What's on your Vintage Wishlist?
 

If anyone had told me a few years ago that I would covet vintage sewing machines.....well, I'd have most definitely told them they were crazy. But then on 24 Dec 2010 I finally managed to come out on the winning end of an auction on ebay and bought a 1952 featherweight. I'd heard so many folks through the years say how great they stitched so I decided to try one. I bid on FWs for 3 months until that winning night. I figured I got lucky as it was christmas eve and most folks would be celebrating with family. I have a spouse and fur kids and not much else.....so it proved to be the luck I needed to finally become an owner of a FW. Sadly, the person I bought my FW from must have been from some remote planet as his packaging job caused my FW to arrive severely damaged. He of course refused to even reimburse me for parts.....so you guessed it....back to ebay to buy parts, then of course another machine, then another.....well, I have a dozen 221s and one 222. What I've been hoping to find now are a singer treadle and a hand crank. My favorite decal is the Lotus. So, that's what's on my wish list. How bout telling me about what's on yours?

On my wish list is an aluminium Singer 201K. I would love a 301 but we don't have them here in the UK.

I hope you find what you are looking for soon.

Clare

Ok Clare.....now I'm googling the 201Ks.....lol. Like I need another excuse to look for vintages machines......I'll let you know what I find out there!

We have many machines. I love to play with those that have the zig zag capability but I prefer the look of the old black straight stitch machines.
The one machine that fits my vintage wish list is a Singer 206K ( I think it's a K) It's black and looks like the old straight stitch machines but is actually a ZZ.

Joe

I'm on the hunt for a good working model Singer treadle to leave set up and do quilt piecing on.
I've watched craigslist and ebay for about 6 months (in my area) and no joy.
So I put an ad in the shopper paper this week.

Had several calls but 'the' machine to make my heart sing hasn't shown up yet.

KalamaQuilts,

Don't turn away from a less than perfect example. Wood can be fixed as can a machine that's been neglected. The old Singers just don't break. I've got 5 functional treadles and 7 heads so they're out there.

Also keep your eyes on Good Will auctions, they have them quite often. Usually in Tacoma but road trips are nice.
Here's a Singer mdl 27 ( I think ) in Tacoma: { http://www.shopgoodwill.com/viewItem...temID=12054955 }.


Joe

I am too non-discriminating to have a want list! I like Japanese clones, and have no Brothers yet. Although I do have an Atlas, and that is a brother clone. No more 66's, 221s, or 222s needed. I would love more machines that are like 15 clones, but have the tension on the front...

I got my first (and only) vintage machine a few months ago. It is a Singler 99. I came across it so unexpenctantly. If I ever come across a different vintage machine I would probably buy it too.

A nice Singer no. 21 drawing room cabinet in light oak heads my list. If it housed a wings decaled 115 or 201k in excellent shape then so much the better. Other than that, hand crank machines and eventually a Pfaff 130 (either treadle or hand crank).

I'd like a Featherweight cabinet and a 222 Featherweight. Both are practically non existent in this part of Ontario. I've seen a couple for sale on Kijiji at very high prices so both are likely to stay on my wish list.

I am a recent convert to the vintage sewing machine addiction. It started with a featherweight bought at an onsite auction. She purred when running, and her stitches, oh my, perfect. Then I added one for every decade - still trying to find one born in 1947 - I will when the time is right. Then this fall - the call of the treadle machine - oh no - yes, again it started, heart pounding, hands sweating - got to have a treadle fix. This past weekend I got my first Singer treadle, a sphinx serial # G288347, from 1910-13 - just brought her home today. I will be learning how to clean her, hubby will be tuning her up - I will post pictures later this week - lovely lady. But, my hope is to find a Singer red eye treadle in tip top condition. She is out there somewhere for me - the red eye siren!!!

Shelbie I like your wish list...mine would be the same...I would even settle for a cheap 221. Not sure if that exists.

I think I would like cabinets for my FW and my little Spartan. I don't want the card table thing, but would love cabinets. I think the machines are just so cute, they need something cute to reside in, as well!

I too want a FW 222-----I have been looking but haven't found one I can afford yet-----

I started with the Featherweight wish, got two, one for each of my grand daughters, I still have one of them, then stumbled onto a Singer 99K in a cabinet at a flea market, but my desire was a 66 redeye. Got one nearby in a bentwood case and loved it, but no reverse or feed drop option, so further research on here gave me the intense desire for the 15-91, which I also recently gifted to myself in a good bentwood case....in the midst of this reserch I've seen the Sphinx decals on machines and saw some lovely Japanese models with these decals in perfect condition from the 1980s, I think...that is next on my wish list...I use all of them and they make me smile every day.

I would love a pink Atlas in VG condition, have only seen them on Ebay, none in these parts.

A Lotus 27

I'm on the hunt for a pfaff 130 in good shape.

A Singer treadle. I'd prefer something that requires class 15 or 66 bobbins and 15 x1 needles.

Wow, there is a nice variety of machines on wish lists. I now have some new things to study up on. Keep your wishes coming.

A Singer 301a! I would love it to be a black long bed. Also a pink Atlas. And a 222. But if none of those happen, I feel blessed to have the vintage machines I do own! I love all of them and use a vintage every day.

on my wish list? one I haven't messed with...

I would love a hand crank or when my hubby talks me into spending a weekend at a civil war reenactment

Black 301 either long or short bed.
Bernina 830
Another Featherweight.

