Storing/displaying your machines...
 

Most of you have collections that put my three machines to shame so I have to ask -

How do you store and/or display your machines? My 401a lives in a rather shitty small table which, while easy to use, doesn't fit in with my design aesthetic. ;-)

I love my older machines but I'm trying to figure out how to store/display them so they are easy to get to so I can use them.

Ideally, the easier to access the better!
Thanks in advance,
Karen

Well, right now most of mine are stored like this:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]575095[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]575096[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]575097[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]575098[/ATTACH]
That's about 40 machines and a little over half of the cabinets with 25+ machines and 5 or so cabinets I still need to get out there. My house is being torn down in about a week so I'm moving everything out to the shop for now. Once the new house is in place I'll have a big sewing room for all of my favorites and the rest will stay out in the shop until new homes are found for them. I have a couple of favorite cabinets I like to switch out machines into, so one of those heavy duty shelving units will go in the sewing room or I'll buy another one. I also want to put a gallery rail type shelf up high on one wall of the sewing room for displaying my sewing boxes, toy machines and favorites like my Brother Pacesetters and B200 hand crank machine.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]575099[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]575100[/ATTACH]

Cari

Since I only have 6 machines I don't consider them a collection. My Damascus treadle belonged to a great-great aunt, my Singer 15-91 belonged to my mother and they both are in cabinets and ready to use at any time. My Janome MC6600P is set into a table and I use it more than any others for sewing. My embroidery/sewing machine is also set out and used quite often. Those 2 machines I cover with the machine covers that came with them. I have a little FW that sits on a bookshelf but it is also covered with a machine cover. My other machine is my travel machine and it stays in the little trolley so it is always ready to go.

I do have one of those little plastic machines (looks like a toy but I wouldn't give it to a child). They were sold on HSN for a while but didn't get one until they had them in Bed, Bath and Beyond. So cute, I couldn't pass it up.

Wow, Cari! It's going to take a while before I can shut my mouth!!! That's got to be some strong shelving. I just love your little Brother B200. :)

I think having covers for any machines kept out is a terrific idea, quilting candy. I like to polish and admire my machines but only on my timetable.

The case my 401a is in is the Singer Ardmore in blond. I'm assuming it's pressboard or something like it. It certainly doesn't look like fine wood. It was ugly to start with but then my DH (?) used it as a base to paint something red! The red streaks don't add to it's questionable beauty.

I think a search for a new case is definitely in order.

My 201-2 came to me in an ugly blond economy cabinet, I hated it. I stripped it for the hardware to fix a better cabinet and now it sits out in the back shed along with everything else that's going to the dump.
Those shelving units came from Home Depot. They aren't cheap but they are sturdy.
I plan on making covers for all of my machines in the house eventually but so far have only made a couple. I really love the one I made for Elizabeth, my 201.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]575148[/ATTACH]

Cari

Wow! Cari- that's quite a collection. I'm especially fond of the Brother Pacesetters-- someday maybe I'll find one. And I love the B200 hand crank!--again, maybe I'll luck into one someday.

I only have 6 machines and only 3 and 1/2 are vintage.

The Kenmore stays out in one of those Arrow Gidget tables since I use it a fair amount. When I finish quilting one of my art quilts on the PQ1500, I can just turn around in my chair and move the quilt over to the Kenmore to do a rattail binding--it's the only one of my machines that can reliably feed a thick quilt while zigzagging over rattail binding.

The Featherweight goes here and there, whenever I want to sew somewhere other than in my main sewing area. Right now it's in the room where I have my cutting table, sometimes it gets switched to a hand crank and sits in my lap out by the pond sewing crumbs.

The White stays out, and only gets used occasionally since it has a crack in the part of the cam stack that allows the hidden stitches to be used--- but when I want to do something artistically messy, then I use it for that LOL! Come to think of it, it would probably do just as well as the Kenmore at zigzagging rattail binding, and the crack in the cam stack doesn't affect any of the utility stitches... but at 40+ pounds, it's way too heavy for the Gidget table....I leave it out to remind myself to periodically look for an original cam stack for it and because it's one of the ones with the atomic symbol on the metal lid you lift to access the bobbin compartment and when you turn the light on it shines through a cutout spelling WHITE on the front of the head. The coolness factor means it gets special treatment LOL.

The 1/2 vintage machine is my Brother VX560-- it's only 1/2 cause it's from 1980 or 1981, but is all metal except for the cam and it only has 8 or 9 stitches including a satin stitch that you can make decorative by turning the stitch width knob while sewing to make it get wider and narrower-- depending on how you time it, you can get lozenge shapes, or triangle shapes, etc. It is currently put away since I don't have room for it to be set up, but I often switch it out with the modern Brother PC420 since I like sewing with it, at which point it sits in one of those Arrow Sewnatra cabinets.

