So i have a cheapy walmart brother machine that i bought at walmart last christmas!! It sews ok, but don't even think about doing anything heavy duty!!( I have been making rag quilts and it just can't pull the layers through) However I was given(yes I said given) a 1950ish Singer 350W!! I do believe i have fallen in love with this machine!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: It is a true workhorse it pulls 4 layers of flannel through at a time without any hesitation!! I don't know if I will ever use my newer machine again after this!!

Thanks for reading just wanted to express my love for older machines!! Holly

I have my grandmother's old Singer machine....I don't even know how old it is, but it still sews like a dream....there is some rubber piece (belt) that I need to figure out how to replace but other than that it is solid.

Congrats on your new free machine!! They are the best!

the vintage machines are great, and, there is plenty of room for the bigger quilts.

Yes I too need to replace the belt on my machine also!! I bought some bobbins for it the other day but I need a new belt really bad!!

I love the old ones too. I cant resist them when I see them at Garage sales!

Oh could you place a picture? I am wondering what a Singer 350W is. Thanks! Love vintage machines.

I feel the same...denim and rag quilts fit easily through my 1950's Pinnock. Great looking, heavy duty machine. Since joining here I got the treadle bug and recently purchased a 1912 Singer treadle. Will be restoring in the new year and I can't wait to start treadling.

I'm not real for sure on the year of this machine i am guessing it to be around 1950 or so!! It is a singer 350W!!

Ok So Rechecked and it is a 306W not a 350W!! Wow I need to find a bed and soon!!! Sorry

After reading blogs from folks that use vintage machines to quilt on, I purchased not just one but numerous vintage machines that I now use for piecing and quilting. I found that these machines are wonderful to sew with. I have Singer 15-90 in a treadle (my free motion machine), Singer 201 in treadle(my straight stitch machine), and National Two Spools machine (my piecing machine). I do use Janome TB-30 (my daughter's) for the decorative stitch to finish off my bindings. I just love these vintage machines.

I had an older Singer from 1964 and it wouldn't go over a denim seam to save its soul. So in the 80's I got a newer one and it would sew thick seams. My new Brother hasn't been tested on denim yet. LOL

the 306 is a really great machine !!! check the manual for the size of the needle. This may be one of the Singers that takes a 206x13 needle. it is little shorter(or is it longer ?) than usual, but you do need this size to sew well. people have talked of using regular needles, but do not do it.
just check the manual to be sure of size. needles are available at Singer repair shops or lots of places online.
you will love this machine. be sure to first oil and clean everything that the manual tells you to. and maintain by oiling when the manual says to. if you do not have a manual, check online. Singer site sometimes has free downloads.

I also use a 201 and think it is one of the finest Singer has ever made. so soothing to sew with.

[quote=smitty]
I love my 201! It is the quietest and smoothest machine that I have worked with. I use it to sew clothes too.

The 306 uses special 206x13 needles, the modern 15x1 needles sold today won't work with it.

what a treasure, I have a kenmoe I got 30 odd years ago, still runs like a champ...have fun.

I have that exact machine the 306W !!! I LOVE IT. It was my Moms and she ran it HARD. It is still running great after years of hard work I have put on it. It always runs, just keep it clean , and a bit of oil now and then. Needles can be hard to come by. They take a shorter needle. And only a few sizes are still avaiable. I used to be able to get the heavier and the lightweight fabric needles till a few years ago. Shmetz ( not sure of spelling) makes a needle that fits but is a special order.

I love using the older machines, only have 1 new plastic wonder in my herd. Its a Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 875. Most of the time I use one of my Singer featherweights or one of my treadles. I'm mainly a quilter, but also sew garments. The Viking is the only computerized machine I own, all the rest are older mechanicals, most are older than I am.
Sharon W.

I love my new machine but If I have anything heavy to sew its off to my vintage machines. Lets see I have a Household machine that I swear is 80 lbs. lol I have a Kenmore 158-480 in a parlor cabinet that I am looking to sell maybe depends on whether it takes up too much room in my sewing room I have a Singer Slant 401,403 and 503. I would like to add a 500a and a 301 to those. I love sewing on my slants. I wish they would make machines like that now. I have a 201 that is visiting TX and getting fixed which when it comes home will go in a refinished art deco style desk. I want to use that one for straight stitiching. But I still would not give up my automatic needle threader. lol

When I was a little girl my mom had a machine called an International Two Spool. It used a spool of thread in the bobbin area. It was a portable and the case was wood. I have never heard of another one.

