (It is sort of like having a garden of zuchinnis. Everytime someone comes to visit I try to give them a machine.)

I haven't entered stage 8 yet. I still have around 10 machines with two of them being featherweights. My son is trying to talk me out of one of the featherweights and I'm trying to talk him into one of the 301s. You know, he just may talk me out of the featherweight. I might give one to him and to his sister for Christmas.

By the way, my neighbor has gotten the bug from me. Poor lady.

:lol:

very good article thank you