Rob

Hi Cari,

That's an amazingly cute machine cover! I had better be careful or I'll wind up looking for a machine that does embroidery. ��

Good tip regarding the shelves. I don't even want to think about the damage collapsing shelves would cause.

Rob I have a mix of vintage, not so vintage, and modern machines too. Most are mechanical, with some embroidery machines and an HQ long arm in the mix. The long arm currently resides at my BFFs house but it will be coming home soon.

Karen, machine embroidery is a whole 'nother rabbit hole to fall into. I now have 5 embroidery machines. I should sell one or two, but can't bring myself to part with any of them(yet). That machine cover had embroidery on all sides and the top, it was a lot of fun to make.

Cari

I only have 3. The 301 sits on my long table with my serger on the other end. The Featherweight sits on my little antique desk that I've had for years and the Rocketeer is in the trapezoid table that I found on eBay. They all have little covers made from upholstery fabrics to cover them with so they don't get dusty and just because I like the way it looks.

All of my machines are in cabinets except for the Featherweight and that is in a card table. The Featherweight, 15-88 treadle, 401a, and the VS2 treadle are all in my diningroom. I keep debating if I should put the Featherweight away because it is taking up space were one of my table looms usually resides. The 2 other machines are in cabinets and are in my bedroom. When I go in there I keep wondering what the heck are sewing machines doing in my bedroom! I have been primarily using the 15-88 since I got it cleaned up and sewing so smoothly.

Cari - that is an impressive collection of machines and cabinets. It is kind of scary too, I am finding that looking a sewing machines on CL is irresistible:-)

Theresa when I first started buying machines I couldn't stop myself from buying anything I saw that was under $50. Now I wish I would've restrained myself a bit but at the time I wasn't sure where I wanted to focus my collecting. It didn't take long to find that focus but by then I had many machines that just didn't float my boat. I've sold some, still have more to service and sell, given some away and there's a couple that will probably become parts machines. And..........there's still a few more I want to get.

Cari

Oh Cari, I just burst out laughing when I scrolled down and saw the photos of how you display your machines!!! Looks similar to my office right now. We converted our attached garage into living room about 4 years ago. Know all that "good stuff" in a garage that you cannot throw away?? Well it has been sitting in a corner in my living room (the other side of the living room where my husband cut the wall out of the bedroom to enlarge the living room). I wanted to get my treadles "uncovered" so I can practice treadle-ing and become more proficient at it......hahaha. So two little boxes went to the donate pile and the other 4 boxes are now in my office....hahahaha (Can't post photos of that mess though). Hahahahaha

I had to laugh at myself when I saw the three cases sitting there all alone and balanced. I was thinking, now what else can I stack on there and not have them fall down? (BTW those are empty cases.) This isn't really displaying the machines, it's temporarily storing them. I'm emptying out my 1966 two bedroom mobile home into a 10x12 Tuff Shed so the trailer can be torn down and a new, bigger one will replace it. So I'm moving but not going anywhere lol. I'll be done packing by this weekend and will be homeless for a few weeks.

Cari

I usually like the old Singer tables from the 50s, modern design and teak veneer? I didin't go for a very styled home to begin with, nor is everything matching. I allow a bit of age difference in my furniture. Cabinets often need cleaning, lots of good furniture polish or have the lacquer redone to look nice again.

I have 5 machines so far. I keep the portable models at the bottom of my book shelves. The largest is a 201 in a bent wood case and it works fine. A neat way to store and display a macine is to use two solid cast iron brackets on the wall (there are nice ones as well as more utility looking versions); fit a nice wooden board to it with screws and call it a shelf. It's sturdy and solid enough for heavy cast iron models, and it's easy to adjust for any length or depth. Use the right screws and bolts for this, it needs to hold up well :- )

, buThe operative comment is "so far". :):):)

I like how you think, Mickey! I can't see me getting more involved than that.

I'm a lightweight when it comes to the number of machines I have. Three - I'm not counting my broken Husqvarna that's been banished to the basement - currently, but I keep browsing!

Cari, I'm afraid to even look at embroidery machines. I'll just have to be sensible and pay someone to do it for me. Sensible? Not a word usually associated with me.