When I was a little girl my mom had a machine called an International Two Spool. It used a spool of thread in the bobbin area. It was a portable and the case was wood. I have never heard of another one.[/quote]

My friend in TX that is fixing my 201 has one. I had never heard of one either. I will see if she can send me a picture.

You can ask Billy (lostn51) about getting parts, belts, etc for vintage machines. He's the resident expert on these gems. Look for Vintage Machines Shop (or nearly that) on Main category.

Oh Yes why do we think the newer is better. I bought a new
janome in 2002. It has done lots of sewing (I'm a slipcover
maker) and quilter but now it has some serious problems. On
the other hand I have an old Kenmore (all metal) and it works
like a charm. My grandson has a treadle machine handed down
to him . A 1920's Machine and after a tune up it works like a
charm. I think when buying new machines we need to check to
see that they are made of metal parts. They hold up to the work they will be doing.

For those heavy machines there must be carrying cases with
wheels to help us take them along.

Flo from NNY

If you need them you can get the fashion disc sets and belt for it on ebay. I think I paid $20 for the whole set of discs shipping and all.

I have a 306 and love it. If you need the manual I can send you the copy I downloaded for mine.

My friend in TX that is fixing my 201 has one. I had never heard of one either. I will see if she can send me a picture.[/quote]

Whoops talked to her and she says no. I must have read about it somewhere else but I did find one online and it looks really interesting . I think if I came across one somewhere I would have to break my promise to myself of no more machines.

I rebuild vintage singers, I just finished one that is from 1936 and sews like a dream. Strong as ever. I have several model 15-91's and a few 201-2's. They are the best.

The W means it was made in West Germany.

Great looking machine. I have 2 FW, a black and a white/beige and they are what I use for piecing and going off to quilt class/guild. My favorite machine--

Billy-lostn51 was kind enough to check out pictures I emailed him and he told me mine was a New Home model A made 1882 It's a treadle that needs alot of cleaning and care. But I have always wanted a treadle and this one was $15 something I could afford.Thanks to Billy I know what I have. Mary

Congratulations!

Isn't it funny how as machines got more technically sophisticated over the years, the throat area got smaller? I am so glad to see that machines are now being made with larger areas for quilting.

Agreed, got to love them! I have an old 1951 singer, 99k. When I get a chance, I plan to get a 301 and a treadle yet!

I like vintage machines as well as the new ones.

I love this group! I just received an old Singer in a cabinet from my son who was moving and needed to get rid of it. He thought it was an empty cabinet!

I'm not entirely sure where in my house it will live, but I will find a corner. Now I'm going to go open it and get back to you on what model it is. All I know so far is that it is one of the pinky beige ones.

I got my grandma's 201 when she passed away...she used it for over 50 years...and it still works like a charm.

My 201 was originally a hand crank, I like it much better as a treadle machine. The quietest machine I've ever used.
You can see a picture of it on page 2.

Have any of you checked online to find the belts you need? Of course you should check with your Singer dealer, too. One other idea is to go to an old (and old-fashioned) hardware store. They used to carry sewing machine parts and some still have parts for the older machines. There's one in Opelousas that has just the biggest mix of things for the home. I've gotten all sorts of replacement parts for things like the meat grinder, pressure cooker, window hardware, etc. If nothing else, they may be able to tell you where you can find the item. They've been in business since 1878! Imagine that.
Here's the info in case you want to contact them:
J.B. Sandoz Store
312 North Main Street
Opelousas, LA 70570
337-942-3564

I saw treadle belts in either Nancy's Notions or Clothildes.

I have several, well almost many, old machines.. I love them all.. Every single one is a dream to sew on.. they all make beautiful stitches and the sound of their stitching is as good as any bubbling brook. I would have to go down to the basement to actually count how many I have down there. Most have been given to me. I rotate around, using one and then another.. Some day I'll have to downsize, but right now I have a bunch and I use them all.. or I get a group of friends together and we all choose a machine and sew the day away.. so much fun!!