Who can I blame for my growing herd?
 

This time last month, the only sewing machines I owned were a cheap Brother and a Juki TL2010Q(I gave away my early '90s singer zig-zag machine when I got the Juki). As of today, I have two treadle machines in cabinets (a Singer 66 and a 17), and a 201-2 in a cabinet with a stool that I picked up today for a very good price. Of course, I had already made arrangements to pick up a 15-90 with gorgeous decals intact in a bentwood case later this week, so that will make 4 new to me vintage machines in a month. I may need intervention. Almost (but not quite) wish I had found out more about vintage machines before I bought the Juki (which I have used a lot in the 8 months I have owned it). I bought it because it has metal gears and housing, and is a high speed, straight stitch machine for FMQing. Sound like any other machine I may have picked up? For what I paid for the Juki, I could buy 3 times as many old Singers as I have purchased already.

Two features that I adore on my Juki are the needle threader and automatic thread cutter (particularly when quilting) Are there similar needle threaders that can be added to any of the older Singer machines? My eyes would be be very grateful if that option exists.

Blame the companies that make expensive "throw away" sewing machines for keeping the old sewing machine indusrty alive and well!

Good choices for a "seed herd"

Good for you. I didn't get mine within a month, but 2 years ago I owned one machine. Today I own 6 and have sold/ given away 2. <sigh> I'll join you in an intervention.

You can blame me; I don't mind in the least.

What does a 17 look like?

It looks like a typo--it is a Singer 127.

I have quite a few vintage machines and I purchased a Juki 2010 recently, mostly for the thread cutter and up/down needle. And the fact that I can put a cone on the machine. Oh, and the L bobbins.

I mostly swap between it and my 301. It's quieter.

I love them all for different reasons.

sounds like you have a lot more restraint than I have! :o I've always liked sewing machines and had maybe 6 for 'decoration' when my mom started buying them at estate sales and I ended up inheriting them..then got on here to get inspired to pull them out and use 'em and what happens?! I end up adding 3 small size kenmores(1030,1040,1045 I think are the 3 models but they all look kinda the same), kenmore 1802(think this is the number), kenmore 1430(again think this is the number), 201, 15-91, kenmore 48 (who could pass this coollooking thing up?!), fleetwood 15 clone(gosh), singer 128 handcrank, federation jones handcrank, pink atlas...and of all things ANOTHER 500 because it was in a cabinet and i needed a cabinet for something else (like one of the 2-3 500/503s my mom had already gotten!!) that's the most embarrassing thing I can admit to buying (other than coming close to buying a 66 with pretty decals only to finally get to the 2 I have and realize they're the same decals) hoo boy but in fairness my house was so cluttered and had stuff from my mom's stored all around that I couldnt get to etiher at the time- now i can and they're the same decals on both - good thing I love them!

the worst thing I think is I figured when I was falling for all the old black singers that I should look at stuff I KNEW I had ZERO interest in to avoid temptation...so figured the colored machines and handcranks 'cause after all why would I want something that was made by a business that took business away from America or required one hand to turn the wheel?! sigh that's when the clone and atlas bit me and I somehow walked away with 2 handcranks..

I've also been pulling out machines I got from my mom and trying to use them- thought I'd pull out one of the black 301s thinking I could trade it or sell and get something else - fell in LOVE with it and now it's my carry-around machine alternating with one of the featherweights

you just ain't safe you got the bug and all you can hope for is to find bargains! I also have some other machines- an auntpicked one up near where I used to live for $5 (I dont think I should have to count it as a purchase since it's only $5...) and another kenmore I had to have that I'll get in a week or 2 when I"m off work again. sigh....somehow the college kids who cleared all the space for me managed to create room for more machines!

I've got the sickness too. :)

In January of this year I only had one sewing machine, a Singer 9022 that I've had for about 25 years.

I never understood why anyone would have more than one sewing machine.

Then the quilting bug bit me hard. I started a quilt and had to take my machine in for repairs. It was awful not having my
machine!

I got a Singer Sphinx Retro a month later. So pretty. But only straight stitch. :(

So I picked up a little White ZZ the following month. I'm trying to teach my daughter to sew and she's been using this and the Sphinx. She prefers the White. For now.

Then a couple of months after that I saw a Kenmore Trispan with all the cams in a cabinet. Because I needed backup for decorative stitching.

I might get a little serger for my birthday in hopes of improving upon and expanding garment construction.

It gets worse.

My brother bought a house this month.

The owner left three sewing machines behind.

All vintage.

