I can't believe this
 

Be sure your blood pressure medication is working because this is an odd repurposing of sewing machines. http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hn...267721914.html

No flames, no bad language please or do you think it's clever?

It looks like they didn't do too much damage to the machines, so they could be returned to a functional state.

I do like the old style light bulbs though.

Joe

Also guessing they were non-functioning with that I'll add a few photo's I took last year at the Peck Thing!

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One more

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The lamps weren't a bad job. Looks like they used decent sockets and the repro bulbs are ok. Hate the tractors though.
Rodney

If they were not working it is clever. Better then tossing them. I like how they kept most of the integrity of the machine versus painting it or dismantling it. Not my thing though.

"No flames, no bad language please or do you think it's clever?"

I am going to go with 'clever'. The machines were likely going to sit and rust and not be sewn on anyhow. The maker did almost no/no damage to the machine. It is tastefully done, as these things go, and I do like the type of bulb s/he chose.

It also seems to me as though if one were so inclined, it would be minimal work to reverse the process.

On a similar note, I have an Elna Supermatic carcass, and I am giving serious thought to converting it into an espresso maker. I kid you not. Currently it is in use as a bedside lamp.

-C.

I love the idea! I think that they could have used a longer rod on the socket so that a lampshade could have been added, though.

*** I hope they CANNOT sell them,
*** & maybe they will leave other machines alone.

When they hack something up that's perfectly fine: this bugs me.
Example: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1658095...g-machine-lamp

When they fish for parts on CL just so they can hack them up: this bugs me.
http://dayton.craigslist.org/wan/4245622342.html

When they paint the dime a dozen 40/50/60's cabinets: I'm usually ok. As long as the machine wasn't sacrificed in the process.

When they use something previously unusable: I'm usually ok. I suppose I want a disclaimer.

Breaks my heart.

I think this makes me sick. Those machines are so pretty. Such a shame.

One of the crafter's around here has some in her booth. But hers look better, with a lamp shade. She sews and her husband buys dead machines or picks them up on the roadside on garbage day. Fortunately, she checks out the machines before he gets to do anything to them.

I believe that was the same with those 3 that were at the Pec Thing as there were also working vintage sewing machince available. This summer I was sold a Davis without seeing it first for $10. that must of been sitting in water for a long time it was so rusted inside there was no way to save it but the outside body had little rust on it. I soaked it in oil and put it in my garden next to the milk can, looked so nice but then one night someone stole the Davis out of the garden and left the mailk can??? The only thing that machince was good for would of been scrap.

They can't all be saved. If the sewing machine converted to a lamp is functional and I was in need of a lamp I would much rather have it than a new lamp from Chinamart I do agree that treadle cabinet should not be turned into tables. I guess you have never seen the farm fence made out of old machines?...

My Elna, which I believe to be a SuperMatic was bought in 1964 and to this day, has never seen the inside of a shop has never faltered and is still dragged out to do super heavy jobs that the computerized machine would vomit over. A finer machine was never built, in my book.

I didn't know it but now I need a coffee maker/sewing machine. If they both worked, think of how much time I would save by not going to the kitchen to get more coffee. I really like the old machines on wheels. They're just plain cute. The Edison bulb in the machine just doesn't seem practical although it is clever. These sewing machines are sizable & heavy so an end table lamp with a bare bulb doesn't make sense to me. That's my objection. Re-purposing is in a quilter's DNA so taking a broken something and making something else is fine by me. I get a little perplexed when I see re-purposing that is impractical. Unless it's steampunk which has a Rube Goldberg quality and making something for the fun of it and to have a good laugh is a great purpose. I am a live and let live person but I really enjoy seeing your opinions on these oddities.