Originally Posted by Sew'hio

Here is my Kenmore 148.210. The fit and finish are excellent, top of the line, I'm speaking about the initial build, not its current condition. The dark color is a deep metal fleck paint. The almond color is high quality enamel, almost looks like porcelain. It is in generally very good condition, but she has a couple of scars on her head where I suspect some one dropped something on her.

From what I can tell she was sold from 1963-1966. Continuously variable, stitch length and zig-zag width. Push-button foot pressure. She'll drop her dogs. Has the light switch on the bed. No-brainer bobbin loader. Push-button reverse-tacking. Metal knobs, with relatively large (but tastefully recessed) screws to hold them on. All metal innards (technical term for internal components) and a 1.2 Amp motor. Very heavy clean casting and a lot of nice machine work. Built in Japan by Soryu. Haven't been able to find much about Soryu.

What I did find out is that the US and Allies helped Japan develop several industries after WWII, and sewing machine manufacturing was one of them. After WWI, the victors left Germany in ruins, and it is widely accepted that the dire conditions left the people ripe for the rise of a leader that would come to start WWII. We didn't want that to happen again, so we jump started Japans post war economy by handing them critical technology related to the manufacture of sewing machines. By the mid 1960's they were the big-dog country-of-origin for sewing machines.

Originally Posted by Sew'hio

Recently cleaned and oiled White VS (model 2 I think) circa 1915. I also repainted the iron.
I believe the treadle and cabinet to be the original that came with the machine, but I haven't figured out how to verify that.

It works great. Like badda'.

Originally Posted by ndnchf

I picked up this Singer 99 last weekend. It dates to 1955, so it really isnt that old, but it has been badly neglected. It will be a challenge, but hope to get it cleaned up and back in working order.

Originally Posted by Quilt Mom

It does look like a challenge, but you can do it!!

Originally Posted by AnotherMadQuilter (Post 4625750)

I have a Bruce treadle sewing machine that was my DH's grandmothers. I still love to pull it out and use it once in a while. Made all my daughter's baby layette on that machine. Three years ago I got a 1948 221 Featherweight. I also have my grandma's Sunbeam machine in a cabinet. Last year I picked up an old Kenmore 117-959 and an old blue White 650 that I've cleaned up and done maintenance on though I don't know much about them other than the Kenmore was made in 194? and the White in 196?. Can't find much info on the Bruce either. Anyway, here is a pic of my Featherweight. I will eventually get pics of the others.
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