Hi folks here are some pics of my machines.
The first is my Bernina 440QE - Nina (getting a little "Brother" but no pic).
Next are my 2 FW's. The one on the left I inherited from my DMIL, the other my hubby recognized from me mentioning that quilters really like them. It was perched on the edge of the ramp at the dump waiting to be destroyed. He brought it home oiled it and set it up and I was able to start it right up. Also both have the original carrying cases an many feet.
Next it the Singer 401A. I learned to sew on my mothers and when I was pregnant with my first DD, she bought this one for me used for $75 (that daughter is now almost 37).
The serger, I picked up at a yard sale for $50 in upstate NY between Niagra Falls and Rochester.
The White I also inherited from my DMIL. My youngest DD has dibs on it when she gets home in 1-1/2 yrs from New Zealand. (That is provided I can teach her to sew
;-) , but she really wants to learn)
My DH took all these pics, he seems to be so proud of my machines. He appreciates a good piece of machinery. I think eventually, he will learn how to repair them. The mechanical ones fascinate him.

My son would take up sewing for this one!!

my poor old dial/up/network just works and works but I love seeing the machines. I just play solitaire til everything is in...really like the white FW's, have never seen one in person but they sure are special. reminds me, must get mine out and oil it...keep the pictures coming

What a hoot and I totally relate to her expression. Thanks for the giggle this morning.

Olivia's Grammy,

Beautiful machines. I have that brown Kenmore. Bought it in March, 1961 and it still runs great. I paid more than $100 and that was more than a week's pay.
Last purchase was almost three weeks pay. Bernina 440QE.

Thanks for the memories.
Kathleen

That brown Kenmore is a real work horse. I have pieced many quilts on that one. It had a trick thread holder. I'd be sewing away and the thread would go flying off the holder. Good thing I always have cats to chase it down. :-D

I have a Pearl Iris Kenmore! That's what I sew on every day! It is my favorite machine. Mine is from the 1950's. Straight stitch only! And a beautiful straight stitch it is!!! Will post picture later.
Bill's Girl

*sigh* I still can't find the serial number on it :(

I have the same Bernina as Rachel and Nursie! So no need to put up a picture. I also have a pfaff and an older Singer, but they're put away, so I can't take photos.

holy cow!!

Billy, my machine serial number is EL862963 :)
I guess the motor was assembled on the machine once it arrived in Canada.

They did that because it was being exported and they weren't sure what country it was going to.

Billy

What is the model number of the machine? I have a chart that shows when, where, and who made the machines for Sears. That color was not offered but for a few years in limited quantities. Most of them were the lavender and cream that was just the plain Iris color with no pearl. The dates for the pearls were in the early 60's and was used exclusively by Maruzen, the company that badged the machines for Sears and White. Later on they were known as Maruzen/Jaguar by the mid to late 60's then changed to just Jaguar in the early 70's making Kenmores and all of the White machines.

Billy

Billy

Love your signs! I want one :)

Ok, so it's not a sewing machine, but hubby got this weekend ONLY ON THE CONDITION that I get a new sewing machine by the end of the year.

So in a sense, this is my ticket for a new sewing machine.

Woohoo!!! And make darn sure that you're machine costs at least as much the cycle :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

I think you should get a brand spankin' new Bernina 830 or a Husqvarna Viking Diamond, or hey--how about one of each? And all the attachments that could possibly come with them--that might just be enough... ;)

Its a Kenmore 148 295. Would love to know the year it was made!
Bill's Girl

Hi there!

You have a Model 29 and it dates from 1963-1966 and was manufactured by Soryu for Sears.

Now that brings me to this, I need a photo of the machine to put with my records because from everything I have on the Kenmores it was only known that Mauzen/Jaguar was issued the color to use on limited additions.

Soryu had all of the 148.xxx numbers and made machines for Sears from 1957-78. But Mauzen/Jaguar could have gotten a few of the 148.xxx numbers to manufacture. I can look at the machine and tell who made what so if I could get a photo of it that would really help.

When you take the photos could you get some of the bottom, front, back, and the handwheel. Also if you could get the JA and JC numbers off of the bed that would help alot. one will be cast into the beds bottom and the other will be printed or stamped on the bottom edge.

Thats the nice thing about doing research on these Japanese machines, there is always something else popping up and expanding your knowledge. :D

Billy

I guess the pics will have to wait till tomorrow because the battery on my camera died. However, as far as those numbers go J-C2 is cast into the machine and J-A22 is stamped in gold. That's all I can do for now! The shop owner that replaced my thread guide a couple of weeks ago said it was from the 1950's. Maybe he's wrong! I only know that it sews beautifully!
Bill's Girl

I like your flamingo light and all of your plants and of course your machine. It looks so cozy in your sewing room.

