You've just gotta love the 'Little Old Ladies' (3/4 size or smaller vintage machine)
 

First a Singer 99
This one is out of a bent wood case - the bottom came unglued and is getting repaired. The wires were clipped so I have to decide whether to put a hand crank on it or come up with a motor, pedal and wires.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]326376[/ATTACH]

Do feel free to add a picture of you 3/4 size old lady.
The next is a couple of 185 machines. The tan one is in exceptionally good condition and the green one is in exceptionally bad condition. My sister sent these to me a couple weeks ago. She worked very hard on the green one but never got the missing tension on it. [ATTACH=CONFIG]326377[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]326378[/ATTACH]

Next is a Domestic - I picked her up at shopgoodwill thanks to Melinda. This machine is in excellent condition and is very light weight. I also posted pictures of her on the vintage photo page.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]326379[/ATTACH]

Love the 3/4's
I have 3 krinkle 128's and supposedly a nice flowery one (the Italian spelling one ) on the way.. that one is for my Daughter.

Then I have a pair of 99's waiting cleaning and restoration

I considered bidding on a 185, but I think I have reached the limit as defined SWMBO

Next up is an Alden. It is a 3/4 size Japanese 15. I love this machine. It is heavy but it doesn't go anywhere. This one is a keeper for sure. [ATTACH=CONFIG]326380[/ATTACH]

I totally forgot what this one is. I think it is a Singer 128. It is in very good shape - some wear on some decals. Clean up was a breeze. This one turns like nobody's business. It will for sure be a great little hand crank machine soon. [ATTACH=CONFIG]326382[/ATTACH]

I can not leave out my little Spartan. This one is souped up - it has a light. Mostly the Spartan didn't come with much. I have used it to piece. Works great. [ATTACH=CONFIG]326383[/ATTACH]

I also found a Cinderella. Cute little beast. Her 'pumpkin' (case) smells like it has been stored in a musty place. She has the same throat plate, slide plate and tension plate as my full sized Japanese 15. I just got the slide plate from my sister's stash of junk parts. More info on this machine is on the http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...3881-3332.html #33315 would be the start [ATTACH=CONFIG]326384[/ATTACH]

I got a picture thread here on how I dressed my naked 99. Dummy me I forgot to bookmark it.
The gist of the thread is that I bought a motor, wiring, foot controller kit, and a light kit from Sew-Classic and assembled it.
Kind of like a kit. It works great.

I've got another that will eventually be put back in running condition as a hand crank.

Joe

Of course another little machine would be a Singer Featherweight - this one is in pretty sad shape. It is missing a few parts, rusty in a couple places and finish is missing - lots of dirt - a project when good weather, several parts and time eclipse. [ATTACH=CONFIG]326385[/ATTACH]

yes you remember correctly, that one IS a 128 and it is the same decal set as the one I got for my Daughter, I hope hers cleans up that nice. She really liked the fancy decals on my 27 and has learned to thread and use the old VS machines so will be very comfortable with the smaller one ( at least I hope so )
They do spin remarkably freely don't they ? Little secret... they handle at LEAST # 69 nylon thread with no issue and Maybe heavier. I think one of those little straight stitch VS machine would prove VERY capable for many things.
Nice Collection you have there, I find the 3/4 really interesting. Thanks for sharing

I did not intentionally collect a bunch of 3/4 size machines. Like I said the Domestic came from shopgoodwill auction. The Spartan and the Alden came from a country auction. The 185J and the 185K were sent to me from my sister. The Singer 99, the Singer 128 and the Cinderella and the FW were all CL finds.

Please feel free to add your 3/4 size or smaller sewing machine pictures - I love looking and I love to hear the stories!

The 185s, the Singer 99 and the Spartan are all about the same really - parts will interchange. They all have a drop in class 66 bobbin. Many of the Cinderella and the Alden parts will interchange with the bigger Japanese 15 machines - they use the same bobbin. That little Cinderella holds a lot of bobbin thread - amazing.

some links to a couple recent posts:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...a-t185268.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...r-t183512.html
you are welcome to put pics here too.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]326386[/ATTACH] my Spartan that needs tension work

[ATTACH=CONFIG]326387[/ATTACH]the 99.13 that needs cleaning!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]326388[/ATTACH] the hand crank that needs tension work/cleaning

The best information I have found is:
http://www.tfsr.org/pub/technical_in...echanism_2.pdf
I could not explain how the tensions work any better in a hundred years. That manual is worth it's weight in gold.
The first time you do one have someone around that is supportive. Take some pictures as you go. Keep track of how things come off - they go back in the same order and in the same direction.
My first spartan looked like it had never been used. I thought I found a cheap machine for once that didn't need any work. Then I tried to sew on it. The tension spring wasn't engaged right. That manual told how to get it in the right place - it was an easy fix. If you can follow a pattern you can do a tension.
The finish on that little 99 looks about like my FW did before I cleaned it off. Glenn has a tutorial on refinishing or you can pm Glenn to get the info. http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...3881-3299.html or window #32981 for the start March 31,2012 lots of fun on there.

Awesome machines, thanks for posting.

There should be some little Sears and Elna machines in 3/4 size - pics?

Love the older machines!

OK, I'll join the party.

