Prim Quilts

Cool looking machine. I have never seen one.

Sunflowerzz

Love the look of that machine! Thanks for sharing with us.

fauxquilter

That is a gorgeous machine. Here's mine, the Klasse 101 which is an earlier version.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470614[/ATTACH]

Cecilia S.

Hi Fauxquilter; I just saw your post with your photo, and am curious because I just noticed one of there for sale. It may not have a motor, and has no accessories. Can you tell me, will other feet fit it, or is it the kind of thing where it is not very compatible with other models? I ask because my German-made Anker/Phoenix does not accept other feet, and I wondered if this one is that way...

Thanks in advance, and anything else you want to tell me to look out for if I go see it :-)

fauxquilter

Hi, Cecilia--

That's a good question. I've never tried a generic part with mine, although a high-shank generic roller foot showed up in a box of vintage attachments I bought several months ago. For what it's worth, my Meister came with a Greist #7 Buttonholer attachment which works just fine. That attachment is for a high bar (shank) - left needle position zigzag machine. I don't know how compatible it is with other machines since Meister 101s are rather uncommon.

As far as buying them, I bought two off eBay last year. Both were fixer-uppers. The first one cost me about $100 and I got the second one, which was in really rough shape, for under $80 total. I would see if it is at all possible to test-drive the machine. If it doesn't have a motor or light, both should be pretty easy to replace with generics. I would also look at the condition of the paint. If the paint feels rough and is cracked/crazed, the top coat is probably gone and you'd have to repaint it. If the nickel-plated parts are pitted, they should probably be re-plated. Take a good look at the needle plate to see if the needle opening is "bitten" which would indicate that the needle has come in contact with it and potentially damaged the bobbin case (which is a fairly generic part). Evaluate what you might have to put into it to get it running again: cleaning, servicing, new cords, new motor (1 amp), plus any parts which might be missing (bobbin case, etc.), new light. My experience is that it's tough to destroy these old war horses, but it sometimes takes time and more money to bring them back. The first one I bought off eBay had been sitting in a damp Florida basement for years, but my repair guy got it up and running without much trouble.

If you can get this machine for about $50 or less, it could be worth it. They are great machines. Let me know how it goes and if you want any more info about the Meister machines (history, etc.) let me know.

good luck!

fauxquilter

PS: regarding the high shank roller foot, I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. The Meisters are direct descendants of Vesta machines and may be comparable to the earlier Adler-Phoenix models but I don't know that for sure.

Cecilia S.

Thanks, Faux-Quilter.

I need another machine like I need a hole in the head, but this one in my area is on GREAT shape, just no pedal (and poss. no motor, hard to tell from photo in its ad). It is about $20, so the price does not bother me one way or another - it just looks so cool, and so solid, and besides, wouldn't it be simply amazing to have it, and affix a Singer decal just below its own label? MeisterSinger!!!!! Ha haaaa!

Here it is: It actually looks as though it were taken from a treadle base, no?

fauxquilter

Hahaha! If you're willing to spring for a sheet of Singer decals, that would be very funny!

These are solid machines. I love mine and it's still the standard by which all others are measured (a Pfaff 259, a Pfaff 130 and a 3/4-sized Riccar). I'm not including the two other Meisters I'm cleaning up and the little antique with a shuttle bobbin in my storage unit. Too many machines? No way.

At $20 bucks, you have nothing to lose. These were electric machines from the start but someone might be able to convert it to a treadle. Decals are in great shape. The nickel plating could benefit from a good chrome metal cleaner. Make sure it has all the parts, like the bobbin casing. I always carefully wipe my vintage machines down with a little sewing machine oil to start with, because it removes some dirt and doesn't damage the paint or decals which are fragile. Like I said, a pedal and motor shouldn't be a problem to replace and you have the advantage of getting new cords and plugs. This machine also fits some of the new, plastic carrying cases too (although I'd get one from a sewing machine shop, not Walmart). When this machine is all tuned/cleaned up, you'll be pleased by how beautiful it is.

Great find!

Cecilia S.

You have said some very bad words, faux-quilter. You said Plastic Cases. You said Walmart. Tisk tisk. Go wash your mouth out with TriFlow.

Look at the metal bit to the right of the machine; it sure looks like a treadle fitting, does it not?

I will ask about the bobbin case. Is it compatible with others, or funky? If you feel like snapping a photo of yours (ie open up the stitch plate and show me what lurks...) that would be really interesting! Is it a vertical or a horizontal bobbin?

I wonder it the base is the same size as a Singer, and thus would a singer box be compatible? It also looks as though it balances just fine without a base; am I wrong?

I am NEVER going to get to be a good sewist if I keep collecting and tinkering... ;-)

Oh, also curious; when you mention comparing it to a Pfaff; does it, too have a double (flax/linen?) timing belt in it?

The machine is a good distance away on public transit, so I would want ot be fairly sure before making the schlep.

fauxquilter

Yep, I'm a bad monkey (although I haven't been in a WalMart in years). Here's the bobbin case. It's horizontal in that the bobbin lever is horizontal while the metal arm which is at right angles to it points straight up when it's properly loaded (apologies for the sideways photo. I'm having one heckuva time loading this photo for some reason.) As you can see, it's pretty generic and I have seen these advertised on the web as being for Meisters (among others).

The plate to the right of the machine does indeed look as though the machine might have been run as a treadle. The Meister does not have the burly timing belt that is installed inside the Pfaff 130 (Yay! One less vintage part to check/locate!).

The base is approx. 14.5 inches long (wide) and 7 inches high. Mine fits into a vintage Singer sewing cabinet but there is one problem. The little "feet" beneath the base curve outward and interfere with the machine swinging down into the cabinet when not in use so I will have to locate or make longer hinge pins in order to make it fit. I have not encountered any problems with the more standard plastic (eek!) cases. Fortunately, the machine is stable and well-balanced. I think you could sew on it without a base.

Finally, this is an all-metal machine and weighs about 35 lbs. which might make it a wee bit difficult to transport if it doesn't have a case.

I know about getting sidetracked by tinkering and restoring, which is all I was doing until we found out that a grandbaby is on the way. Oiling, buffing and polishing quickly gave way to ditzy cotton knits and Dr. Seuss. If you get the machine let me know and I'll be happy to send you the operating manual I compiled from my own experience with my Meister.

Off to the fabric store. Good luck!