My other Classic / Vintage Obsession... Sewing Machines.
01-31-22, 10:12 AM
#276
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02-01-22, 07:04 AM
#277
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One phone call, my mom was down. She had decided to part with her grandmother's treadle Singer sewing machine and cabinet. I said, "I'll take it and restore it!" She was ecstatic.
So, many hours restoring the wood cabinet, tearing down the machine itself, lots of cleaning and 10s of coats of lacquer resulted in this:
I got it sewing again, but I prefer to use electric machines over the pedal-powered treadle, so it sits.
So, many hours restoring the wood cabinet, tearing down the machine itself, lots of cleaning and 10s of coats of lacquer resulted in this:
I got it sewing again, but I prefer to use electric machines over the pedal-powered treadle, so it sits.
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02-11-22, 08:57 PM
#278
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At long last, here's the Bernina.
Not a real beauty like some of these machines, but this thing is a workhorse, and a great one! Never bunches or jams, gives plenty of warning before even thinking about breaking a needle, goes in reverse easily, and does all the zigzag stitches my grandma liked for holding things together and tidying up ragged edges. I really didn't realize I knew how to sew just by looking at my ma and grandma when I was a kid, but I just sat down and started and it worked, first time ever trying. I think a lot of machining translates to sewing. It reminds me of TIG welding because of the foot pedal, and of milling because it has a feedrate and a stitchrate (like feed and speed on the mill!). I got really into it as a way to satisfy my desire to machine things during the shutdown when I had no shop access.
I did a couple elbow patches on sweaters, patched some pricey flax linen bed sheets, and put velcro on my SIDI shoes to teach myself, but the real prize was this BigAngus Engquist Argus Agnes tent from REI's Garage Sale. Needed a new zipper, so there I went!
I cut the teeth out of the old zipper, but left the tape behind as a hem facing to sew the new zipper onto. It was a fair bit of work, but $200 off retail is a fair bit of money saved! Now can bring it on tour! After sewing I decided I had left enough of a mark on the tent, I changed its name from Big Agnes to Big Engquist as an homage to my Swedish heritage.
Not a real beauty like some of these machines, but this thing is a workhorse, and a great one! Never bunches or jams, gives plenty of warning before even thinking about breaking a needle, goes in reverse easily, and does all the zigzag stitches my grandma liked for holding things together and tidying up ragged edges. I really didn't realize I knew how to sew just by looking at my ma and grandma when I was a kid, but I just sat down and started and it worked, first time ever trying. I think a lot of machining translates to sewing. It reminds me of TIG welding because of the foot pedal, and of milling because it has a feedrate and a stitchrate (like feed and speed on the mill!). I got really into it as a way to satisfy my desire to machine things during the shutdown when I had no shop access.
I did a couple elbow patches on sweaters, patched some pricey flax linen bed sheets, and put velcro on my SIDI shoes to teach myself, but the real prize was this Big
I cut the teeth out of the old zipper, but left the tape behind as a hem facing to sew the new zipper onto. It was a fair bit of work, but $200 off retail is a fair bit of money saved! Now can bring it on tour! After sewing I decided I had left enough of a mark on the tent, I changed its name from Big Agnes to Big Engquist as an homage to my Swedish heritage.
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02-11-22, 10:51 PM
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My wife has a Bernina - circa 1993.
Very good - I have another Pfaff coming tomorrow. My other favorites of theirs are 545 H-3 the big bobbin machines.
looking for a big Adler Zig zag ... rare beasts
Very good - I have another Pfaff coming tomorrow. My other favorites of theirs are 545 H-3 the big bobbin machines.
looking for a big Adler Zig zag ... rare beasts
02-12-22, 02:38 PM
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My grandma, my mom, and my ex girlfriend's mom all used the zig zag stitch to mend/darn up holes in my Pendleton shirts after I tore them taking a tumble on rollerblades or what have you. Very useful, gets you back on the road quick, and I've got lots of example work from my teens and twenties to learn sewing from.
The Pfaff 543 is a monster, isn't it? Like, it can sew thick leather and stuff, right?
I've been afraid to push the Bernina on any leather thicker than "garment leather" for elbow patches on shirts. I think its strong suit is the delicate stuff like that tent.
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Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Last edited by scarlson; 02-12-22 at 02:44 PM.
02-12-22, 02:58 PM
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Turns out my Gift machine is a 138.
needs a few bits, which I think I might have.
save for a bobbin case if it is worn out.
One part broken at the back knee lift linkage.
might be purchase or fabrication time.