Our first 3/4 sized machine was the Newhome Greyhound.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...efrontview.jpg
It was acquired as part of a lot of things at an auction about 12 or so years ago. The top has been wet, the veneer was pealing. The bottom rotted out too. But the little machine was undamaged.
It sat in the garage, then storage locker, then the garage some more for most of those 12 years.
Last year I took it out of the garage and took it down to my little work area in the basement. Over the months I fixed the bottom and the top as best I could. Still has a bit of work to go. I need to find some scrap veneer to replace some missing bits on the top.
I had to rewire the machine because the old wiring was horrible. Rotted, bubba'ed up and basically unsafe. When you touched the machine you'd get a buzz out of it.
My first attempt at rewiring it resulted in a fried foot controller. I got the wires crossed and shorted it out. A couple days ago I fixed it and reinstalled it. She's now back in business.
Last night I discovered the little machine is made from aluminum. Weighs about the same as our Singer Featherweight.

The second machine I don't know if it's a 3/4 size or a 1/2 size but since Miriam put hers in here's our Featherweight.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...therweight.jpg
My wife has told me she's wanted one of these ever since her older sister got one eons ago. As we got into GW auctions she'd follow all the Featherweight auctions. Then one day the bidders seemed to loose interest in this one. The price didn't rise like they normally did. So when the auction was almost over I put a really really high bid on it. A couple other bidders put bids on but quit early. So I got it for her for a reasonable price.
It needed a mechanical cleaning, belt, and some thread removed from behind the hook. That one piece of thread had it jammed up tight.
After all the mechanical cleaning and lubing the little machine sews great.
She came with case, tray, a bunch of accessories, original owners manual, and about 20 bobbins.

Here's a shot of the Greyhound and Featherweight. It shows how similar in size they are.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...therweight.jpg

The third machine is a Singer 99K.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kp.jpg
A real 3/4 sized machine. When I got it all I got was the head.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Ka.jpg
The slide plate was there, but no case, no motor, wiring or foot controller. I got all these parts from various sources and put this machine back together. It works just fine but needs to be used to loosen up.

The last machine I have that could be a 3/4 sized machine is our Minnesota Model ~B~.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...aFront_web.jpg
We got this one from forum member bdshafer last month. It's turned out to be a nice little machine. I've managed to procure some needles from mizkaki and after a good cleaning and lubing it really sews up a storm.
I've got plans to make a cover for it since the machine doesn't have a top.
So far I've only got one bobbin for it and when I ran that out I stood there thinking on just how to get the bobbin winder to work. Sine this was originally a treadle machine there was no big belt to drive the bobbin winder. Then I had a thought and stuck an old rubber belt on the hand wheel pully and the bobbin winder. Zoom zoom, works like a champ. Now I just need some more bobbins.

That's my group of 3/4 sized machines. Hope you liked them.

Joe

Very nice, Joe.

All the machines are so cute! Joe, I love that Greyhound! And to read that you had it sitting out of site for so many years. Glad you rediscovered it!

Thanks Miriam. It was a lot of fun to see all these cute machines.

I too, have this same machine. "La Vencedora" circa 1923 (not 100% positive). Mine is also in good shape. Some wear & tear on some of the decals but overall in pretty good shape. Did some minor cleaning up & she just shines.
Had to do some repairs to the domed top but now it looks terrific (even if it is missing a small piece of wood) Just love my little machine. It is my 1st vintage.

ok here is the "family" of lil godzilla 128's
you should be able to see more pictures of them in my album
http://www.quiltingboard.com/members...180-326490.JPG

left to right, the bent shaft centenial with the hotrod Pfaff motor
the pretty much unmolested 128-23
and last Franki the 128-23 with OLD chrome parts
the two wooden cases are both smashed to bits from shipping, but that is today's project glue!

(what looks like dust on the center machine is frost.. I brought it in from the shed for the photo's)

I just bought a Green Goddess, but the bottom of the case will not hold up the machine properly. She sews great. If you do not want your cabinet I will buy it from you????????PM me Thanks

Here's some of our 3/4 machines.

Are the Elna's a 3/4 or are they just a small arm? I know the Elna Lotus is pretty small. The Dynamic and the Cinderella must be step sisters......

http://www.treadleon.net/woodshop/bu...dingbases.html building bases - it doesn't look terribly hard to do. The green machine's base has some issues too. It goes in but the supports are pretty much crumbly condition. They do need a base to work don't they.

The Elna Supermatic is considered a full size machine. The Elna #1/ Grasshopper is much smaller and probably considered a 3/4 sized machine.

Cathy

What about that Minnesota - I'm thinking it is full size too. Joe, my Vindex Special has the same size base as my old Singer 66s. For some reason I thought they were smaller too - outside a cabinet or case they do look smaller.

Miriam,

I'm not familiar with that machine. The bed measurements (rounded off) for a 3/4 sized machine are usually about 12" X 6". Whereas the full sized Singers are about 7" X 14".

Miriam,

The base on the Minnesota ~B~ measures 6 3/4" W x 13 3/4" L. I guess by Mizkaki's numbers it's more of a full sized machine than a 3/4 size. The pillar and arm just make it look smaller I guess.

Joe

If the Minnesota is the same size as my Vindex Special it is full sized - it is a good 7 X 14 - I think some machines just set different on their base so look smaller than they really are.

Cathy, what is 1/2 size?

Don't be embarrassed Joe, this is how we all learn...

The Greyhound is so appropriately named...it really reminds me of a Greyhound! LOL

Miriam,

I don't have actual measurements for the 1/2 size. Pat, do you know?
The Featherweight is considered a half size. So one could compare to that.

cathy

These are great! I love my 3/4 machines!

Wow, thanks for sharing pictures of your old sewing machines. Awesome!