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I have a newer Janome that embroiders as well as sews, and one that sews some fancy stitches that my other machines don't. I also have a serger that I use quite often. But - the Janomes are heavy and I was worried about messing up their computers when I took them out for quilting trips, so I got a Featherweight. Then I saw a 99K13 in a bentwood case with a knee bar that I got for $40 - I just it because it was pretty - the woman had used it as a display piece. Well, I was thinking of doing the same until I sewed with it! Then I started just running into Singers - a 401 that did fancy stitches for $25, a 201 with a beautiful oak table for $40 (that happens to do wonderful free motion quilting when you learn how to drop the feed dogs!), and my SIL gave me a White FR treadle. The 99 and the treadle live in the dining room (and look great), the rest are all set up in my sewing room and I've been using them all!
1949 FW [ATTACH=CONFIG]252361[/ATTACH] 1930 - 99K13 [ATTACH=CONFIG]252362[/ATTACH] 1951 - 401A [ATTACH=CONFIG]252363[/ATTACH] 1948 - 201-2 [ATTACH=CONFIG]252364[/ATTACH] |
I love sewing on my 1919 Singer treadle. My electric machine is very lonely! My 10 yr old DGD likes sewing on it also. She has completed a D9-patch,{lap size} on the treadle. My 3 yr old DGD likes to work the treadle from the back as I am sewing....she is helping!
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I have 3 older Singers (1930 -1960) a 1963 Viking and a 1970's Necchi and I use them all the time. I have a 4 year old Janome (rarely use). One of my Singer's is a Featherweight and I love it for classes and sewing on the back deck. I hope to get a hand crank and treadle at some point. For now I just enjoy my "older gals".
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OOH I have to go home tonight & find my model treadle # it has no accessories with it, maybe you will be able to find some for it.
Will contact you tomorrow! Debs |
[quote=Jennoh2]I notice many of you are purchasing various "vintage" Singer Sewing Machines. Some are electric and some are treadle. Do you use them? Are they better/worse than newer models. What can they do but straight stitch, button hole, etc? LOL-I just gave away my grandmother's treadle machine because I thought it had no value.
I use all of mine. I have a Singer 99, 15-91, 185, 192K, two 401s, 500, 503, 600 and a featherweight (which is new and needs a lot of work done on it). I also have some slightly newer ones (237, 646, 920, 2010) and I use those those too. I love them because they are so solid and I can fix them myself (the older ones). The stitches are wonderful and I like the sound they make. If you use a buttonholer attachment you can get perfect buttonholes. I would still love to get a 201, 301, maybe a 101, and a redeye 66 with great decals. Maybe someday! Pat |
Just my opinion: The old ones were/are great; the new ones are @&!%.
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I have FW but I dont use it. It's beautiful though. I use my Janome 6600.
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I, too, was suspicious of the vintage machines until I joined this board and saw how much everyone loves them. I got my fw and 301 with the cardtables that go with them and I now use them more than I do my Janome 6600. I haven't tried, but I'm pretty sure that Rosie, my 301 would sew through metal if I tried! ;-)
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Please some explain to me why the excitement over antique sewing machines. I don't understand.
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I have a old Singer industrial sewing machine that I got at the Good will that is electric but was not in a cabnet. My husband made me a box and mounted it for me and I keep all the attachments in the box under the sewing machine. I am saving up for a new machine and hope to have it by Thanksgiving.
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Vintage machines may be good, but stay away from the models made in the 1970s. That was when Singer sold out or was bought out by another company (can't remember who) but I remember our hs had just gotten several new ones and when I asked the home ec. teacher about it, she adamantly told me, "they are junk!" During the same era, Harley-Davidson motorcycles did the same thing and they were also known as junk. The former owner of HD bought it back and Harleys are super popular again.
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Originally Posted by debby wicke
Please some explain to me why the excitement over antique sewing machines. I don't understand.
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Originally Posted by Blackberry
Originally Posted by SunlitenSmiles
Originally Posted by brushandthimble
my vintage are new to me this year, 1952 FW, and #301A. I love the straight seam, and the 301 I got Sat, did the best SID I have ever done.
Thing if I add a walking foot to the 301 I can sell my Brother 1500. slant needle SINGER is there a walking foot that works with this machine??? I have the 404 and that is still the problem. The sig-sag feet on that unit will not cover the feed dogs on the straight stitch of the 404. Very narrow feed dog profile. I keep hoping that somebody will make one that works, but it probably is vaporware as of now. John http://www.shop.sew-classic.com/Sing...?categoryId=-1 I got one for my 301 and I really like it a lot. |
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Originally Posted by debby wicke
Please some explain to me why the excitement over antique sewing machines. I don't understand.