I have to see if a part from the 545 fits.
so this one has a zig-zag
just gave it oil everywhere - spins well but not as "free" as the 545's
this machine has a wide but not big diameter bobbin.
looking forward to getting it up and running, has its own table, motor and clutch.
needs a few bits, which I think I might have.
save for a bobbin case if it is worn out.
One part broken at the back knee lift linkage.
might be purchase or fabrication time.
I have to see if a part from the 545 fits.
so this one has a zig-zag
just gave it oil everywhere - spins well but not as "free" as the 545's
this machine has a wide but not big diameter bobbin.
looking forward to getting it up and running, has its own table, motor and clutch.
Last edited by repechage; 02-12-22 at 04:18 PM.
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07-06-23, 01:01 PM
#282
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
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07-06-23, 01:34 PM
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Huh neat, a dedicated zig zag machine? Adler used to make typewriters. Partnered with Royal I think, for US sales.
My grandma, my mom, and my ex girlfriend's mom all used the zig zag stitch to mend/darn up holes in my Pendleton shirts after I tore them taking a tumble on rollerblades or what have you. Very useful, gets you back on the road quick, and I've got lots of example work from my teens and twenties to learn sewing from.
The Pfaff 543 is a monster, isn't it? Like, it can sew thick leather and stuff, right?
I've been afraid to push the Bernina on any leather thicker than "garment leather" for elbow patches on shirts. I think its strong suit is the delicate stuff like that tent.
My grandma, my mom, and my ex girlfriend's mom all used the zig zag stitch to mend/darn up holes in my Pendleton shirts after I tore them taking a tumble on rollerblades or what have you. Very useful, gets you back on the road quick, and I've got lots of example work from my teens and twenties to learn sewing from.
The Pfaff 543 is a monster, isn't it? Like, it can sew thick leather and stuff, right?
I've been afraid to push the Bernina on any leather thicker than "garment leather" for elbow patches on shirts. I think its strong suit is the delicate stuff like that tent.
the favorites here are the old machines before they went to toothed timing belts. Drive shafts and bevel gears rule. “ desmodronic “
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07-07-23, 10:01 AM
#284
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
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A rotary machine with hand lapped bevelled gears, and the only connecting rod in the machine is the one that runs the feed, full oil lubrication in a total loss system.
It was the most expensive Singer machine you could buy at $150.00 in the 1940's (in a case)... that is like $3300.00 in 2023.
The median income was just under $1000.00 a year in 1940 and most of these machines were purchased on a payment plan stretched over many years.
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07-07-23, 11:35 AM
#285
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Anybody know anyone that deals in old sewing machines in the Pacific NW? I find myself in possession of a 1965 Singer 7-33 that I will never use. My dad used it make "Old West" stuff like the tops for covered wagons and canvas tool bags. Seems to be in good condition but I know nothing about sewing machines. Pics or it didn't happen:
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07-07-23, 01:55 PM
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I have a pic somewhere. Was fascinating.
/markp
07-07-23, 04:11 PM
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It seems that I am not the only one here who takes great pleasure in tracking down and acquiring vintage sewing machines (and derailing other threads) and although most of us just take it for granted that a sewing machine sews, they are really a marvel of precision engineering and design, and the good ones will last just as long as a vintage Raleigh with nothing more than regular cleaning and oiling.
Historically, they did as much for women as the bicycle as it freed them to have more leisure time (like bicycle riding) and pursue other employment options, prior to the introduction of home sewing machines it took 14 hours to make a shirt and 10 hours to make a dress by hand... because of this most people only owned a few outfits and there was no industrial scale manufacturing of clothing.
The sewing machine made it possible to make a shirt or a dress in under 2 hours and the mass production techniques used by those early giants were copied by other emerging and existing industries and created others to support what was one of the largest industries before bicycles and automobiles.
I learned to sew when I was very young as my mother was a seamstress and made a good deal of our clothing, she recycled the hand me downs, and clothes got mended until they were only good for being used as patches or quilt pieces.
I just inherited my mom's last good machine which she stopped using over 10 years ago, she passed away several years ago at the age of 83 and even after she became a nurse she continued to sew as it was her favourite activity... this is a late 1960's Bernina and these are considered to be some of the very best machines ever made.
.JPG)
What most people think of when they think of classic sewing machines... this is a 1948 Singer (model 99k) that I just gave to my great niece who is 9 years old. It is not as ornate as some early models but was one of the most popular and successful machines ever made as it was just that good and it was compact which made it a good portable.
My Kenmore is tucked under the table... it is almost 40 years old and is an exemplary Japanese made machine that will easily sew the canvas and light leather I picked up for making bicycle gear.
Nice thing about these older machines is that they just work and work very well without the aid of computers, complex electronics, and as of yet they have only made it as far as using aluminium and to my knowledge there are no carbon fibre machines and they shift manually with a mix of indexed and friction.