New Home in carrier.

Pink and white Kenmore in a cabinet(daughter might want this one)

A Singer Touch and Throw with cams and attachments and manuals in a cabinet.

Maybe I can get one up and running for my mom.

I'd love to have her old Morse Fotomatic I learned on.

Maybe one will turn up somewhere.

Might be time for an intervention.

:)

I got the bug a little while back after reading on this board. Now I am always on the lookout. I have a treadle table that holds either the 15 or the very old red eye, two feather weights, a 301, 401, old hand crank (can't remember if it is a 66), my original 327, an electric 66 in a cabinet, a Sewhandy, a server and a mechanical Costco Brother. I hope I am not leaving any out. We are in the process of moving to a house in another state that has a basement with a work room already in it. Yay me. Many more options here. It is very satisfying to me to get a machine running. I will say I haven't had to do much in the way of actual repairs - just cleaning and oiling (and the gear grease). I do want to disassemble a motor one day. And maybe learn about timing although none of mine yet have needed that.

I think I have you all beat!

I went for most of my life with two machines - regular and serge.

And after 25 years, bought a beat up 66 Red Eye treadle, which was used as an end table for several more years.

Then I got the idea to fix up that Red Eye . . . I think I've been "collecting" for a bit under three years now, and I've got around 150 of them. I'm trying very very hard NOT to bring anymore home unless they actually fit an open spot in the collection - instead of just fitting into any open spot on the floor.

Hooked??
 

If you think you may be hooked, just join ISMA. They have monthly meetings to help with the addiction!!:D:p

Soman2

The other Rodney

Why do we need to blame anybody? These vintage machines are the bomb!! I don't have a ton of them due to not having a lot of room but I love every one I have and I use them. I'm down to only collecting Singers because I can find parts but there are so many beautiful ones. I was at an auction last weekend where 2 vintage machines sold for $80 (Singer 99) and $190 (a cobbler's machine in working condition). Prices are going up here.

But my DH has suggested that I display my machines better now that he's seen the All Saints store in Seattle, Wa. How's this for beautiful vintage machines? And this picture is just a fraction of what they have displayed.

I think you've just discovered what the rest of us here have. Old sewing machines are fun and interesting.

I will admit to being an enabler. I enjoy old sewing machines and sewing and encourage others to enjoy it too- to the point where I'm a 4-H leader for my daughter's sewing group and plan to do sewing projects with kids at our local library.
Rodney

I think these old machines find me because they know I won't scrap them. Finally got the Kenmore 9411 working but the repair man was in agreement of the problem and he smothered it with oil I think which helped it to unseize.
Will sew straight and now zig zag but not full working top button pattern Should be OK to take and leave for my charity sewing group at least. For some reason I fell in love with this machine. I'm over a dozen machines and hubby is loosing patience but this week was offered another old Singer --model ?.

Just think, these old machines don't eat and you don't have to clean up a barn after them and they don't rot. I say go for it!lol

My dh is the enabler in this house, he knows I can't resist. We have been collecting for years and enjoy them so much. Just think of the memories, running around finding cool machines, going to Toga's, my first one last weekend. Sure better than a lot of other things I can think of. With the added benefit of saving these for the future.

I've finally reached a saturation point - I definitely can't fit another cabinet into my house, and I have so many "distressed" machines in line for a turn on the "hospital table" that I am starting to feel burdened by my collection rather than excited by it. I have so much to work on and play with that I'm not looking for more....not that I don't immediately search for them if I happen to be at a thrift shop or garage sale, but I'm not looking on eBay or CL for now...

I'm up to 17 machines now, accumulated all but 1 (my first machine) within the past 2 years or so. Not too bad, I guess. About half of those need some sort of work right now. And I'm going to have to let go of my larger cabinet and the Kenmore that's in it, I think. I just don't have the room for it and I don't use it as much as I use some of the other machines that I'd like to set up in my "new" smaller Singer cabinet. It's too bad, I've fallen for that machine - it works great and I like the cabinet a lot, but I just can't find a place to keep it. :(

Sewnoma you sound a lot like me. I'm up around 20 machines after about 2 years of playing with them. The difference is I'm not ready to stop. Finances are the biggest roadblock for me. Probably a good thing or I would completely fill up the house. I do have a backlog of projects but I'm slowly working my way thru them. My goal is to have them all in some sort of cabinet or case and in sewing condition. A harder goal for me is to have them all easily accessible so I can sew with them whenever I want. I want to rotate from machine to machine as I choose so none of them sit so long that they freeze up again.

