CD, I am too. Do you think the Singer 20U is a good machine? Do you know if it will fit in the cutout on the treadle table where I have my 31-15?

James

My question is: All the sewing machines seen here are they all Singers or was Singer called something else before? I liked them all.

They are not all Singers. Singer is called Singer if it says so on the machine somewhere. There is a post just above on the previous page with a Pfaff - it is not a Singer. There are many many old sewing machines made by companies other than Singer. My mom said she had an old Singer treadle that sewed chain stitch - so far nobody has come up with a Singer treadle that did chain stitch. Some times people call an old black machine a Singer whether it says Singer or not. We think it might have been a Standard. I have one and she used it like she was born to it. She is 89 and still refers to an old black machine as a Singer. I can't seem to break her of it.

There were several hundred makers back in the day (1800's) over time they got bought and now there are like 5 Sewing machine makers left in the world.

P.S. Welcome, I'm originally from Jamestown, just down the road from you!

Here is my Betty. Singer 221-1 Featherweight, AE975504. Which from what I can find, means she was born 5/24/1938.
http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/...pskozewzel.jpg

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4byepj9f.jpg

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/...pssjabdw8g.jpg

I was blessed to have her gifted to me from a friend from yoga class, it was one of her grandparents', she couldn't remember which... I couldn't be more grateful, I am still STUNNED that she is mine!! She (the friend) said she just wanted the machine to go to someone who would love it, and use it...and I said, YEP! THAT'S ME!

When I got her, she was in great shape, but definitely "attic fresh" and had a tension problem- she needed some good cleaning, re-oiled and lubed, some TLC to the bobbin and top tension discs...now she's purring like a kitten and in great working order! And the case is in great shape, and seems to be complete. I am just SO in love with this machine.

I wish the ones that are trying to sell their non-Singer sewing machine could be broken of it. But when researching, I wish all "Singer's" were sewing machines :o.

I don't know what a Standard is like. I know I have wanted to find a treadle cabinet #10 & the 24-50 chain stitch "up close and personal" ever since I saw that Singer made one on Smithsonian site about 5 years ago. I think there may be a couple of places but I can only find this one right now. http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollect...es/image18.htm

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

I have an old Standard machine that came in a lot of 50 some machines. The Standard spider for chain stitching was gifted to me by a QB member. (THANK YOU) Mom and I set it up to HC and she did some sewing with it. She had some kind of old treadle that did chain stitching when she was in college back in the 1940s. She called it a Singer but we all doubt if it was. When she sewed with that old Standard she knew instinctively how to get the piece off that machine with out unraveling the chain. I have to work at it. It is fun machine. It will do chain or it will do straight stitch. We sewed some tucks in little girl dresses with the chain stitching. It makes a beautiful tight chain. Mom said she got her home economics degree using that old treadle. She said none of her projects ever ripped out. She said she picked it up used somewhere for cheap. After she graduated her parents bought her a Singer Featherweight. She still some times uses the FW but gets frustrated with it when she tangles bobbin thread around. The Standard is a very well made machine. That spider is simply genius. There are some other Standard attachments that look to be genius as well.

Hi James,

Two different people who were MUCH better sewists than I am (which admittedly is not saying very much) considered the 20U to be their go-to machine and all-around favorite. But I don't know whether it would fit in the cutout for a 31-15.

pat

Beautiful machine, you're so blessed to get it.

Meet Lottie Ethel
 

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My mom just gifted her grandmother's machine to me. All parts seem to move freely. Looks like the belt needs replaced. I can't find any brands or wording to help identify her. I just love all the old machines and reading all about them. Anyone know about this one? Looks like I have two needles, five bobbins and three bobbin shuttles. Next step is to remove from cabinet and see what I can find on bottom.