How /Why do you acquire "another" vintage machine?
#11
Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Wichita
Posts: 13
My first 'real' machine was/is a 401 in a table. Works like a treat and is my 'go to' machine.
Then, I wanted a treadle and found a 66 in good condition for a decent price.
Then, I found a featherweight.
Then, my 401 plastic walking foot broke after just a short usage. So I found a Davis in a barn.
How could I pass up the beautiful Willcox & Gibbs treadle?
Or the Wheeler & Wilson very early model?
And then my husband gave me two treadles for my birthday.
And found another at a garage sale.
And I found a couple of hand crank Singers....
So now, the question asked before buying is "Does it do something different than the others?
Then, I wanted a treadle and found a 66 in good condition for a decent price.
Then, I found a featherweight.
Then, my 401 plastic walking foot broke after just a short usage. So I found a Davis in a barn.
How could I pass up the beautiful Willcox & Gibbs treadle?
Or the Wheeler & Wilson very early model?
And then my husband gave me two treadles for my birthday.
And found another at a garage sale.
And I found a couple of hand crank Singers....
So now, the question asked before buying is "Does it do something different than the others?
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,963
There's something interesting with the machines I go for; some I have noticed on the web and have been searching for, some stand out from the rest on the spot (charity store, web auction,..). I like some of the old decals, flowers, art nouveau swirls, some for the smooth running and stitching qualities.
#13
I started out buying for all of the above reasons, but later I thinned out the heard. Now if there’s something about it that really appeals to me, I’ll get it. I’m down to about 12 now, but that never stops me from looking!
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Central Ia
Posts: 1,112
I have my 15-91 and 201-2, I'd say if I found these two again in my birth year. And a Featherweight if I found one at a really good price. I'd probably "grab off a curb" before I would let it go to the garbage dump. I am pretty happy with just the two I have.
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,963
I can't remember who it was, but one poster here told a story of how a friend of hers brought a Featherweight to a sewing class and her status went up a few notches. Some of them carry prestige and particularly the Featherweight is given a lot of attention. I guess most girls would by a fancy handbag, but a sewing machine might have the same effect ;- )
Last edited by Mickey2; 11-02-2017 at 04:25 PM.
#18
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: High Point, NC
Posts: 88
For the really "good" Singers, I like to have multiple copies of them for assembly comparison purposes, and I really like them. For some reason, I have a soft spot for the Singer 201's (up to 5 right now. I am fascinated by the VS Singers because they are old, and I have put vintage handcranks on them for my 5 granddaughters (all 5 y.o. and under!) so I can teach them to sew. All the rest (total = 44) I like because they are neat, mechanical, and inexpensive.
JohnThomas in NC
JohnThomas in NC
#20
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Victorian Sweatshop Forum
Posts: 4,096
As for why or how I decide what to buy, when I first got into vintage machines I bought whatever caught my eye if the price was right. Nothing too old though, mostly 1950s. Over time I decided to focus my collection and started buying more of what I really wanted and letting go of what I didn't want. Now with over 75 machines I'll be letting more go than I take in but to be fair, the total number of machines I have include 2 sergers, 4 or 5 modern machines, 3 toys, 5 embroidery machines and a long arm quilter.
Cari
Last edited by Cari-in-Oly; 11-03-2017 at 08:29 PM.
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