Since there has been a HUGE interest in the vintage machines and the VSMS and the Virtual section I thought this might be interesting to post this.

I myself want a long arm and I will get one although dropping $15,000 on one is out of my range so I thought I would check into the "Vintage" types that are out there. True these are in all reality industrial machines but just because they are industrial does not mean that you have to sew heavy material with them. The industrials were mainly used for speed and production and not 1/4" leather.

I am looking at the 31-15 because it uses the standard class 15 bobbin and it has a nice deep arm. But they had some that were EXTREMELY long and they would be something else to use for a long arm.

Of course mine will be treadle operated unless I get sonething else than I will build a frame for it and use it like you would the new fangled versions.

But here are a few scans from the factory manuals.

Billy

Cool. I didn't know the even made those.

Never seen those before :shock: I bet it would be neat to try one though

O my what I wouldn't give to own those, be still my heart :D

Thanks for sharing these items...
I would love to find an older machine for long armining
k

I've seen some kind of like these on Craigslist, but they were more modern. They were listed as industrial and had long arms with a table. I've wondered if they would sew quilting weight fabric. The price of the machines I saw was less than $500, some half that.

I'd love to find one of those!!!
The 113w110 is so cool......

WOW :shock: I never knew these existed!
Thank you for sharing this with us :D:D:D

Gorgeous machines!!! I'd love to have one of those, of course I might have to move my DH out for the room, do you think he'd mind,lol!!!

oh wow! I see these on CL here all the time and never thought about one for this!

I think this one would be perfect for a long arm machine. you can take it down to one needle but since its puller feed it has no feed dogs and you are the one that feeds the material.

FMQ heaven!!!

Billy

I saw one of those listed on Craigs list here. They listed it as a sail repair machine. I think they still wanted a few grand for it though...don't know if it sold or not, but I thought it looked very cool.

thanks for starting this cool thread!

Thanks for the cool thread. I never thought of it as a treadle. Now look and see what I found on CL. Billy, think you should come to S CA for a stay and do some shopping.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac...733938809.html ;-)

What I wouldn't give for one of those beauties!

I just email the guy and I am waiting for the reply. You think you could ship this one to me? :lol: :lol: :lol:

And do not tempt me, I would love to come out and hang with you looking for machines and what not!!!

Billy

Those machines look amazing. One questions...Are they design for straight stitch or is free motion stitching a possibility?

You can free motion on them I am supposing. The 31-15 I can adapt a darning plate to go over the feed dogs and FMQ with it.

There are hundreds of other "long arm" machines out there by Singer but that is just the few I picked out to show.


Billy

Just got this from a friend of mine who is not a quilter. Perfect for this thread:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=263602_263622

That is a nifty machine and the price is reasonable.

Billy

Billy would be glad to pick it up and ship it for you. Or you can come and get it too. It would be fun to do some shopping, or dumbster diving. You have a gift for it. Let me know how it goes. Good luck!

Wow, Billy. Cool thread. Since my hubby and I attended our LQ show in March and test drove some Longarms, DH has been wondering about building a frame and buying an industrial machine. The one we liked the best at the show was the Homesteader for its manueverablity. However, like you said the $10,000 price tag is way out of our range. My friend has one that was nearly 30K. Way more than my first home!

Used industrials are selling more and more frequently in our area on CL for $500 to 800. What we notice is that many of them have long open arms making them beneficial for LAQ!

My question is, not ever owned a LA, what the things to include if one builds their own frame :?: Perhaps a future tutorial maybe? :shock: :shock:

It would be just the head if I get it so it wont be too bad to box up.

But I might be out your way before long.

After I get these cars finished and the few more smaller projects done I am going to buy another bike (chopper) and I am going to take off and head out west for a a while to air out my head and relax a bit.

My wife goes to New York City for a week of shopping and relaxation every year with my daughter and I get to go on a long road trip with my best friend. But since he started a new business I am doing it by myself this year.

Last year we went in his 1957 Nomad and drove Route 66 from start to finish!! That was the 3rd time we have done the trip in the last 15 years. But usually we do the Hot Rod Magazines Power Tour from start to finish.

Billy

Relaxation!!??? In NYC!!????? How?

They will usually stay at the The Peninsula or somewhere close to Central Park and 5th ave and do the whole Spa Treatment, Museums, Theater and of course Shopping.

But to her its relaxing so I am not arguing she deserves to be spoiled after putting up with me all of these years.

Billy

Didn't know that treadles came in long arm... how cool!

Oh my goodness sake to die for, I have been wanting a treadle, would that be the cats meow or what?

Rita

You know I'm watching this now..........if there's one out there, Billy will have it!

My "short arm" Singer 91-15 machine is a reconditioned commercial
machine with a 9" throat area. Using pantograph stitching designs
up to 5 1/2" tall, and with my 10" Gammill solid oak table (30" wide)
I can do quilts up to 90" in width. Of course, designs are not as
elaborate as with the Long Arm machines, but for under $2000 I am
in quilter's Heaven with all the projects I can quickly finish!

Neat!

wow those machines are cool rosefrench

The last pic of the singers looks like a nice long arm, ladies I think that would be sooo much fun to play with,don't you?

my mom had one of those, but have no clue what she did with it. she said I could have it when they found it :? God bless. Penny

Billy, I posted this in the shop thread but perhaps it belongs here.

It is a Singer Industrial Electric Sewing Machine 206K43. The owner just replied with this: "The machine needs work. The motor runs, but the clutch needs repair. This is not a machine to be used for quilting. It is for upholstry, canvas and drapery extra heavy duty. It is about 50 to 60 years old."

Is he correct or could I use it for longarming? And, how hard would it be to repair the clutch? What should I offer if it is something I can use as a long arm? He is asking $50. Thanks.

He is right because of the oil bath oiling system. The machines have a tendency to leak and no need in getting that on the quilt if you do not need to. I would go with a 31-15 because its just a Model 15 on some serious steroids. But it would be a good machine if you want to collect an industrial model to say you have one.

Billy

Thanks Billy. Ummm... don't think I am into collecting an industrial to say I have one. I actually want something that is less expensive than the going longarms prices for quilting. I will just have to keep looking.

Here is a 31-15 that looks great on Ebay. Maybe it could work for you. I live too far away from Wisconsin--it would cost an arm and a leg to ship!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Not sure of the model and it looks electric industrial. Their date is probably off. Would this one work?

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/atq/1749655247.html

The machine looks great! But, I live about 1800 miles from it

:shock: :shock: I would faint at the shipping charge alone.

At one time in my life many different types of commercial machines were available to me from my great Aunt who owned a wedding gown factory. At the time I didn't have the means of $$$ or transportation to get them. I am sure there were many vintage and/or antique machines availabe. Ouch. :-D

Well, this is a new area of sewing machines for me to look into...Didnt know they had long arm machines this old. What fun it would be to have one of these.
Billi you are truly an enabler...LOL

also an inspiration. I love my Long Arm, but I really want to learn to piece on one of these treadles I have around here.