Thinning the herd is difficult for me too. I don't buy machines I don't like. I have managed to give a couple away and sold one though. It is nice to see a machine go to someone who will appreciate and enjoy it.
Rodney

i have about 20++ machines, and i've cleaned/fixed (in one way or the other)/oiled and cabinets rehabbed all of them. i also have repotted 15-91 motor and a 201 motor (which i intend to keep). out of those 20++ or so machines, i only sold one - a 15-91 that my neighbor loved and liked so much the moment she saw it. can't say no to her so i sold it. other than that machine, they are all sitting all over my house (which my wife doesn't like). i have 3 white vintage machines ( 1 a treadle, 2 got for free) that i am not fond of and wanted to rehome. but working on these vintage machines is such a joy especially when you hear the motor running and the sound of the treadle is just something. brings back old memories when i was 12 years old and using my mom's singer sewing machine.

you can blame all of us to justify your sickness but aren't we all are in need of an intervention :)

I was feeling pretty overwhelmed with my heard a couple of months ago but after a couple of college kids worked hard and cleared space I'm finding bits and pieces of time to sit down and play with different ones. thanks to making 'cheat sheets' and putting in the desk or near some I plan to use so I know which way to put the bobbin and which way to thread the needle :o it's a bit easier for me to pull out /down the ones I"m more familiar with and just sew (221, 301, atlas, 237, 15s...) my current fiddle with to learn machine is the 401 and I need to run it some more and put on a zigzag foot so I can play with the decorative stitches and see how they work.

I'm already planning to pick up anothr machine in a cabinet but wil have to really watch it with which machines I get after this one because there are some I want to get and it seems every time I see a 15 or clone I can't hardly walk away! but someone on a facebook group makes bases that are pretty so I could always save and invest in some bases and switch them out if they're interchangeable...already eyeballing one that looks cool for my 201 (though unfortunately the 201 is already in a decent base..figures huh?!)

3 years ago I bought my first FW (of 4), a 1937 that is my favorite FW, even if the decals are bad. I now own 16 Singers and a Minnesota A. My DH has gotten into it too. My prizes are my Centennial 201 and 221 (my birth year). I have 4, 301's, Black and beige long and short beds. I have a Spartan and a 99. I have 2 15-91's, DH bought the Centennial! The Rockteer is my latest purchase and now I am slowing down! The only thing I am looking for is the '40s era FW. I think we appreciate saving and loving these beauties so we can sew for ever!

I think I've kinda sorta narrowed down what I 'need' :o supposed to pick up a kenmore next weekend or the following week -84 I think - liked the history of it where white needed a zigzag so got this german company to make one..of course no cams and even more of course they're rare...a fotomatic (they look cool what can I say)..hot pink morse (same reason LOL!), 1946 fw in nice shape (my mom's birth year), that white selectronic looks cool...kenore 35 and maybe 47 (already have identical looking 48 but it's not pink...), maybe a few more handcranks/treadles that have floral decals or a 66 lotus..kinda think a 99 handcrank would be the cat's meow too as it's easy to do the bobbin and all that...and gosh it's hard to resist 15s and c lones and those cool machines for the 50s...so I still have a potential problem

also that same shop with the kenmore I plan to get has a singer 206 that's cool but so far I dont' have much interest for the price ($275 I think) and they did have a singer 404 and a 319 in that art deco cabinet but gosh $500?! not my dream machine and may see if friend of friend still has hers for sale...friend backed out since it was higher than she though but it was still reasonable.

I HAVE realized after wanting to start making simple clothing that I have a LOT of straight stitch machines set up ready to go! I only have one zigzag downstairs right now (other than my modern babylock) and it's a 401 that I' still fiddling with/oiling and figuring out...and only 1 set up upstairs (singer fashion mate 237 that was my mom's) and a 328 on a bookshelf upstairs that is probably ok to go for zigzag as I saw the cam already inside it). there are 2 others upstairs but the kenmore 48 still needs checking over (motor sorta sparks a bit but owner though it was from dust and so far that's all it's done no smell or fire or anything just haven't gotten back to messing with it though I plan to) and a 500 that needs oiling/running/going over.

so far my go-to ready-to-use vintage machines consist of straight stitchers - 201, 15s, 221, 301,99,and the pink atlas. the fashion mate 237 I've sewn with a little but am waiting for my ebay thread guide dohickey to arrive. Ithink I need to get some of these zigzaggers going (or invest in some pinking shears or figure out the zigzag attachent!)