This 1947 Singer model 15 is my favorite quilting machine. Lots of room under the arm and a perfect stitch. I've done most of my queen and king size quilts on this machine or one very similar. I've had four 15's - gave away two of them, but I still have two more. LOVE them! :) |
can you find a walking foot for the 301 ????
slant needle SINGER is there a walking foot that works with this machine???[/quote] To my knowledge, there has been a lot of talk on the Singer boards about the Walking foot issue, and I have not heard anybody come up with a really good option as now. John[/quote] I use a walking foot on my 301's, 401, 404, and 500 Rocketeers (all slant needle) and don't have any problem with them. I also do free motion quilting on the 400's and 500's w/o any problems. I tried it on the 301 and had a hard time with it...I now have a second 301, but haven't tried FMQ on it as of yet.[/quote] I've been able to free motion on my FW 221 and 222's and my 301. I also have walking feet for all of them that work really well. I'm now on the hunt for a 401 or 500 so I can have zigzag stitches when I need them. Then I won't be buying new machines except for embroidery if and when I wear my Janome's out. I can sew more accurately with the mechanical machines. I can maintain my own mechanical machines and they don't balk at several layers of fabric. IMO there isn't a new computerized machine made that can outset my vintage Singer collections. |
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I love and use my vintage machines every day! I seldom use my wonderful Bernina. I have 19 vintage, 15 are Singer. They are easy to maintain and have a wonderful straight stitch for piecing which is what I mostly do.......I do quilt on my pfaff Grand quilter.
Pretty maids all in a row! |
The old Elna's are a fabulous machine too. They have a variety of disks for a wider variety of stitches. They are fairly rugged. I say that because I wore one out. BUT I was sewing on it every day - (probably needed an industrial machine)and I wasn't keeping the lint out of the bobbin area as much as is needed for an Elna.
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Originally Posted by harrishs
I love and use my vintage machines every day! I seldom use my wonderful Bernina. I have 19 vintage, 15 are Singer. They are easy to maintain and have a wonderful straight stitch for piecing which is what I mostly do.......I do quilt on my pfaff Grand quilter.
Pretty maids all in a row! |
Originally Posted by SunlitenSmiles
Originally Posted by brushandthimble
my vintage are new to me this year, 1952 FW, and #301A. I love the straight seam, and the 301 I got Sat, did the best SID I have ever done.
Thing if I add a walking foot to the 301 I can sell my Brother 1500. slant needle SINGER is there a walking foot that works with this machine??? |
Originally Posted by Fixedgearhead
Originally Posted by SunlitenSmiles
Originally Posted by brushandthimble
my vintage are new to me this year, 1952 FW, and #301A. I love the straight seam, and the 301 I got Sat, did the best SID I have ever done.
Thing if I add a walking foot to the 301 I can sell my Brother 1500. slant needle SINGER is there a walking foot that works with this machine??? John |
I think the site is actually http://shop.sew-classic.com/ and the owner is Jenny. :)
She's very knowledgeable about vintage machines and will be able to point you toward the foot that works with your straight-stitch slant needle machines. |
Originally Posted by thepolyparrot
I think the site is actually http://shop.sew-classic.com/ and the owner is Jenny. :)
She's very knowledgeable about vintage machines and will be able to point you toward the foot that works with your straight-stitch slant needle machines. |
Originally Posted by Deborah12687
I have a old Singer industrial sewing machine that I got at the Good will that is electric but was not in a cabnet. My husband made me a box and mounted it for me and I keep all the attachments in the box under the sewing machine. I am saving up for a new machine and hope to have it by Thanksgiving.
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I mostly sew with my Viking Quilt Designer. I love, love, love that machine. That being said, if something ever happens to it I will start using my vintage machines. I have a FW, 301, Singer hand crank, and a White treadle. The vintage machines are so well made and so easy to work on. My Viking has to visit a repair person if something goes wrong, I do also have a new Singer Featherweight that I have serious issues with. Wish I had never bought that one. It sews fine, it just throws the thread out of the take up bar. Still haven't figured out how it does that.
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I love my Singer 301 (actually have two of them!). Have never owned a machine that has such a smooth, beautiful, always perfect stitch. I have a new Singer Confidence Quilter, and it sits gathering dust most of the time, unless I need a zig-zag or fancy stitch!
I'm in the process of restoring a Singer 127 treadle--just because I love the way they look and have always wanted one. But now that I have it sewing, I think I will use it too. I also love that the vintage machines are quality, but simple to work on. I do all the cleaning, oiling, adjusting and in the long-run save a lot of money! |
I use my 1940 cast iron Singer almost daily....and almost NEVER use my other three much newer machines. My Singer doesn't tangle the bobbin thread or do other weird things that I have to figure out---unless I misthread it or make another mistake! Very reliable, have made probably close to 100 quilt tops on it and no problems.