Most of he portables portion

[ATTACH=CONFIG]575211[/ATTACH]

I display my machines all over the house. The house is 200 years old so lends itself to decorating with old machines.[ATTACH=CONFIG]575212[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]575213[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]575214[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]575215[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]575216[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]575217[/ATTACH]

Ah, someone else with eclectic taste. I have a lot of antiques and vintage stuff but it's kind of all over the place. I have everything from the 30's to the 60's and I love it all!

Glenn you have a beautiful home and some beautiful machines.

Cari

Ditto Cari, Glenn! Beautiful home and amazing collection of machines.

Karen

Love Great shelves, Steve!

Thanks guys, I have guest house full of treadles on display also. I have Hand cranks in their original cases stuffed every where. Thanks again.

We have two sets of these metal shelves from Walmart that each hold sixteen machines. I wish there were as efficient a method for storing machines in cabinets. :)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]575277[/ATTACH]

Wish I lived nearby so I could come and play at your house with your machines. Love what I can see of your house. Gorgeous!

I have 2, not vintage. Well if you want to call my 401a in the desk cabinet. It's under plastic cover right now a we speak. The hubs is painting the sewing/guest bedroom. I also have a much newer Singer 2662 (15 years old approx.).

You are more than welcome to come play. My family lived in Rockport before they got old and came to live with us before they passed. We are from TX and wish we could go back back but son is here and we are getting old and he may have to take care of us. My wife lived in Corpus while I was in Korea. All my machines are cleaned and in working condition so come on for a visit. We have a guest house for you stay in. They are many more hand cranks that did not show up in the photo. My Mom lives in Irving(Dallas)

Wow, those are great collections. It never occurred to me to use the machines as part of the decor in my 100 yr. old house. Which is why I don't have many. But, I do have several nice mantelpieces that would look great with a handcrank or two.... ya'll are such enablers LOL!

Rob

Here is mine, went one step beyond having them in the house

ok- let's try this again, I have a lot of problem with this site when using a particular computer.

This is my "Machine Shed"

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psmfefoxy6.jpg


http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps8ukck5jm.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psplhm9h7w.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psrafz95pz.jpg

The LA is on the east (right) side

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...pstrsgjoae.jpg

I have my FW collection, and a few other Singers on display in the house.

And then there is "storage"

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psssooqltk.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psssaz2z9u.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps2jkebjfg.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...pswvg30kmc.jpg

Cathy, you're my new hero! Absolutely amazing collection and I love your 'Machine Shed'!!!

Exactly how many machines do you have?

Edited to add: I expanded the photos and I'm left speechless! You've got your own machine museum. I could spend days in there and not take it all in. Husbands everywhere should be afraid. Very afraid!


Karen
Vancouver Island

They totally are, Rob. I was looking at a little hand crank on here the other day and thought "That would be so cute on my side table". Now I'll be out looking for one for real just to display it with my other antiques!

WOW!!! What a collection! I'm going to have to show my DH when he gets off work! We just got my first treadle for restoring, so I don't have a collection (yet:)) This is like a museum! Most of them are in working order too, I'm guessing?

I don't actually know. Last time I counted it was over 150, and I've added a few and given away a few. . . I am currently on a give away program to other collectors, but due to my location and difficulty in shipping, it's not going well.

I'm being very, very strict with myself on not buying more unless they are near the top of my "most wanted" list.

Cathy, your pictures made me laugh. I will have to show them to my friends when they start to question why I have 6 machines. I feel like such a slacker! LOL

Cathy, unfortunately I'm two states away from you otherwise I'd gladly help take some off your hands!

Seriously? I feel a road trip coming on!

Karem
Vancouver Island

StevH and Glen, man it's really good to see you guy still post. I was just about to ask where some of the original poster with their pix. Love, your collections and Glen really loving your décor and arrangement.
I have a small collection of my own. I have two FW that sits in their original cases, one Brother serge that sits in a box and a 1938 electric White in a cabinet and a 1957 Singer 401A in a cabinet. Let me try pix again, it all new to me.

This just a pix of the 401A in the case for now.

So, I'll go for the pix of the White a little later cause I think my Wi-Fi is messing with me.

That's a pretty nice case! I brought my case over on Tuesday and it's still in the car. It's ugly blonde fake wood and it was used by someone as work bench to hold something that was painted red. I know who that someone is and I'll never let him live it down! (It would have killed him to cover it with newspaper? :hunf: )

I'll post photos when I can. If anyone has some suggestions on what I can do with this case - short of tossing it in the trash - I would appreciate it.

Karen
Vancouver Island

Here it is in all it's ugliness!

The Ford Deluxe doesn't have a top to the case so it got shifted out to the garage for now.