I can cross the aluminium Singer 201K29 off my wishlist now. I have had a good run on ebay this weekend! :)

did you see this one? http://www.ebay.com/itm/321036722178...84.m1438.l2649

My wish list would include a new Brother and more FW's to cozy up to the 5 (and a 301) that I have. My hubby says buy as many as you want - but where to put them?

Hey Shelbie, what's "very high prices" there for a 222? The 3 I've seen here were $500 - $1300. The $500 was the one that got away, so it's firmly on my wishlist now. $800 - $1000 seems to be the going rate here though.

What's "cheap"? I got one for $95, but I feel that it's a re-painter. If you're better at touching paint up than I am, you could probably have fixed what I chose to strip. The secret I've found is you have to look at all of the ads where the seller couldn't be bothered to figure out what it was. The $95 one was advertised in Kijiji as a "small sewing machine". It didn't sew when I got it either, so it did require some work, but it was easy work.

I do all my sewing on vintage machines, and I have a nice collection. Among them: 2 Singer 301s that I use often, Singer 401, Singer 500, 2 Singer 221 Featherweights, 2 Singer 201s, Singer 15-91, Singer 99, Singer 127 1906 Treadle, New Home 1912 Treadle, two Model 15 clones, Elna Grasshopper, another Elna, Pfaff 1171, Pfaff 130, Bernina 1040 (?), 2 Necchi Super Novas. Some I bought, some I was given, some I took in as trade (I am a certified sewing machine mechanic), some I resurrected from the dead, some were given to me because I make many quilts for homeless families and teach others to do the same. I use all of them, giving each it's turn. I maintain all of them and they are well cared for.

Before I was forced into an early retirement by the economy, I also got many of the "fiddlies" or attachments that go with them. One thing I do not have and would like, but isn't in the budget now, is a "Penguin" walking foot. That's the original black walking foot that goes with the early short-shank machines.

Cricket

I have a 201 in an art deco mahagony finish cabinet and a singer 4 drawer red eye treadle that I wish I could send to you who are wishing for them! I am downsizing machines and house in 2013. The only vintage machine I will be keeping is my Jones handcrank. (Jones is my last name, couldnt part with it!) I hope you ALL get your wishes this year!

I have an Elna Super 62C that is the love of my life. It and I have been through just about everything from tonneau covers to antique lace shirts. Never a hiccup, forget a glitch, until some gear in the cam stack gave up the ghost Christmas 2010. The Elna dealer tells me I need a new cam stack - the whole thing, and Elna is not supporting that machine in the US for either repair or parts. P

The manager of the Elna repair/parts center in the US tells me the above and goes on to put the icing on the cake: There isn't even a repair manual for that machine at the center in the US.

I have the name and address of the gentleman who is the president of Elna corporation and, if forced, will write that letter and hope for an answer. BUT, if someone just happens to have a complete cam stack, I know where there is a machine that would be thrilled. She MUST miss me as much as I miss her. I have a wonderful dealer who can do magnificent transplants. An aside: To my knowledge he has not tried hearts yet.

I have kept my eyes out for a couple of years now and cannot find a donor machine, a part, etc. that can be depended upon to work. My computer has gone to the parts supply sites so often that all I have to do is whisper "cam stack" and off we go in alpha order. I am going to keep looking.

The other vintage machines that have lowered themselves to share my sewing room with me all are magnificent machines. They just do not have the feel and response of my elderly Elna mechanical machine. I am trying hard to love them, but ....

I WANT MY ELNA. Sniff.

Thank you for holding my hand. If you know where to find ....

Happy Holidays,

Pat

I found the gear on line for about $15 - why does it need the whole camstack?
You might consider taking Ray White's class or buy a different Elna and keep your accessories and disks.

I have a blue million sewing machines currently not in usable condition in my hideaway spot in my sewing room. I am not sure I can get to it before Christmas, but I am sure that I have two older Elnas under there, and will check and get back to you sometime after the first of the year (if I don't forget). Now someone needs to tell me how to "archive" this thought, so when I think of it again, I can find it without going through all our postings since I joined this board. And if you are really desperate, tell me so, and I'll make my son go out there and dig.....

My Wishlist....

An aluminum 201 for Heather
A fiddle based machine (preferred handcrank)
A civil war years manufactured machine

My wish recently came true when I found a Rocketeer in perfect condition with 24 cams!! Life is good!

My wish is to buy out another hoarder... LOL

Dear Santa,
Please bring some Vintage Time to go with my vintage machines.
Thank you.
Kay

p.s. I'll leave you some sewing machine shaped cookies under the tree. . .

[QUOTE=qltgrose;5724621]I have a 201 in an art deco mahagony finish cabinet and a singer 4 drawer red eye treadle that I wish I could send to you who are wishing for them! I am downsizing machines and house in 2013. The only vintage machine I will be keeping is my Jones handcrank. (Jones is my last name, couldnt part with it!) I hope you ALL get your wishes this year![/QUOTE

I have a 201k treadle that was my very first people powered machine, originally it was a hand crank.

For my wish list I'd like these: a White Rotary treadle; or maybe a Singer clone in a blue,green or hot pink color, I have mostly black machines with fancy decals. Also a bigger house to store all my toys. :D

I Jones handcrank with pretty decals for display. With rotator cuff issues in my right arm/shoulder, I won't be handcranking for a while.

w1315s, I have the machine you want, but mine has sewn everything I've asked since 1973 so she won't be leaving me.