Quiltingboard Forums - Why is everyone buying the old sewing machines?

Quiltingboard Forums (https://www.quiltingboard.com/)

- Main (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/)

- - Why is everyone buying the old sewing machines? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/why-everyone-buying-old-sewing-machines-t105324.html)

I just bought two, that is right two Singer 301A's today. Of course, I am just tickled pink!!! They sew like a dream, solid, light weight and easy to maintain. Goes well with my other old Singers!I have two new Janome's, won't buy anymore new ones.

I know people with purses that are bigger and weigh more than a featherweight in a case. They are truly portable and sew beautifully. When ever a bunch of us get together to sew at least two of us bring the featherweight. If you are piecing you don't need anything else.

The oldies are generally all metal construction as opposed to plastic. They were much simpler and you could service them yourself, all they needed basically was a good cleaning and frequent oiling and you were good to go. The new ones have a lot of electronics which you can't check out yourself. They are subject to ruin by magnets. The parts are plastic and they break. They are easy to get out of time. Now don't get me wrong, I have several electronic machines but these are the basic differences that I am aware of. I also own Featherweights and other old machines.

I would love to have one and a treadle as well. I learned to sew on a treadle machine when I was very little.

I don't have a Featherweight, but I have a 1934 Singer 15-91 that I FM quilt with. I love it cause it's POWERFUL!!!! And it has a large area for the quilt to fit in. And it's simple, no computer to screw up. And it's beautiful.

I don't own a featherweight, but I do own and use my vintage machines which are all in treadles for piecing and quilting.
Why own a vintage machine because:
they are easy to care for and clean
can be purchased for under $50
they make beautiful stitches
they are designed for heavy use, to sew through thick fabrics like denim
true horse horses
they have a large harp space which makes it easier to quilt a large quilt
they have beautiful decals and motifs
their cabinets are gorgeous, a piece of wood art
treadle irons are a piece of mechanical art
all metal, no plastics
And they never die- their previous owner may be long gone, but these machines just keep on living.

I was wondering the same thing. I have a small Janome for class. It does a lot of different things and only cost me $300. But-since everyone is talking about the featherweight I'm wondering if I'm missing something. I keep looking for one but haven't found anything.Wish I could find something reasonable so I could find out why they're so popular.

Don't have one, but I'm looking for one...Had one when I was 10-12 yrs. old. I agree they are cute and sew like a charm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepolyparrot

I don't have a Featherweight, although I would like to have one in my collection, one of these days.

I buy the old sewing machines because they sew like can't believe until you've tried it. :)

A big old tank of a Kenmore or Singer in a solid cabinet is pure stability when you're wrestling with a king-size quilt and trying to get it quilted.

So smooth - because they're so heavy! Think about how a Cadillac or a Grand Marquis just sails along and glides down the road. That's what the old sewing machines do.

I learned how to sew on a 1956 Singer and trying to find its twin is what got me started on collecting the old machines.

I've been learning how to refubish them myself and I only rarely have to resort to a repair shop - as when replacing the two internal belts inside my Kenmores - that's not a job for a home hobbyist without special tools.

I can strip the machines and clean them and put them back together and they're beautiful and nostalgic... and they sew! Oh, do they sew! And a few of them sing you a happy little song while they do it! :)

You took the words right out of my mouth! Vintage machines are tough and reliable and will take the thickest fabric sandwich. I have a Singer treadle from the 1920's and an electric White from the same era, both marvelous machines. I also picked up a couple of turquoise machines from the 70's and also a Montgomery Ward version from the same era. They all work better than the plastic version which sits under the workbench...broken.

Somewhere I read that the old straight stitch machines sew the best straight stitch because they don't have any zigzag capabilities. It seems that if they can zigzag, there is an ever so slight zigzag in the straight stitch, one you don't even notice, but the straight stitch is affected and it is not as perfect. I don't see so well anyway so I can't see it, but there may be some truth to it. I can tell you the Featherweight sews a fantastic straight stitch.