I will always recommend buying a vintage sewing machine – especially as a first (or back up) sewing machine. They are inexpensive and will last forever (and of course the ‘greener choice’). And of course how do you know what’s good? I tend to take a chance – basing it on 2 things, cheap and rust free.

Its not easy sourcing machines in Ireland as we have a damp climate here, and invariably people store old machines in back rooms and sheds. Charity shops rarely have them as they are not supposed to sell 2nd hand machines as they are not pat tested (so they can get dumped when donated!!!). I used pick up machines online and try and get from Europe to avoid customs charges. Occasionally I keep an eye on the local secondhand pages just to see …

So last week, a friend of mine mentioned how she would like a sewing machine in a table so she could have a machine set up in her boyfriends place..(hows that for commitment ).. and she had just seen mine in my workroom. I told here – these things come up all the time on done deal and adverts (slight exageration)…… and yet the next day….there one was on adverts for €45. It was in a town 50km away, but I had to go to the town next to it yesterday – so we agreed I would pick it up!

I had seen the machine listed before and this was a relisting. There was a video showing it turned on and running but the photos weren’t in a great light (are they ever). So I went to pick up, figuring it should be fine…. the machine was intact – I took these photos just before I started cleaning it. The machine is a 185k, It had a short production (about 5 years) and it has the same lines as the 201, but is more similar to the 66/99.

The machine had a little more surface rust than I would like, but it wasn’t impossible. Luckily I had the foil from a chocolate wrapper – so used that with some oil and polished the rust away. There was a lot of dust and lint and cobwebs, and I cleaned everything and oiled it heaps. These singers are handy as there are lots of oil holes so you dont take much off. There should be a small oil pad near the bobbin but I think this disintegrated into the rest of the lint, and I believe these are easily refashioned.

Once the machine was oiled, and let it soak overnight. I then cleaned the table – Its in way better condition than my original one. so that was last night, and today I stitched on it. It has a lovely stitch – and can fairly pack a punch despite its 3/4 size. According to Alex Askaroff (he has a video on youtube on the 185k) ‘once you get it under the foot it will sew it’

The tension is a bit tight and as it was stored so long the bobbin wind rubber is a bit dry – so as I don’t enjoy taking tension apart – I have advised her to get it serviced, and at least its now cleaned and oiled, and I think an extra service will help a lot.

A 66 year old sewing machine machine looking well and still working and a balanced stitch from the get go….wonder how many modern machines will match that!