Oh no, what have I done!
 

I decided I wanted a cabinet for my Auntie's Singer 15-125 that came home yesterday. I remembered one of the reasons I gave it away was because I didn't like sewing on my dining room table. I did not want to spend a lot or drive very far. I found a cabinet for a decent price and only about 30 minutes away, so I went and picked it up. All it needed was a good cleaning, so I gave my pretty green singer a spa treatment and it is in the cabinet.

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Now the problem is, this was in the cabinet:
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It is the dirtiest machine that I have ever seen. It is a Singer 306K and it has a lot of the attachments and 7 pattern disks. This is a real early zigzag machine but it uses 206x13 needles. I wouldn't even bring it upstairs, that is how dirty it was. I gave it good spa treatment in my garage, oiling as I cleaned. The mechanics were so dry, I can't even imagine the last time someone used it. The person who I bought it from had it plugged in and was running it when I got there. I asked them to stop, it needed oil so badly.

I had planned on just turning around and selling it, but there is something strangely fascinating about it. I have never seen a machine with so much stuff on the outside that moves, so if I can track some needles down I am going to have to play a bit before I sell it. Everything that I have read says it is an extremely strong stitcher.

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It cleaned up amazingly well and after a number of oilings it feels and sounds a lot smoother. I just don't understand how this happened. I said no more sewing machines after I got the 201-1, now I have two more! I really have to start staying the heck off Craigslist! LOL

he-he-he Nice looking machines- both of them. The 15 looks nice in the cabinet.

You can get size 12 & 14 from http://shop.sew-classic.com/206x13-S...eedles_c46.htm It also takes a different bobbin http://shop.sew-classic.com/Bobbins-...ack-55623S.htm

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

The 306 was the most expensive of them. I have bumped into people who have taken the 306 or the 319 as their favorite go-to machine. The needles are easiest to order on the web these days, unless you still have access locally. It happened quickly , new cabinet right away and with a new machine.

Some have adjusten them for regular 130 needles, and it seems to work well for most; there are a few on the web who have had a bit of trouble, but it might have been other issues. I'm on the look for one of the early zigzagger too, I have noticed a cast iron Bernina and a Mundlos-Victoria.

It would be tough to get rid of that machine. If it were me (and thank goodness it isn't!), I think I would continue to watch for another cabinet for the 15 and then stick that 306K back in it's original (assuming it is) cabinet then either keep it or sell it that way. Yeah, I am not really a big help am I? Sorry. Wish I had more room for machines but I am completely out so I too will have to stop perusing CL. Darn!

My 15-125 came in a real solid base with no cover and I put the 306k in there. I want to keep the 15 because it was my aunts that I had foolishly given away years ago and it came back to me on Saturday. It looks pretty good in the base, now what to do? I really should get rid of some of my machines but is harder to do than I thought it would be.

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I would do some free motion test stitching on both of them and see if they are any good. A 15 doesn't have the best satin stitching if at all, but the 306 might. There are some zigzager attachment that might do the basic jobs. The 306 looks almost brand new in the pictures, clean and shiny, it even has the beige pedal. The green machines I've seen usually come in pale wood cases or cabinets, but the teak table you have is very common on 1950s machines in general. I have a 201K23 in what looks like exactly the same table, but it's not as dark as yours. Mine is a bit sun-faded I think, but probably a shade or two ligter originally. The color is better preserved in some areas than others.

tsc weaves,

Oh Hon if you think that was dirty, you are such a rookie. But all it well, soon neighbors will be dropping them off on your doorstep. You did clean up the 306 very nicely.

Nice! You have the dark version of the economy cabinet, it looks much nicer than the blond version I had that my 201-2 came in. Mine was not in real good shape so I stripped the hardware to repair another cabinet. Leon is right, the 306 wasn't bad, I think many of us have had much worse.

Cari

This past weekend of machine acquisition has kind of overwhelmed me. I took some time, calmed down, and made a couple of decisions. I have reached out to my aunts granddaughters to see if they or their children are interested in her sewing machine. Our family picnic is next weekend and I could bring it then.

As for 306k, I am going to try to sell that, either in the cabinet or just in the base depending on how my cousins want the 15-125. I hate to give up the pretty green machine, but if it stays in the family I will be happy. I feel better with these decisions. All of those machines was driving me nuts.

With only 9 machines? I must be ready for the looney bin then at +/- 70.

Cari

Cari - you have to know that before the first week of April this year, I only had one sewing machine. This whole vintage thing really caught me off guard, I was just as happy as I could be with my 401a for years. Now there are sewing machines in every room on my main living level and the only reason there are none in the loft is that it is filled with my weaving equipment. ...and I still check Craigslist everyday. It is just crazy.

Theresa, it is a slippery slope! It is so much fun to hunt, discover, clean, and get them running again. I love how smooth these old machines are. It's as if they are happy to be working again.

I have a cousin that is going to take her Grandma's, my aunt, 15-125 Singer. I kind of have mixed feelings, I am really happy that the machine is staying in the family, but I regret seeing that really cool looking green machine leave the house. Oh well, so goes life:-)

Should have kept it.... 6 months ago I had a regular machine, 1 server, 1 embroidery machine. Made the mistake of looking on ebay (48 machines later) still looking everyday! I'm 61, didn't need to get hooked on something this late in life.. hehe boy it's fun though

Oh 48! You have the continuous United States covered:-) LOL
Never fear, another 15 will some daymcome to me. My mom bought hers new and someday it will be mine. I am just not in any hurry formthat one:-)

I've got 7 in my kitchen! 2 in my bedroom and more all over the house, except the living room and one bedroom.

Barny

It is amazingly "gadgety" isn't it? My grand nephew (then 6) would 'sew' with me on my old Kenmore mechanical IF the top was up and he could see all the stuff moving. It fascinated him. Enjoy it.

Theresa, be sure to invoke the free rehome policy language: "if you ever tire of it, and no one else in the family wants it, I will provide a home for it.". Perhaps include a note on the family history of the machine?

You are all novices! I've got over 150 machines (lost count). Got two more by accident a few weeks ago, a coworker's husband wanted them gone, so she brought them in to work for me (Free in a treadle and a Fashionmate Singer in a small cabinet).

So I expect you all to get with it and start accumulating! (And your more than welcome to come take some of mine LOL!)

Besides being soo pretty (vintage hand crank) you can see how everything works! It's amazing to watch... a lot cheaper than working on cars and you can get more into the same space. lol

This is so funny: I am finding sewists and vintage machine aficionados are as bad as weavers when it comes to equipment and stashes:-) Everyone is so helpful when it comes to urging more! ​LOL

I have hundreds of machines. I haven’t been able to do anything in ages - my parents care has been a higher priority. Some day I’ll have to have a huge yard sale.

That is how this group got so large, we have all been bitten.

Miriam, You make me feel better with my numbers.

Thanks. I seriously haven’t counted them and I can’t, I’m never home. It’s a total disaster.

How exciting! I bought my first vintage machine a few weeks ago...I can see why you all get bitten with this bug!