So, I was at a thrift store a few days ago and I saw this cool cabinet. I keep thinking about it. There was a Singer of indeterminate age inside. There was all sorts of storage and it was really big. How do I know, on the fly, if the machine is any good? I mean, I can sew on it, see if it moves I suppose, but I don't know machines like all of you do. I have this Stylist that I want to set free because of its crumbling plastic gears and I was so charmed by it when I saw it...But then I think that I might just want it for the cabinet because it has such a big work surface and lots of drawers and an extra flap on the side just for thread and gadgets....this really is an obsession. I'm wondering if I could pop my other machine into or onto this cabinet...oh, I bet I could

If it was at a thrift store and the electrical looks OK they can usually plug it in for you to see if it works. If it is cheap enough buy it for the cabinet.

Enabler! oh, I mean, exactly what I was thinking!

I don't think there are many non-enablers here on this board.

So...I have one machine, a New Home from the mid 1940-1950 range. Missing a bobbin and bobbin case. No longer locked up, but turns rather roughly right now. I may have to remove the rod again and polish it some more to make it move more smoothly in its bushings. I have a White that moves well, sews when I spin the hand-wheel, but no belt and the cabinet is limping along missing one of its wooden legs. Wouldn't it be nice if all the heads and cabinets were interchangeable? And the Minnehaha, oldest of all of them, is working just fine. I saw a table made out of treadle irons and thought...hey, I could cut a hole in that and drop a machine in...Couldn't I?

With its leg in place, the White sews like a dream. I was grinning from ear to ear when it started sewing. I figured out the threading and bobbin. I played with the attachments. It's so QUIET. I can't wait to move it into the house. A little more work on the cabinet and it's comin' inside!

I gifted my Singer Stylist 457 to a good home today. She already had the same machine and likes it so much, she wanted another and was willing to do the repairs (crumbled gears). I didn't want to bother with it and happy to see it go somewhere it would be appreciated.

Today I picked up a new machine...that sounds funny, but you know what I mean. A Franklin treadle in a parlor cabinet.[ATTACH=CONFIG]355819[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]355821[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]355822[/ATTACH] The machine looks like it's in really good condition, but the cabinet is in serious trouble. Wondering if I should be looking for a donor treadle. I'll try gluing and screwing this one together, but when the previous owner was trying to put it back together, she couldn't hold the machine and dropped it a couple times trying to get it back on the pins. I think that's what cracked the peddle and it looks like a piece or two are missing. I can understand why machines get orphaned.

I should post a picture, but I'm sure you'll get the idea...I had a leftover cabinet from the Stylist I gifted to someone else. She didn't want the cabinet, so I took the cabinet and added a shelf, right below the hole for the machine. My portable Kenmore fits right in it and I can lift the front flap, if needed to open my little tool compartment. I wonder if it will work for the Husky...probably not, but it works great and now the machine doesn't sit up so high. I'm reorganizing my sewing space, hoping I can find room for my treadles before cold weather hits. I don't want them sitting outside in the cold garage.

Hahaha I am enjoying your thread - I must subscribe and keep up with your purchases. I'm finding myself in the same boat. I have about 15 machines right now though I've turned down several free or near free machines due to lack of space. I'm trying to only take on ones that I KNOW I can fix or that are really neat for my collection. It's SO SO SO HARD though! :)