Went to Salvation Army today and am cautiously optimistic
 

I am always on the quest for a vintage Singer. I don't get to this particular store often because it is far afield. I was looking at an old beige singer, of no interest to me, and a man who works there said "it works fine". I told him I was interested in the old black headed Singers. He said "oh we throw them out". What???!!!!!??? He said if you are looking for them I will save them. Well, I have never seen him before, but I gave him my cell phone number and said if he got any in to call me and I could probably come by that same day. Now I am cautiously optimistic that I might luck into something at a good price, since they throw them out. Everybody keep your fingers crossed for me! I need a project.

I live in Baton Rouge and could help you out. PM me. Hugs,

They throw them out!? :( What a bunch of maroons. :mad:


Good luck, I hope the guy remembers what he said.

Joe

OMG. One thrift store here(my son works there so he knows) generally donates many of their machines to Goodwill unless they operate perfectly. Any issues whatsoever and they just can't afford to repair them and sell, so off to Goodwill they go. That's a huge step ahead of the garbage!!

I saw one in a cabinet yesterday at my Salvation Army in Davenport, Iowa. Cabinet and all was something like $39.00 and it looked to be in good shape.

What did you see? my brother could go by there for me.

It could be they determined the black ones don't sell as well as newer ones.
I hope it works out for you where you can save a few machines that would otherwise get scrapped.
Rodney

I would call and talk to store owner or manager to make sure they all knew to save them for you.

Guess it's time to go dumpster diving!

That's a shame to throw them out. I may be wrong but I think Bernina dealers will take old machines to refurbish and place in communities around the world. It may have been only a one time offer with a sale but there are charities which place treadles and other vintage machines in places with few resources. Just an idea if a thrift store would like an alternative to tossing them.

It appears that modernization is changing the need for treadle and handcrank sewing machines in remote places that have little or no electrical grid. They are turning to solar power at those sites, so treadles are on their way out even in those places.

I spend a little time scouring YouTube for videos of sewing in remote locations, and have been finding videos showing the benefit of using solar panels to power electric machines for sewing centers in remote villages. The village may not have electrical power, but the sewing room does. No electrical power is used for lighting, only for machine power. They have a few models of electric machines that they prefer to use because of the combination of a durable machine and low energy requirements. Plus, they get all of the stitch types that they want.

Who knows, maybe in the not-too-distant future, overseas charity organizations may begin sending treadle sewing machines to needy quilters in the USA....

CD in Oklahoma

I use my 1941 Singer for everything! Shame on them for throwing them out!!!!!

I nearly fainted when I read that they throw them out! :mad: Idiots!!!

Sharon in Texas

I tried to edit my post, but it won't let me. grrrr
I sew quite a few of my quilt tops sewing with my 1917 White Rotary treadle, or Singer 1910 Red Eye treadle.

wow! they throw them out.. who knew...