WOW those lights are just too cute.

Thank you for the numbers, and my dates for the Kenmores are dead on because they are direct from the Sears archived records.

Although all of the machines are not listed, we have found a few that are not even on the list and they are from the late 40's. So I am thinking they either lost the records or destroyed them one.

Thanks to genghis khan he sent me a link to a site that has some really nice photos of a Kenmore 29 that is the same model number as yours. I will PM you the link and it is from Soryu you can easily tell.

Billy

Tell him to buy a sports car too...then you can get a Gammil rofl.

Margie

I hope you received all the pics! This was the first time I have sent pics to an email address. I'd rather be at my sewing machine than learning all these fancy ways of communicating! LOL! Oh, and I checked out that link you sent and that is my machine , for sure! I was sad to see all the chipped paint and scratches on theirs though! Must have had a hard life! Does the serial number tell you the exact year it was made? It is 33445.
Bill's Girl

No not really, it only lets me know where in the line it was made but like so many companies out there you have to know what numbers they started with so it is hard to hammer it down to an exact date. Singer on the other hand their will tell you when the machines were allotted and how many were made.

The model numbers on the Kenmores is how I am able to date them and I also have a list of the companies and what years they were badging machines for Sears. The JA and JC numbers help me with locating the manufacturer and the company that cast them but I am still working on deciphering that one. There is a survey/list someone started earlier for the JA and JC numbers but a lot of the information is wrong.

The Japanese machines are just now catching on to be collectibles and the research is in the infancy.

Billy

Ok, it is official...my husband has caught the sewing machine bug!!!
I had to work late tonight, so he had his favorite cheese steak at a little sub place near our home. Next door is a thrift store. He was wandering around it there and he found.....an Italian manufactured machine called a Necchi. Yep! he bought it and when I came home said "Honey! Look what I got for you!" It really is a sturdy little machine and is really clean and runs like a top. We figure it was manufactured sometime in the 50's. I haven't done any sewing with it, but will try it out tomorrow when I am not so tired.
Here is a pic of the newest member of my growing family of machines.

Wow, that one is practically new! Look how clean it is!

Yes, really! That is what hubby said. Haven't tried sewing on it yet as I am away this weekend, but plan to put her through her paces when I get home.

It's taken me a bit but here are my machines in order of purchase date:

Necchi Sewing Machine Model 988
My father bought this in 1967. My first machine and it still runs like a champ. It, too, will sew heavy-weight fabrics such as nagahide.

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Kenmore Model 385.16231300 **I found a most interesting in article about Kenmore sewing machines. Models beginning with the "385" are actually Janome machines :roll: Which, now that I think about it, when in class last time I noticed the 'sound' of my machine was the same as the "Janomes"... just a bit of trivia ;) Purchased in 2005.

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Singer 306W - It's an industrial strength sewing machine and let me tell you it's industrial in weight...eee-gads!


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Singer 221-I Featherweight - 11/18/1949
When I bought this last year, I was thrilled because not only was the price right ($150) but the case was very clean, it had extra bobbins, came with buttonholer and other attachments, and a KEY!

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Sorry the pictures are so big - I'll make them smaller next time :(

on the singer 306 is it in a wooden frame? I don't think I've ever seen one like that....your case for the FW is in great shape...mine isn't, had a broken handle but the machine was in excellent shape.

Hi LindaR,

Yes the 306W sits in a wooden frame. I don't have an extra "old cabinet" to set her in so her bottom just "hung out".

I had an idea and asked my old boss, who loves to do wood working projects and tinker, if he would make a box for her to sit in. I took the machine to him and he brought her back in her new house :D He did a beautiful job and it's smooth as can be :D

I need another "old" cabinet with the set-in pegs (can't for the life of me remember what they are called...duh!) and then she could come out of her box :roll:

I was tickled when I checked the bottom of my Featherweight box, an added extra was the key!

Forgot to say, the wood case was made to fit 'permanently' inside the plastic carrying case, nothing moves :wink:

Does anyone know where the serial # is on FW?

Lift up the machine and lay it, gently, on it's side. The Serial Number is located at the back on the left side.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was so easy when you told me what to look for.

You are most welcome :D :D

Sew :roll: how old is your old gal (FW)?

My black FW is dated between 1935 and 38. My white one is a little harder to date. It was made in Great Britian I think. I dated it once and didn't write it down. Thanks again. The serial # was in plain site and I couldn't see it.

Here are a few of my babies:
1949 Singer 221- Belle
1935 Singer handcrank-Dolly
Singer Spartan 192k-Nell
Singer Treadle-Bertha (not sure the year #995169 comes up 1873 but I know that can't be right)
Brother XL 5500 (last gift from dad the year he passed away so it will always be here)
2009 Juki TL98 Q (christmas gift from DH)