Horror at the antique shop
 

A lamp? Really? How could they...


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Aaaaaarrrrrrrggggghhhhhhh!!!!!!! That's a really old one too, not just a common 66 or something. Is it a Grover and Baker? How sad. :( I think the shiny brass is especially tacky.

This is the kind of thing that I cannot stand, I just foam at the mouth. Use them for what they were made for, but then that won't sell.

There, there, sssshhhh...it's alright. Group hug, we'll get through this together. :pBut I know what you mean.

Depending on what it cost I think I would bring it home and at least make it look like a decent lamp. Of course they've probably destroyed it by sanding so they could paint it. Hope Karma paid them a visit in the process.

Wow is right. Even if it is a non working sewing machine, what a dumb place to put it.

I'm waiting to see what Steve says. It may not be a goner. The box is tall enough that the underside may be still intact and they drilled thru the slide plate, not the base itself.
I hate the fact that they painted everything including the bobbin though.
Reminds me of Mr. Bean painting his apartment.
Rodney

EDIT: I had a second look. Looks like the tension and spool pin have been hack sawn off. That doesn't help.

Not sure what they were going for when they decide to destroy the machine, but they certainly didn't making any friends with sewing machine enthusiasts. Wonder what they want for it?

Looks like a Weed sewing machine. Really rare... sigh

Looks like it might be sitting on a hand crank base (?) That would be very rare but perhaps only the front slide plate is damaged.

Jon

the spool pin and tension would be really tough to fix... that hole goes through the race support at the very least....

Pretty iffy on the head. If it's an HC, that base if intact would be very dear to a Weed owner.

Jon

Oh, it's still there? Go figure.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...y-t234677.html

Ha! Almost 2 years to the day.

I will shed a tear for that poor Weed. I would probably have tipped it over to see if there was anything salvageable from underneath. I would like to think they didn't drill through the shuttle race, but I am an optimist. Here is what it should be looking like.

Suzanne

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The other thread shows the box it's sitting on/in is nothing special-at least if the nail holes are any indication. It also looks like the drive wheel was most likely sawed off as well when the poor thing became a lamp.
I'd forgotten about that one.
Rodney

Yes, definitely not a rare handcrank. I can relate to checking underneath for the shuttle.

Jon

Another "hiss" from my corner. Just makes me furious to see cabinet stripped of their drawers for some stupid idea, beautiful old machines turned into lamps, irons used for tacky table legs and any such dismantling.

Even though the population have multiplied over the decades, and considering a lot of the sewing machines made in the past have been thrown on the heap a long time ago, there seem to be a surplus. I don't know how many is actually left. Few of us sew anything at any more, we have more clothes, and stuff than ever, and we sort of let other sew for us in stead; in India, Turkey, Bangladesh, etc. I think it's very odd many of us don't think if a sewing machine as handy to have around for repairs, alterations, curtains, jobs around the house. Are we expected to go to work and pay for every little thing to be ready made or done for us?

Then there's the factor of new machine verus old. Brand new has the great force of commecial production and sale. It has a hold on our thoughts and actions we are hardly aware of. The fact that the brand new machine is there in a shop is a strong influence. I don't have any bad conscience over a few brand new machines not being bought, and in stead have someone invest a bit of time and effort in an old machine. They might not be the product of our own generation, but most of the old machines have qualities definitely worth taking care of and keep in use. It's such a waste of resources when a sold old straight stitcher gets tossed out for a machine that's so much less.

I wonder if the fact that there were a lot more effort put into these old machine than many of the new. Hardened steel is still very high quality parts, compares ery well to plastic gears and clipped together machines. A brand new machine is more advanced with out a doubt, it's the next step in the evolution and it all rests on the previous generations. I'm not against progress and development, but it's just that I don't see making these old machines obsolete just for the sale of a new machine as either progress or a good thing in general. I'm wondering how we can let people know the qualities and advantages to these old machines? Both individuals new to sewing as well as more experienced can be well serviced by a dependable machine like these.

These old cast iron machine can never do exactly the same as a top model Bernina, Husqvarna, but we so easily buy into auto functions like needle threader, needle up/down, knee lift, built in walking foot, auto bobbin winder, etc. In my experience these features have a lot to do with habit, how you are used to finding ways about all the small challenges when sewing. New technology in itself get's a lot of attention and can impress us for all the wrong reasons.

I have no idea about the old treadle in question here behaves, but I know I prefer a Singer 201 or a Bernina 730 to a lot of brand new machines on the marked today. A lot of old machines adjust very well to our needs in 2015, in my case it's more like 90 % straight stitching and 10% other stitches; usually buttonholes, blind stitches, some times a stretchy stitch. In my line of thinking, an old Singer 201 and a good serger would be a nice set up for just about anything I want to venture into. How industrial and ambitious are the average quilter these days? Among the models there are a lot of high tech "Quilter's Edition". Are there any who actually go from a high tech marvel to a cast iron straight stitcher?

Sorry, this post turned out way too long :o

Me! Sold my fancy, expensive embroidery/sewing machine and now use a Singer 15-91 and Singer 221 for 95% of my sewing and quilting.

me too, Viking 6000 series to all Victorian machines

That's so nice to hear :- ) I have read several advicing beginners to start with a more reasonably priced model or used machine, then advance to something with higher specs. I just don't see how quilting and patchwork can get that advanced (view point from someone who has just made a few patchwork cushion covers and a quilted blanket). I do see the point of those long arm machines but I hope to get by on a regular 201.

I grew up using my moms 1964 Brother machine. As an adult I always wanted more bells and whistles. Several years ago I gave moms machine to my oldest DD and bought a new machine with all the fancy stitches, etc..Quickly missed the old Brother and found another one. That started my SMAD, now have 50+ machines, mostly old but a few new ones in the herd. I have a real fondness for straight stitch machines but honestly, how many do I really need? I'm also a quilter and will be getting a long arm in the future. As far as quilting with a 201, I use mine for straight line quilting but for free motion work I've not been successful at all with it. In fact, out of all the quilters I know on other groups who use vintage machines, only one does great free motion work with her 201. I much prefer using a class 15 machine like my 160 Cambridge. I really want to put this machine on a frame.

Cari

I have struggled when free motion darning on my 201, but it might be setting issues or beginner issues. I have bought a new jumping foot for it but haven't had a chance to try it yet. I have a Bernina 730 with much the same bobbin type as model 15, it free motions with out any fuzz, but it's a free arm model and those flat beds in cabinets are great for handeling larger plains of fabric. I'm not very ambitious on the quilting side, my plan is a robe like Bilbo Baggins have in the Hobbit, and a couple of nice cosy patchwork blanket size quilts.

I started out with a 1914 Singer 66-3 Hand Crank, and have scratched and clawed my way up to a 1950s Singer 319W Treadle so far. I’m wanting to advance on to a 1960s Singer 401G Treadle, but for now, it’s just a dream....

CD in Oklahoma