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 her – ‘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 Singer 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 of the machine casing 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!
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It so lovely that you did that for your friend. And the table that the machine comes with is just too cute. I have a tredle machine that comes in a cabinet. It worked for a while but I just can’t get it going again. It was the main sewing machine in my Mum’s home so I couldn’t bear to put to give it to a stranger, but it so sad to see it just sitting there.
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Hi Elaine – I am not sure who was the main driver – me or my friend! I enjoy looking at old machines and there is something very satisfying about cleaning an old machine, but I am aware of my limits – cleaning and oiling is as far as I go…and I have changed bobbin rubbers and belts but I stear clear of tensions and stuck gears……. That treadle machine sounds lovely – believe it or not….I have never used one and I would have one in the house here if we had space – I like the idea of a leg powered one where your two hands are free. The issue with your mum’s is probably very simple so it definitely can be fixed…… I have brought home some right hum-dingers here and they all manage to get sewing!
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It looks a lot like the 65 year Singer my mother had, except that one had cams on the front for different stitches. I’m sad that I had to let it go. I don’t have space for a third machine that would more or less be decorative.
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The first vintage machine (a 328) I bought I ended up selling on….as I have developed a habit of buying new ones and every now and then have to re-evaluate why they are in the work room…. and choose what is working for me…. in ways its easier to decide on machines than it is on fabric stash!
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What a find! A while ago All Saints used to decorate their shop windows with old Singers and I remember wondering what happened to all those lovely old machines afterwards.
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I was transfixed when I saw the collection in all saints…..barely looked at the clothes at the time!
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So many of my sewing friends search for Featherweight Singer machines made the year they were born and that come with a carrying case so they can take it to classes. Half of the machines I own and use were bought second hand and are still working great! New parts can be hard to find along with a good repair person.
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My featherweight is 10 years older than me! …. and yes, very tricky to get them serviced….. one of the people that serviced my machines originally trained as a sewing machine mechanic in an AnCO course (government sponsored apprenticeship training) in the 80s…..around the same time (in a different city) that I did my AnCO course in pattern drafting and factory cutting!……..different times
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