Wow! Now I really feel bad. . . . :oops: I have an old Singer sitting on a high shelf in the garage. All sad and forlorn. . . . . getting dusty, not loved, just patiently sitting there, waiting for me to love it. I'm going to take it down and see what's up with it. Someone, I don't even know who, gave it to me a hundred years ago, and I just never did anything with it. Ladies, thank you for the love stories, I just might have my own dream machine waiting to be loved. I don't know a thing about it, only it's old, black with Singer decals and it has a plug. :roll: :roll: :-( :-(

That's like a blank canvas waiting for a painting! Make up your own loving history for it and you'll form a lasting bond. Excitement is building!!! Just get it out, clean it, oil it and start sewing. Her story will unfold with each stitch and you may be pleasantly surprised where it takes you.

I have enjoyed reading what everyone has to say about Antique sewing machines. I am cleaning out an Estate that has a very old singer in a case, none of the family members want it. Will have to do some research on the machine and post (with picture) if someone is interested in having.

The sound, the sound.....I call my Featherweight the Hummer. That is what it sounds like. Her name is Bertha after my grandmother. I found her in 1976 in an antique store in Issaquah, Washington. I have only had her to the shop once and that was because I put the needle in backwards! I use her exclusively for piecing which gives a perfect seam when I'm done. If you ever find a Featherweight, buy her. Not only are they worth their weight in gold it is a piece of History that many quilters would almost give up their stash for. I have been offered hundreds of dollars for her, but there isn't a price on her lovely black enameled head. She was born on August 11th 1951 and she is still beautiful.

My thoughts exactly when I purchased a hand crank Singer from another quilter who's grandmother had just died; she didn't have use for it and was hoping to find someone who could appreciate it. In the meantime, I was asking around for someone who might have just such a machine, one that looked like the one my grandmother had! A match made in Heaven by our LQS.

I really wanted one so I could sew anywhere. My boyfriend has a 1962 T-bird and loves to go to antique car shows with it. Old cars are fun, just not my "thing." Joking said to him one day that I wish I could sew while he wandered. Hence my search. We get to try out our new plan in a few weeks at the first car show of the year. Wish me luck!

I found a Featherweight in 1971 and asked mom and dad to get it for me for highschool graduation. Instead they bought a new Kenmore portable. Last year I was finally able to find another one and it was at my high school English teacher's estate sale. So now I finally have a Featherweight and memories of Mrs. Brown to go along with it.

I have numerous "old" Singer machines. I sew on a 1947 Singer 201K handcrank, and have two 201K aluminum handcranks to take to classes. I also have numerous other handcranks and a few electric. They are addictive. You can't beat their precise stitches, they're beautiful to look at, sound wonderful while stitching. When my grandchildren come to visit, they love to sew on my machine. And they are easy to maintain.
What's the draw? Everything about them.

Barb

They are just so beautiful. And most of them still work, which is amazing to me.

Oh boy a thread just for us lovers of the treadle!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I have my great aunt's old black Singer machine and cabinet.
Not even sure of the model number, and can't readily access it at the moment. You all have given me the desire to drag it out and use it again. Actually, I can't recall how I ended up with it. Seems that my great uncle asked if I wanted it, and of course I would never turn down an offer like that! Their daughter wouldn't have wanted it at all.
That's what I find the saddest....