With modern machines providing almost perfect tension, a vast array of stitches and reliability second to none - why do so many of you crave these older machines? I do have an old Singer treadle, but I have great difficulty sewing on it and it is only used as an ornament in the corner.

For me, the fascination is the fact something so old that is still working in itself is a marvel. But mostly, my treadle is one that belonged to my great aunt and using it is just plain fun. The rest of the family thought I was crazy until I made my sister try it, then she had fun and even felt she was getting exercise at the same time. My other machine is the one I learned to sew on, and it still works as well as it did in 1950. Had a great laugh when I used the zig zag attachment and it was throwing the fabric back and forth. (Something I had forgotten.)

I have featherweights because they are so darn cute!!! And they sew well too, and I have 3 because I didn't know show to stop the bid once I won the first one. Oh well. So maybe I will have one painted, but not right now. May sell the extras too. Not sure what I want to do.

But the older machines work so well and the newer machines seem to crash from time to time. I do have the Janome 6600 and love it!!! So I use the other machines for other things.

Maybe it is my treadle machine that is at fault and would benefit by an overhaul. Who knows it may be reinstated yet!

Thank you for this thread. I don't "get it" either. I have always wanted to ask this question, so I am so glad that you asked it first. Seriously, what IS the big deal? I think that you and I are in for a huge amount of flack, but I did not start it. :wink:

Nostalgia. I remember my grandmother teaching me how to sew on one.

I cant take apart a computerized machine and work on it myself, but I can with the older mechanical machines! It is fun to tinker! I also think many of the older machines are a thing of beauty in and of themselves. And I am sentimental, I love knowing who first owned these machines, and like to imagine where they have been and what was created with them. :D

Here are my reasons to want a treadle:
1. My grandmother had one that I used to sew
2. It does not need electricity
3. I like the "oldness" of it, recycling and reusing things past
4. I want the exercise as I have very limited leg movements

I don't want the featherweight, or hundreds more, just a good working treadle. I'll find one someday, when I have time and money at the same instance.

I was amazed that I saw 4 this past week end at yard sales. I thought of all of the people on here who love them. I don't have an interest in them myself.

Glad you asked because I don't understand it either. I have an old treadle machine and use it for an accent table. Never thought of trying to sew with it.

It took me a while to figure out why I love sewing on the 1941 Singer 15-30 versus all the other machines we have around, no high dollar ones with perfect tension, etc.

Its the sound. Best I can tell without research is that it sews in A sharp. The New Home is E flat and I might as well be grinding corn.

I wonder if manufacturers are onto this?

Should mention we come from hillbilly musicians.

I'd be glad to take the flack with you! I don't "get it" either!

Because the older machines (think featherweight, etc) also have a perfect straight stitch, equal or better than any of the modern machines, and many have more stitches, and you don't take an advanced degree, or take classes, to use all of their features. The older machines don't have a "shelf life", unlike modern machines that require a fair amount of servicing, and whose electronic components are vulnerable to all sorts of things including obsolescence. The older machines are much lighter and more compact than the newer, bigger machines, and these well-built, all metal machines, if cared for properly, will never wear out, unlike modern machines. If your electricity goes off you can still sew on a treadle, unlike a modern machine. And I certainly question the "reliability" part of your claim. I'm sure Billy can give you a lot more reasons, but these are some of mine.

I learned how to sew in the 50's. I had to thread the needle, cut the thread, etc. myself so I don't mind taking the time to do it now. I rarely use anything but a straight or a zig zag stitch so why invest in something I won't use and probably wouldn't like.

It gives me a lot of satisfaction to sit and piece a quilt on a treadle that was made 115 years ago.

If someone wants to give me a fancy machine that has almost perfect tension and sews a variety of stitches I wouldn't refuse it - but I wouldn't consider buying one.

I love my Singer treadle. It sews through anything! If you take a lot of workshops or classes, a Featherweight is nice (don't have one but have tried one at a class). The name says it all, the are very light to tote around. I must admit that I just don't trust older electric sewing machines (old cords and motors) so I don't have any. I think it's great that people are refurbishing older machines to use. It seems that everything made today is cheaper to throw away than repair.

1.They are a tank! Not like the plastic stuff today.
2.All heavy duty parts, my dh can repair anything on them for me unlike the new ones.
3.I like to think of all the women who had sewn on them and what they would of made. Kinda brings you closer to the machines and the history.
4.Not pricey like the new ones
5. Just plain fun!
I guess I don't even need any reasons, I just love them!

My treadle is lots of fun, good exercise and sews very nicely, and as stated above-it's my "insurance" if the electric goes out! Haven't had my 15-91 very long, but it will be my machine to learn fmq on. My featherweight is going to go on vacation with me-takes lots less room in the jeep than my Brother portable. And-they are pretty machines!

