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Sticking my toe in the waters of Vintage Sewing Machines

Sticking my toe in the waters of Vintage Sewing Machines

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Old 09-07-2012, 09:43 AM
  #81  
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The green Kenmore was ugly until I cleaned it up. Now, I'm amazed at the pretty color of the green under all of that yellow staining.
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Old 09-08-2012, 07:11 PM
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I sat down with the box of attachments I also got along with the 3 machines. Some fit my current, "modern" Kenmore and I think the rest of them are high shank and will fit the new "vintage" Kenmore I just acquired. It was so fun to go through them and see what they do...with my current machine. The ruffler was fun, the tucker, the rolled hem, the binder. I have a vintage Singer instruction booklet that I used to identify all of the gadgets and how they work. So, now I have rotary attachments for the circular shank, others for the square shank kenmore types. Fun.
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Old 09-10-2012, 06:42 PM
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I don't know if I should be excited or really discouraged...I found what my White Rotary cabinet, a Martha Washington cabinet, should look like. [ATTACH=CONFIG]361898[/ATTACH]

Unfortunately, this is what she really looks like....[ATTACH=CONFIG]361900[/ATTACH]
Attached Thumbnails what-martha-washington-supposed-look-like.jpg   white-cabinet.jpg  
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Old 09-10-2012, 06:44 PM
  #84  
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Oh, I have so much to do. I want to do it all, sew, fix sewing machines, quilt...clean my garage, find room for the 6 machines that are out there so they can come inside for the winter and so the car can get into the garage for the winter
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Old 09-14-2012, 07:37 AM
  #85  
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Yesterday I was supposed to be quilting. I have 5 quilts that need to be quilted...so, what did I do...went to the garage and cleaned my Dirty White Boy Crinkle. It's not so dirty today...but the cord is a mess, so no way I'm plugging that puppy in. It was stiff and dirty and now it spins like a dream...it wants to SEW! Funny, I was thinking the machines are like race horses. They just want to RUN!
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Old 09-14-2012, 03:19 PM
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]362762[/ATTACH]A sweet little baby....reconditioned? And this one in a cabinet[ATTACH=CONFIG]362763[/ATTACH]
Attached Thumbnails babysi%7E1.jpg   se9cc2%7E1.jpg  
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Old 09-14-2012, 05:25 PM
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heehee i just read through your entire thread. loved your daughter's quilt! that's the best - to pass along such a fun hobby to the next generation. i think you're a few months ahead of me in your addiction. i bought a Singer Slant-o-Matic (503a) for my youngest daughter that is exactly like mine about 3 weeks ago. i got it from a guy on craigslist and he had his house full of vintage machines. that's all it took. i've bought 2 more vintage black singers since then - a 66 and then a 15-91, and in the midst of this passion i took my grandma's treadle out to have the cabinet restored and the black parts repainted. it's a redeye 66 from 1917, similar to the pic you've posted.

the good thing about the cabinet above is that you can't really lose. it's in pretty rough shape as it is. did you see the directions for how to restore the finish? Glenn/skipper posted the directions somewhere, but i can't tell you where, and someone posted before and after pics using his methods. it was very impressive. i copied the directions and am going to try it on the Queen Anne cabinet that the 15-91 came in. you might be able to make that cabinet look pretty nice again if the wood is sound.

thanks for the sharing & pics - i enjoyed all of it.
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Old 09-14-2012, 06:32 PM
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It really is an obsession...a cheap one though, so far. I haven't paid more then $50 and that was for the Necchi, which is in perfect sewing condition for a 50+ year old machine. The most I've paid for a treadle is $25, and that was for the White in the Parlor cabinet, sight unseen and much improved since she's been here. The others have been free. I just love taking something that barely moves, dirty, dusty and ugly and making it sew. This little Singer in the case has me a bit confused, but I think, and I am not as informed as most of the people here, the little Singer is a 128 built in the 50s...but it just doesn't seem possible. It looks like it's never been used. Such a mystery.
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Old 09-16-2012, 04:31 AM
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A while ago, before I knew much about sewing machines except how to use them, I bought what I thought was a machine what I thought was the equivalent of a rusted out beater of a first car. A Kenmore 158.177 from Goodwill for $4 in the cabinet. My daughter wanted to learn to sew, and I didn't want her using my machine. That machine has surprised me over and over again. Turns out it's a great machine. Sews like a dream...needed oiling and a tension adjustment....but works really well. She really doesn't use it much.

Today, I realized....it's been sitting here in its cabinet for a while...it takes CAMS! I don't have them, but now, now..........you know what I'm going to say..........now I have something to SEARCH for! I would love to see what this can do with a set of cams!
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Old 09-16-2012, 09:46 AM
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i have about 8 cams for my 1961 Singer Slant-o-matic (the Rocketeer) and have used them for various decorative stitches. i'm sure they came with the original machine because they fit inside the box of bobbins, attachments and screwdrivers. my latest fun thing is to use the cams is in decorating ATCs - Artist Trading Cards. just run some fun design down one side of the card. when my eldest daughter was little i made a lot of clothes for her and i finished the edge of a blouse collar and cuffs with the scallop edge cam then trimmed the fabric off even with the stitching. it turned out really cute.

gee, how awful, something sewing machine-ish to search for!
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