quilt addict

I'm seeeewwwww excited, I think I have found "The One". Well anyway for now today was my last shopping day for awhile as the garage is full. After a nap here is a long winded report.

Today I picked up three machines on a road trip to Los Angeles. My girlfriend came with me so it was a great day. We were going to run by the harp store for her but she voted to stop at the Apple store in Pasadena to look at Ipad. They are perty neat.

Oh, you guys want to know about the machines. I will tell you how the day went. First up was a hand crank in East LA. Kind of a scary part of town. We overcome my pitiful lack of speaking spanish and got Imeal to come down. He had brought the machine with him from Ecuador when he immigrated. Not sure why he would bring this with him but I'm glad he did. It is rusty and needle bar is zeized, but we will see what I can do with it. No markings or numbers on it. It appears the box is a handmade one, with a hand carved (more like chiseled) opening for the head.

Next was an area in North LA called Eagle Rock. What a wonderful little neighborhood. And Amy was a young woman that had rescued this machine while working on a documentary about an historic area of LA that was being razed. And not sure if it is just the best condition machine that I have purchased or the absolute dream it is to treadle. It is a labeled "The Free No 5", serial 5-5491. You get one rotation on the wheel and it will just continue to run. I am sure that will be different once there is the belt and it is hooked to the machine. I have not been through the drawers yet to figure out all that is in there. Too bad someone has silvered much of the front side decals. But I think she is beautiful. BTW Amy is going to send me some pictures of the home it was rescued from. I almost had to keep myself from jumping up and down and doing happy dance. But I am now that she is home. This one came directly into the house.

Last but not least on the way back south stopped in orange and picked up a White Rotary, serial FR 2601467, in a Twig cabinet. The wood needs some moisturizing and the girl needs some cleaning. Anyone have the letter "I" to go on the front panel? I will have to take some pictures of this one tomarrow.

All in all a wonderful day. I'm so excited about The Free.... not sure why but it is my favorite that I have found so far. :D :D :D :D

Lostn51

I think this is Muscle Tension Headaches from stress and just all of the things that are on my plate right now. I keep realizing my teeth are clinched and I have to actually make myself not do it. I woke up this morning and I had them clinched tight as can be.

I used to have these all the time when I was in upper management and the doctor was feeding me Soma and Loratabs to keep me functioning on a daily basis. He said stress was the factor and I am trying to figure out where my stress is coming from right now. Its been 15 years since I had these.......

Billy

Billy

quilt addict

Dunster, very nice machine. If you need anyone to pick something up for you further south. I would be glad to do it for you.

Lostn51

Lisa you sound like you had a wonderful time and to know the background on some of these machines is priceless! I wish I was with you on this adventure but maybe when I get there!!

I have some information about your hand crank but it will take a while to type and I am not up to it right now but it is a significant machine.

Your free machine is gorgeous!!! I can not believe what you gave for it!! That machine is going to be the stuff after you clean it up and polish it!

I can not wait to see all of the photos of your machines and if you can get the photos of the house that one was rescued from posted that would rock also!!

Billy

SewExtremeSeams

To me, the following story is hilarious but then I find humor in most things.

About 18 months ago before I knew anything about vintage machines I purchased this machine sight unseen except for email photos. My DD who lived near the machine's home, picked it up for me.

Last August my Dearest DIL was visiting and attended my quilt guild meeting with me and became very excited about quilting. She, being a non sewer, did not have a machine. I had several vintage and non vintage so I just gave this Singer 66 Treadle to her. Last week I had the privilege of visiting my son and his family and saw this machine for the first time since it left my home.

I was stunned to see it was a Red Eye and how beautiful the decals, etc. were. I am so glad my DIL has it and that she is excited about sewing on it. I need to replace the motor and then she will be all set.

Concerning cleaning, I have not cleaned it thoroughy as Billy has been teaching us. However, my son and I were kind of tinkering around with it. I had brought my GoJo non pumice cleaner with me so just kinda thought I would see how it worked. I will try to show before and after. It looked fairly clean before hand except for the wax droplets on the bed.

I even used GoJo on the wood just around the machine and loved the way it cleaned wood up also.

quilt addict

Billy get some well deserved R&R and feel better. You have done suce a great job the shop runs its self!

No stress here! At least I hope we are not a source. Don't sweat the small stuff, and it is all small stuff.

God will take care of the rest.

dunster

That's a really nice offer, but I also have kids in San Diego. Can't get much further south. :) Let me know if you need something up here.

Aurora

While strolling through a local Goodwill yesterday, I found a machine case sitting against the wall. I picked it up, although dusty, it was in near perfect condition. I just had to open it once it was on my cart. Inside, I found a Montgomery Ward 185, that also is almost like new, except for the bobbin winder tire which was cracked and oval in shape. It had about 30 needles, 7 bobbins, and the manual (good thing to, it was a sucker to thread).

After finally getting it threaded, it sewed a pretty good stitch, but I found it hard to get used to being threaded on the left end. The thread appears to be a little jerky on the uptake. I haven't searched for info yet. It was made in Japan and I am thinking maybe the 50's because of the case colors and materials. No photos at this time, camera committed suicide.

CarrieAnne

Well, Thanks you guys for all the info on mynew machine...just cant believe how MUCH you all can tell, by seeing a picture. Its so fun looking at everyones stuff,and hearing all the info on them.
Billy, hope you're feeling better today! I know there is a nasty virus going around....hope you can rest up if it IS stress!

lfw045

Hope you feel better quickly, Billy! Take care of yourself, please.