A little Thrift Crazy: re Singer Fashionmate 223
 

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Hello, long time no post. LOL So The crazy isn't the new machine. I knew eventually I was adding another one to the herd. The crazy is the 26 vintage pattern's I also picked up. :D All in all a good haul for $30. Especially since the machine is practically pristine. With the exception of some missing paint on the deck. The discolored paint under the motor and the greasy black finger marks on the paint under the presser foot lever. There was also a waxy orange crayon type build up on the blind hem gear. That was all easily cleanable. The motor was oiled and wires checked. It's awesome. :D Link to all the patterns purchased. [large photos warning] http://imgur.com/a/xA6bd#fiK7trH



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Nice looking machine. Do you collect old patterns? I have four that I could send you if you wanted them. There is one woman's blouse pattern and three kid's patterns. If you want them, just let me know. Or if you need more info on them first in order to decide if you would like them, let me know.

Nice looking machine!

I'm curious about the patterns too, do. you collect them?? I do love the pics of the fashions.

Intersting on the patterns. Do you sew them? Youmust have got a good deal on the Fashion Mate if all together it was only 30.00. My local GW store is a bit more expensive with the machine pricing.

I loved looking at your patterns! There were several of them that I am sure I made dresses from when I was a teen ager. Seeing those patterns brought back wonderful memories. Good looking machine.

I actually do collect and make some of the patterns. Of course I have to grad them up to my size. LOL it's a hobby along with quilting and machine collecting. LOL I am interested in your patterns. :D

I do sew them after I trace them on a different paper then grade them up to my size. I find today's fashions a bit... meh. LOL All in all the patterns total was about $13 and the machine was about $15. The $2. difference is because of some random fabric that I had purchased but didn't photo. This is the same thrift store where I nabbed a 401A for $10.

Thanks! I also have a Fashionmate 237. I like this one it's different and it has the nifty automatic blind hem switch. The patters are loads of fun.

looking at those patterns was a trip down memory lane. I chuckled, some the original price was only 25 cents and were marked for 50 cents.

I know right?! That always gets me. Especially when some patterns on Etsy they'll charge you $10 for a download/copy of the pattern.

i like to get them for the possible use of them in redoing SM cases aand using scans of the artwork relevant to the period. especially on cases that were toast anyway

great idea for re-doing a case. I have one to redo. I will have to watch for some. gooood idea!

I love the vintage patterns also...I still have my patterns from high school, made my own wedding gown, my junior/senior prom and several of my two daughters clothes patterns...and I just turned 72 last Sunday... I get them out ever so often and look at them.. lots of memories.

foufymaus, I sent you a PM about the patterns. Hope you get it.

Can you shoot a pic of the bobbin area with out the bobbin - I would love to see behind there if possible... Mine is open and all kinds of lint goes into the gears. I was wondering if your machine had that same problem?

do these have plastic internal parts?

It apparently does have the same problem. I cracked open the gear box which is the first time i did since she's been home. I always seem to forget to do that. I'm wondering if a piece of electrical tape could prevent the lint from going in there.

Actually, the gear's and such are metal. It's a zz machine so no lovely cam's to play with. Except for ...*thinks* maybe the blind hem switch. I think I remember a flat fashion disk cam. I'll have to double check that.

One thing I did notice is that the serial number TB693077 and there's a stamp in paint on the metal that says JA -8 Right above it there's a stamp in the metal that says J-C 13 I'm wondering where this machine was made It's not really following the North American numbering system.


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Pics for miriam here. http://imgur.com/a/sjMFB

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Yours looks good - the gear box on mine was packed with lint and thread in the grease. It seems to be a good machine otherwise. Yes it does ss, zz and a blind hem. I think you could put it on a treadle. Other than that hole, it seems to be a real well made machine. I don't know if duct tape would stick with the grease in there. It might go a while and then have to remember to put in new duct tape once in a while.

Generally, those JA- numbers are indicative of a machine that was made in Japan, though it usually says "Made in Japan" somewhere on the machine.

A Bing search confirmed that the 223 was made in Japan.

Great finds! I don't know much about the patterns but they look like they were some really classic styles. I suspect they're the real treasure and not the machine.
Rodney