Gaigai said pretty much what I am thinking. I never used a treadle but I would like to "treadilize" my 15 if I can find a cabinet.
The craftsmanship of the old machines is amazing.Not only do they work great but they are so beautiful! The detailing is wonderful! I have a Bernina and love it but I'm using my old Singers more and more.
The sound of the old machines is very pleasing to me and they are so reliable. I also love antiques so I guess it's natural for me to be drawn to them. You can't get me in a furniture store except to buy a sofa :D

Why? Because my mom's old Singer Red Eye is easy. No fussing with the settings - I just sit and sew.

Janet

I love the featherweights from the 50's because I saw my mother and aunts sewing on them. They stitch a great straight stitch, the are EASY to take to classes and sewing trips. great for piecing work. Nostalgia.

They are the best of form meeting function. Beauty and utility rolled into one. There is also the fact that they can be maintained and repaired by almost anyone, never have to have their computerized components updated, and they don't have to be treated with kid gloves in case they should break.

As I am getting older I like to see things old that are still working... LOL ... and many of the older machines follow the keep-it-simple rule ... also good for some of us.

I have a really nice collection of old Singers. I love the perfect straight stitch, and all the great decorative stitches (77 different ones) I can make with a box of cams. I love the way they look, the way they sound and how easy it is set the tension myself. I even like seeing the "Made in America" stamp. I like that someday I can pass any of these machines down to my DD's or grandchildren, and the machine will still run perfectly. I even like the price of the old machines. Most of them I have picked up for under $25.

I just love old machines...the FW is a marvel, I have a girl friend who use to have one on her sailboard in FL and I almost cringed thinking of the humidity...her Mother always took one on mission trips overseas...they are so reliable...

I sew daily on a 1934 Featherweight that I wouldn't part with. I have another machine that I use for fancy stitches when I need it. I love the simplicity of my Featherweight, just a plain straight stitch that is perfect everytime. When I teach classes, I put my Featherweight in its little carrying case and go. Some of us have the fascination and some don't, I guess that's why there are so many different types of sewing machines on the market. If we all liked the same thing life would be boring!! :-)

They are so pretty! I have always loved anything antique or vintage, lol!

I just love the "look" of them. I think they are pretty. I was like you...just didn't "get it" when it came to sewing on them though. Afterall, I have a Bernina! Then I bought my 1st vintage machine because it looked great and well...honestly, it was $15.00. Then I sewed on it. Now I'm sold...its fun!

HI Purplemem,
I didn't realize you were in MS too... Another treadler in MS! Yay...

You either love antiques or you don't. I could ask what the fascination is with Bow Tuck bags, or One Block Wonders. We don't all like the same thing...

I love my 108 year old Singer treadle because it still works as well as the day it was born. I marvel at the balance and precision it has. The soothing sound, "tickety-tickety-tickety", now you don't hear that from a modern machine. The bobbin winder mechanism is a marvel for it's day and time. I feel connected to a people and time when there was pride in making the very best product you could make, not planned obsolescence. It is a fine example of MADE IN AMERICA. My machine will still be sewing when your computerized, multi-thousand dollar plastic housed one has to go sit in the shop!

I had a modern computerized machine - but it was cranky about accepting different threads and it couldn't handle the crossed seams in a pair of pants.

I started wishing I had the machine I learned to sew on and before long, I found one. Learning how to clean her up and get her sewing led me to put certain models on my wish list.

I have three computerized machines, but the most perfect tension is on whatever vintage or antique machine I happen to be sewing on. Once you learn the "formula" for balancing tension, it takes just a few seconds every time you start a new project.

I can sew with any brand of thread and a mix of hugely differing threads in the bobbin and needle. No beeps, no refusing to sew - the seam will tell me right away if I need to adjust something.

The vertical bobbin machines are wonderful quilters - machine guided or free-motion. And some of them sing you happy little songs while they sew.

I can take them apart and put them back together. They are reliable as sunrise.

When the electricity goes out (as it often does!) I am not stranded. I pull up the treadle and keep on sewing. It does 30 different decorative stitches in addition to that perfect straight stitch and quilting.

And they're just plain beautiful - heavy as they are to carry. :)

I would personally love to find out how you manage to achieve "perfect tension" on your machine. I have a Singer Confidence Quilter and the tension has an "auto" setting, and still my thread is breaking when I was trying to FMQ last night. Quite irritating - it broke twice while going down a 9" row in a straight line.

So, about this "perfect tension".....

Ok, a side note before I start: there is no flack to be caught for asking, if you don't know and don't ask then you won't find out! There are those of us (as you're probably noticing) that absolutely love these machines, but that's our preference.... in general we don't expect it out of everyone.

