More Vintage Sewing Machines!

[JoffreyBaratheon]

We had a thread about this last year but rather than revive, thought I'd start a new one!

I'm just been bad on a certain online auction site and got a Singer Featherweight 221K (1951) for a mighty £60 as it had bits missing! (All bits I can replace or already have with my other 221K).

But I have a love of old hand cranks - especially Singers - and have er several... The oldest is from 1885. I enjoy fixing them up and sewing on them, too.

I currently have a Singer 66K 'donor' machine in the back hallway, donating body parts to my husband's grandma's old machine. And am fettling up a Singer 128K to sell.

(That felt like a confession).

Any other fans of vintage machines out there? And what do you have?

[Gizlotsmum]

I have my gran's 1920's hand crank singer which still works.. The sound brings back so many memories

[Katymac]

I'm using my mum's more now someone reminded me I have it It's a 201K & I love it

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Giz, the sound they make is really evocative, eh?

Katymac, the 201Ks are supposed to be one of the best machines ever made. I've never yet had the chance to try one.

[CatherineDeB]

I was on the old thread - list of machines .... Bernina 830 record, Singer 99 and 201 (still hand crank), Singer 221, Pfaff 30 and a new Bernina 1008 still in the style of the old machines though.

I keep meaning to put another table up in the room I sew in and have one or two of them out but then remind myself I would have to dust them and don't bother.

When I get my 201 out I also get the 99 out and me and my daughter sew together. I prep something for her beforehand, she made shorts last time (is 9).

[Peregrina]

I have a old German hand operated machine dated sometime between 1906-8, which my granny bought second hand when she was 19, (in about 1916) and a Bernina 801. Both still going strong.....

[Katymac]

I think it needs oiling

But I need to get used to it again

[fortifiedwithtea]

I gave my 201K away. All because I wasn't using it and thought it needed to be used. It was beautiful

I'm sure I said this on the old post. The church was collecting tools for a third world project. I never got a receipt or thank you and it still nags at me, did it go to the mission or did someone realise what it was and snuffle it for themselves. I probably shouldn't think that

[JoffreyBaratheon]

fortified, it doesn't bear thinking about.

[Katymac]

Just think of it making clothes for children in a third world country and that it will be loved and cared for as it will change lives

& buy yourself another one

[JoffreyBaratheon]

I saw on another forum someone mentioned they went into a charity shop to donate something and spotted that the volunteers there have a wish list - to cherry pick whatever comes in. One of them had "Singer 221K"! So no chance of anyone hoping to get one for a tenner!

That said my son worked in a charity shop that sells vintage clothes and accessories only, and they'd be 'sacked' on the spot for cherry picking stock. It does happen, though!

[timtam23]

I have a Singer 201k (electric). It's in immaculate condition, only 1 previous owner - my mother-in-law. She's passed it on to me as it's too heavy for her. It takes a while to thread up but the stitching is amazing.
I also have a beautiful treadle Singer in a table with all the wrought-iron legs still intact, I can't remember the model number but it must date from late 1800s/early 1900s. It was £40 from an old furniture barn about 20 years ago. I must get round to fixing the belt as it would then work perfectly!

[timtam23]

Just had a quick search online and I think my treadle table Singer might be a model number 27 - I'll have to clear the pile of knitting off it later to have a look!

[JoffreyBaratheon]

tim, this may be the site you have but will put up a link for others who come along and may want to ID a machine. I've ID'd a few vintage machines successfully here:

www.sandman-collectibles.com/id-singer-machines.htm