Historically, they did as much for women as the bicycle as it freed them to have more leisure time (like bicycle riding) and pursue other employment options, prior to the introduction of home sewing machines it took 14 hours to make a shirt and 10 hours to make a dress by hand... because of this most people only owned a few outfits and there was no industrial scale manufacturing of clothing.
The sewing machine made it possible to make a shirt or a dress in under 2 hours and the mass production techniques used by those early giants were copied by other emerging and existing industries and created others to support what was one of the largest industries before bicycles and automobiles.
I learned to sew when I was very young as my mother was a seamstress and made a good deal of our clothing, she recycled the hand me downs, and clothes got mended until they were only good for being used as patches or quilt pieces.
I just inherited my mom's last good machine which she stopped using over 10 years ago, she passed away several years ago at the age of 83 and even after she became a nurse she continued to sew as it was her favourite activity... this is a late 1960's Bernina and these are considered to be some of the very best machines ever made.
What most people think of when they think of classic sewing machines... this is a 1948 Singer (model 99k) that I just gave to my great niece who is 9 years old. It is not as ornate as some early models but was one of the most popular and successful machines ever made as it was just that good and it was compact which made it a good portable.
My Kenmore is tucked under the table... it is almost 40 years old and is an exemplary Japanese made machine that will easily sew the canvas and light leather I picked up for making bicycle gear.
Nice thing about these older machines is that they just work and work very well without the aid of computers, complex electronics, and as of yet they have only made it as far as using aluminium and to my knowledge there are no carbon fibre machines and they shift manually with a mix of indexed and friction.
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07-07-23, 11:09 PM
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All Saints
Looking at all the machines and equipment is both sad and fascinating at the same time. Many of these machines are old shuttle machines. Really neat. Most of the machines that I saw in Las Vegas were or appeared to be commercial machines. I'd rather see them used for décor than go to scrap.
Last edited by Velo Mule; 07-07-23 at 11:14 PM.
07-08-23, 02:08 AM
#289
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I have a 1931 Singer 66K hand crank with original bentwood case made for a hand crank machine. I have 2 White model 782 these are late 50's early 60's machines that are beast I have a few other machines. I sold a dozen machines when the pandemic started and everyone was looking for sewing machines to make mask . I used to buy interesting old machines I found cheap and had them setting everywhere. I also stopped looking at shopgoodwill.com
07-08-23, 06:05 AM
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The Clothier AllSaints has a décor with vintage sewing machines both outside and inside. They have/had one in Las Vegas that was like a vintage sewing machine museum. They also had some vintage clothing making accoutrements.
Looking at all the machines and equipment is both sad and fascinating at the same time. Many of these machines are old shuttle machines. Really neat. Most of the machines that I saw in Las Vegas were or appeared to be commercial machines. I'd rather see them used for décor than go to scrap.
Looking at all the machines and equipment is both sad and fascinating at the same time. Many of these machines are old shuttle machines. Really neat. Most of the machines that I saw in Las Vegas were or appeared to be commercial machines. I'd rather see them used for décor than go to scrap.
/markp
12-27-23, 06:55 PM
#291
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I never really paid attention to this thread and sure didn't think I'd post to it but, funny old life. A couple years ago my wife bought a sewing machine and table, from a friend, that could be used to repair horse blankets (horses destroy all horse blankets). I didn't pay much attention to it as we are still deciding where to set up that "shop" area. I was recently inspired to uncover it and pay attention. Turns out it's a Singer 96-10 manufactured in December of 1920. Still in great shape and, relatively, lightly used for the past 100 years. Being an engineer, I've found it very interesting. I now understand how the sewing process works, hook alignment, thread tensions, stitch length adjustments, clutch motors, knee lifters for the foot, etc. And, since I'm fine with making my own camping gear, I'll probably use it. First job is to clean the clutch motor (too grabby) and then slow the whole thing down - currently top speed is around 2200 stitches/minute. I cannot even think that fast.
Oh, that thread on the top is just wound that way to keep it out of the way as I'm cleaning and inspecting. I know the routing is "not quite right".
Oh, that thread on the top is just wound that way to keep it out of the way as I'm cleaning and inspecting. I know the routing is "not quite right".
12-27-23, 07:00 PM
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My father is a tinkerer and I only hope to one day have half the patience he has with fixing things up (although I do get less easily distracted). He's never worked on sewing machines before but over the last few weeks he's been restoring a Pfaff 130 (I think) table mounted machine that he purchased specifically because he'd read it could do some light leather sewing. It's a pretty machine and once it's up and running again I'll have to snap some photos to share here!
-Gregory
-Gregory