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Anna, you've been peeking in my house :lol: :lol: .. I have 18 at last count including ones like your treadle, the little white featherweight and 301. Then there is the 66 hand crank and electric model, the 338, the two 99's , the 15-91 and the 285J. Plus 3 Kenmores, a Brother and a Coronado(the only one not working...can't locate a needle clamp for it). And a few Japanese models from the 50's. Then, there's the modern computerized ones, my least favorites. I'm getting ready to list my extra long sofa on CL...just don't have that much company and it will give my "babies" a little more space :lol: . I love each and every one of them and take turns sewing with them so no one gets jealous. I think I have an addiction :lol: :lol:
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Beautiful machines.
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Originally Posted by deplaylady
Originally Posted by harrishs
I love and use my vintage machines every day! I seldom use my wonderful Bernina. I have 19 vintage, 15 are Singer. They are easy to maintain and have a wonderful straight stitch for piecing which is what I mostly do.......I do quilt on my pfaff Grand quilter.
Pretty maids all in a row! |
Originally Posted by totosmom
Oh, yes, I'm a real devotee of those older machines. They are utterly reliable and last forever due to their metal construction. When plastic gears were introduced in the 80s, everything went downhill.
The Viking 6440 was my first vintage machine which I use for piecing blocks. It also has cams which create some lovely decorative stitches that I use on the bindings of my quilts. I will admit that I fell in love with its red color only to discover that these things can last a lifetime -- and then be repaired to last another one! Then I started making Quilts of Valor with a group of friends. The Viking was too heavy to take each week, so I thought I'd get a Featherweight. I found them too expensive, so I invested in a 301 which is only a tad heavier but still quite manageable. She is always ready to sew a straight as an arrow 1/4" seam which is all I need when we meet. She's full sized too, so I'm looking forward to doing some FMQ on her sooner or later. She's not collector quality, but I love her nicks and scratches because I know she's been lovingly used. For all the fancy pants stuff I have a newer Bernina which is reliable too but not at all portable. Dorothy in PA |
This may not be true now, but at one time I heard that the cutourier houses in Paris use the old treadle machines to sew their clothes because the stitches are beautiful and they are strong. They are quiet and dependable and will sew through almost anything.
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I just gave a Singer to a young gal who had no machine. She was delighted and I feel like I've contributed to the world of new quilters. It was one of 8 machines that I have, and I knew it was going to a good place. She's a single mom of three, and couldn't afford a machine, but her mom pays her way so she can attend quilt retreats.
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I have a 1920 Hand crank Singer. I think it needs new tension discs. The little wire looks like it has been bent. I also need a manual for it. Any information about parts would be appreciated.
Ronda in Louisiana |
Originally Posted by greenthread3
I have a 1920 Hand crank Singer. I think it needs new tension discs. The little wire looks like it has been bent. I also need a manual for it. Any information about parts would be appreciated.
Ronda in Louisiana |
I sew on all my vintage machines. When I go into my sewing room I look around and pick the "lucky" one and go for it. It has gotten so that I sew on my older mechanical machines more than my newer ones. Funny thing is I usually have less problems with the old machines....too many bells and wistles for an old brain on the new ones.
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I have 2 FeatherWeights and I use them to do all my piecing.
Just saw that you can also get a stitch in the ditch foot which I want to try. They are a super machine to use and light and easy to take to quilting class. |
I have a White treadle that belonged to my great grandmother. Although it works, I don't sew on it. It's a lovely piece of furniture though! My mother has a singer that she purchased new in 1954 when I was 3 years old. She has told me that when she is "through with it" it is coming to me. I'm looking forward to having it. I can piece on it while my Pfaff is embroidering.
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I just love my vintage machines, five of them. I use them all the time! I use my Janomes some of the times. I can't imagine parting with my old Singers! They are my go to machines.
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Originally Posted by debby wicke
Please some explain to me why the excitement over antique sewing machines. I don't understand.
If you happen to loose power, like during a storm, mine will still be able to sew. Very "green" as mine are foot powered. I get some exercise( well maybe the exercise isn't that great lol but it sounds healthy at least) The stitches are nice and straight. The more simple something is the less can go wrong with it. I think the old treadles are much prettier. I don't need or use all those buttons to make stitches I will never use. Those are some of my reasons but some people like'em and some don't. |
I have 12 machines. 5 are antiques. All 12 of my machines are in working condition.
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