Why Do I Keep Rescuing Machines I Don't Need
 

I've been fairly good about not bringing home more machines since I'm out of room and need to downsize. But- I keep "rescuing" anyway! Past month has brought a green Morse dashboard machine that needs rewiring, a Wheeler Wilson 9 with a black painted cabinet, and a Willcox Gibbs. Each under $75, but I need to stop peeking at Craigslist. Managed to wean myself off EBay last year. I've kept them from being trashed or parted out, but now their current fate is to just sit in the guest room that no one can stay in. Wish we could have a big swap meet. Imagine the machines that would find good homes!

You are rescuing them from the dump. If you are ready to adopt some of them out to others, then start sending out messages thru LQS or guilds.

I keep asking myself the same thing. And yet, when I see a steel machine for $14.99, who can say no to that? I try to leave but they keep whispering to me. Sort of like on cartoons when the fragrance from a pie turns into fingers that hook into the nose and carry the character, floating, along. That happens to me in thrift stores with sewing machines!!

If you all REALLY don't want any more machines - then stay away from places where they can frequently be found!

(Sort of like - if one is an alcoholic - maybe stopping at a bar for happy hour on the way home from work may not be the best idea in the world.)

However, you all may just be wanting affirmation that acquiring these machines is a good thing.

No judgment call from me - I'm just repeating what I've read in some of my decluttering books.

You aren't necessarily rescuing them from the dump at all. Your unnecessary purchases my be keeping them from genuine buyers who would care for and use them. A sewing machine crypt in your home isn't much better than the dump in my opinion.

Me too, you've captured the feeling so well! The latest was a pink and purple Brother Tingler 031 made in Korea, I'm thinking class 15 clone straight stitch with feed dog drop, and a cracked carry-case. I tried to resist and left it there, then drove over 50 miles back the next day to bring it home. $50 was more than I would usually pay, but... that's the same place a Singer slant 503A in a cabinet reached out and tripped me when I tried to leave the store. I even strong-armed my husband for his mad money because this store won't accept a check over $50. I once told someone that I felt like I was rescuing them, and a week later came home to find a nice red-eye treadle and a portable White from maybe the 80s in a cardboard box, all sitting on my entryway stoop. I am surrounded by enablers, and if that isn't enough, I come to this forum for excitement. The 4-H helpers have re-homed several for me, but they are coming in faster than going out.

Monroe, I try, have even taken the "pledge", but make excuses for each and every sewing machine purchase I've made.

We're packing to move, my back and knees are screaming due to moving dozens of cast iron machines. My wife is out of town looking for a place for us to move to ..... and ..... she emails me that she picked up a White sewing machine at a yard sale ... For cheap ... It has all it's accessories, even the screw drivers. Arrrgghhhhh!

As if I needed another one. It's an addiction I think. We were gonna just leave some behind if we couldn't rehome them. Kinda looks like we're gonna rent a bigger truk and take them with us. Sighhhhhhh .....


Joe

I commiserate with you! Every time I make firm rules about what I will bring home or not, another one slips by the rules! The reason to keep "looking" is that there are still machines I would happily buy for my own collection, but I will see others that beg to come home and be repaired while out looking. If it's not something I am out to find for my own collection I am committed to keeping the $$ down. 75.00 would be far too much to spend for those. :rolleyes:

OUCH, that smarts!

I feel that you (we) buy them because we love them and respect them so much we can't stand to see them abused.

I disagree 100% with the notion that stored in a loving home is no better than a dump. That to me sounds ridiculous.

for me the secret has been to put as much effort into rehoming as I do into searching for new ones to be rescued.

I would think that the key is to make sure that the machines being rescued is still causing you joy rather than anxiety

I disagree that collecting machines is worse than dumping them; assuming the collector takes reasonably good care of them they are at least being preserved.

Now if it's a situation where someone is buying perfectly good machines and putting them in a pile outside to rust and weather, then I agree that's a problem.

There isn't really a shortage of functional machines - I don't feel bad about buying something just because someone else might also want it or use it. Especially since I often deliberately pick machines with problems - they're the best deal AND they teach me the most.

A bit judgmental IMHO. I Do Not rush to buy them, but after 2 - 3 weeks on Craigslist or a posting they are going to the scrap yard or be turned into tables I Sometimes give up and give in. These aren't rust buckets or the too plentiful Singers. I still kick myself for passing up a Singer with lovely pheasant decals. After 2 1/2 weeks on Craigslist I emailed and it had just gone to the dump. Seriously- I'm Not sending a W & G to the dump!

I get so much enjoyment from searching ebay and CL that the occasional sewing machine I can't resist is small payment. I agree with Steve that a good new home can be found if a bit of time and effort is spent though I wouldn't expect to profit from the experience unless rehoming a Featherweight or such.

Jon

I completely disagree. These machines now exist in finite numbers, as all antiques do. Rescuing the machines that are still in existence is a labor of love and, more importantly, the preservation of historical significance. Once they are claimed by the dump, no one will ever see them again. Ever.

she asked, I answered. Conversations and opinions are the life blood of forums.

What ever it is, machine or dish or ?, hold it in your hand, look at it and say outloud......Does this enhance my life? If the answer is no or a lukewarm humphhhhh, get rid of it. Take it to Goodwill and let them deal with it.

I just did the same thing! I brought home a Pfaff 30 that runs. It need cleaning, lubed and a replacement power cord... My husband looked up and asked, "Which one goes to make room for this one?"... sigh but I only paid $8.50 for it...

$8.50?? I'd have brought that baby home, too!

I look at these things and I say, "It's fifteen bucks. Will I get fifteen bucks of enjoyment out of this machine?" If the answer is yes I buy it and don't worry too much about what I'm going to do with it. For fifteen bucks I can afford to give it away when I'm tired of it - I'll have gotten my money's worth out of it already.