As for the machines. I have over 10 vintage machines as well as a pair of newer ones. My new electric machines are all well and good, but they have their downsides. For one, my newest singer HATES cotton thread, with a passion I've never seen in an intimate object before. It will jam the bobbin, break the needle, etc, etc, etc. This is after it's been taken to be serviced 3 times for some whopping fees. The treadles and older electric machines are beautiful, they decided when they made them that ascetics were important, I'm not sure why they stopped that? They where made for an era where they'd cost as much as a car does now and made to last. Which means people took care of them (it always makes me sad to see the ones that took up residence outdoors in the last few years and are now rusted solid). They can sew through anything, though it wasn't necessarily what they were made for. My model 27 has done 4 layers of leather to repair my farrier's chaps. I've picked up all my vintage machines for under $40, which means even if they didn't work, it was a steal. I have one that cost me $.99! Parts are comparatively inexpensive, a treadle belt is under $10, I've purchased a bobbin case for $3, I purchased a bobbin winder for $5! If something does break on one of these machines, which is a rarity, A/ I can fix it myself and B/ it is generally self explanatory as to how to install it. The manuals are mostly free if you do a bit of web searching. I can do most the things I can do on my new singer (when it decides to work) by using attachments on my older machines. As expensive as attachments can be, if you look hard enough or in the right place you can get them for less than the cost of a 1/4" presser foot for the newer machines. I also just plain enjoy the accomplishment of taking a machine that was well built and doesn't work because of someone's negligence and taking it back to the functionality of when it was built. They have a perfect straight stitch and a lot of common sense was used in their construction (ex. a seam guide that actually guides your fabric and is adjustable with the twist of a screw). I also learned to sew on one of the treadles I own (it was my great grandmother's... manufactured 1908), so there was no learning curve on that one! But the learning curve on the other models isn't steep, and the manuals are fairly clear. Beyond that it makes my unborn son settle down, I guess he likes the motion, but I take it as a blessing!

Ok..... steps off soap box. I hope that helped a bit.

I love mine because they sew a beautiful seam, they just purr along, are much better built and last forever with proper care. If not there would not be so many around. I have several newer machines and they are noisy, don't sew as well, have more issues. I gave away a Viking Sapphire to my sister cause I hated it. I will stick with my 401 ( which has a large variety of stitches). Besides, they are just so darn cute, I love them. Newer is not always better.

History! I love antiques, love the history behind them and wish they could tell me their life stories.

Old sewing machines for some women are the same as vintage cars are for some men. Yes some people like new and that is ok. But these lovely old machines are part of our sewing history...I would never part with my mothers featherweight. It is an heirloom, history and just plain cute !!!

Sorry, but I must take exception to your comment that modern machines' reliability is second to none. How many of these "modern" machines will work like new when they are 90 years old? Antique machines were built to last a lifetime. Modern machines are lucky to outlast the warranty.

The average life span of one of my sewing machines is probably about 5 years (granted I haven't spent big money on any of them). And the harp space unless you do spend big money is tiny. For less then 1/10th of the cost of a new machine with a nice open space for fmq I bought a Singer that has been sewing for 70 years and still works wonderfully! With a few drops of oil here and there it will probably still sew right along another hundred years. One day my daughter may use the machine I'm teaching her to sew on to teach her daughter to sew - and there aren't many modern anythings that you can say that about.

They are not noisy like the new ones and they have lasted all these years. Can you say the same about the new ones on the market today?

My featherweight is less finicky than my new machine which is an inexpensive 2 year old Brother. The brother bounces around on the table when I sew with any speed and the FW does not. I like the FW for piecing and the Brother for quilting. Someday I may invest a lot more in a true quilting machine but in the meantime, I can piece all day long with the FW and all it needs is a little oil. The brother is computerized so it's more sensitive to being bumped, etc. And the FW was my favorite Aunt's so it's got memories...

Every time I go to the fabric store there is at least one 'new' machine being worked on while the owner watches. Sentences like "That's as good as I can get it" and "It's okay that we have to a)replace the machine or b)replace the motherboard because the company will pay for it" are not okay with me. At those prices I expect more reliabilty than that. Give me my straight stitching 301 who FMQs beautifully or my reliable Elna Star SU from 1974 anytime. As far as my treadle and my 128, I think they're cute. The 1949 Necchi should rival the Elna for strength and reliability when she's cleaned up.

I have two "top-line" machines. However, when I have to do topstitching the only machine that will do the job perfectly, always, is my FW. The others are also noisy in comparison to the FW. I can sit with the family watching TV and sew on my FW. Can't do that with a new monstrosity. I can go out on the deck or patio and sew. I would have to hire someone to carry the Bernina or Janome out and bring it back. I can carry my FW and my complete project in one trip.
Sew many reasons the FW is just the best of the best.