If I can purchase, play with, and however temporarily own a nifty piece of machinery for less than the price of a movie ticket, I'm all over that.

I'd much rather be taking apart a dirty machine than watching most movies anyway.

I would be willing to bet that most members of this forum have "enough" of just about everything to survive nicely.

I'm pretty good about not buying them on a whim - though I'm really bad at trying to talk DH out of a machine he wants to get mostly because it's cheap. He has delusions he'll fix them up and sell them - he may fix them up, but he really does not like the selling part.

The simple truth is there are way more machines than people interested in them. So no matter how many any of us buy, next week/next month there will be more on the market.

I figure, if we buy them, that gets others interested in cleaning out the closet or storage shed - and who knows if they may find a real rare gem! I've been heartbroken to learn that someone who didn't know one machine from another junked out (or made into a lamp) a truly rare machine, because they figured no one would want it.

The real problem is storage - because the people like us who do buy them are not all that common.

There is something to be said for keeping the clutter to a minimum. It's something I struggle with.
You can try asking yourself these questions:
Do I love it? (usually yes for me)
Can I afford it?
What will I do with it? ( I do try to have a purpose for my machines)
Where will I put it? (This is a tough one. I'm about out of room.)
If the answers are favorable go ahead and get it.
If storage is becoming an issue you can always rehome the ones you're not in love with. Fix them and sell them to someone who will be happy to have them. That way you know the machines are being cared for and you can still enjoy finding machines while improving your collection at the same time.
One thing I've started to do is have a machine or two available to give to kids who want to sew. Given the fact that many schools no longer have home-ec type classes where sewing is taught and many children's parents don't know how to sew either it falls to people like us to teach the ones who want to learn.
Rodney

Your husband and I have a lot in common. :D
Rodney

I have to ask.... Can you post a photo of the Brother Tingler? :D
Sharon in Texas (where its raining again)

For me, I really enjoy reselling. It's exciting to give a piece of beautiful, fuctional history to someone who wants it! It's also exciting to turn a piece of junk into someone else's treasure! Even if it just becomes a decoration, it's still being loved. Oh Gods, LAMPS! On eBay a few years ago I saw a Wilcox & Gibbs chain stitch in really good condition turned into a lamp!!! It was so sad that they could have sold it for $250 easily, but turned into a $49 lamp. I'm a firm believer in doing what you want with your stuff, but it doesn't hurt to do a quick internet search first. Otherwise, you can end up spinning gold into straw.

Sharon, some day before I turn 80, I will have the gear and know-how to shoot and post photos, then you'll wish I'd stayed in the dark. I found little to no information on the Tingler, just an adv. for a sold one. As near as I can determine, it was made about the time that Jones and Brother became one. I was unprepared for the tension spring sticking so far out, but saw a picture that shows that as normal. The only thing unusual about it is the pink body with purple trim at each end. The case is a cheap piece of embossed plastic, which is probably why you don't see many of them. I finally googled Jones Brother 031 and landed at a UK site selling manuals. The ebay adv. says it was made in 1962, cast iron with steel parts inside. Straight stitch, short shank, adjustable foot pressure, 140 watt motor. Every thing on it that could be pressed, turned, or twisted, had been.
On Pinterest, you can find images of Brother 031 Charger, which is same machine, only mint green. There are Chargers with other number designations, but seems the pink machine production was short lived. Cleaned up and lubricated, it does make a nice stitch with a quiet motor.

Do you mean there is a place where it does quit raining? SW Washington where it rains twice as much as in Seattle.

I love to look at these machines and to sew on them. When I find one at a yard sale and it's in good shape I find it very hard to walk away. I know I have to because I'm out of room. All that I saw a Kenmore at a yard sale last weekend that looked like it was still on the showroom floor. They were asking way too much at $ 50, but it was mint. I could not find the model number as the couple selling her mother's stuff was hovering and clucking at how it had been barely used. I've always loved Kenmores, so walking away was tough, but I managed. Could not believe the price!

And, the question will be, what happens when we die off? Because, if the younger generation isn't interested in what we've saved, the machines will be scrapped anyway.

Hey, it was 86 yesterday! And it's going to be hot today. For SW WA this is a great spring/summer!

Elnan, 1962 is way too early for that machine. Probably early to mid 70s. Brother bought Jones in 1968 so that's when Jones machines started looking like Brothers.

Cari

You live near here?
We have local get-togethers occasionally. After I've had time to heal a bit more I'll start setting up another one. The last one was at the Timberland Library in Tumwater. I think that one worked out well. Parking is a lot better there than at the Centralia library.
Rodney

Rodney, I noticed yesterday at the Lewis Co PUD they have an auditorium, is it free for public use?
I've used the Longview PUD auditorium several time for local stuff. No charge, clean up when done.

Speed and full recovery my friend

Vancouver WA, so pretty close. We do drive up to Tacoma area sometimes and I'm going to try and get up to the TOGA in Seattle this year. I would love to talk sewing machines with other crazy people.

I live in an area that had 368 vintage machines on CL last week. That is not counting all the machines at the various thrift stores I visit. I have about a dozen machines that I don't use and they are taking up valuable space, not counting the money I spent on them. I did sell about 3 or 4 last year but I have many more to sell and I probably won't be able to . So it's not too hard anymore for me to pass them up. I love vintage machines, they seem to speak to me, but I tell them NO. I always figure someone else needs them way more than I do. Good Luck.

Cari, I don't know much about Brothers. That 1962 came from the old ebay advertisement, which I've learned to take with a grain of salt. I may keep this pink lady, just because she is unusual. It does weigh a ton.