Who is into vintage sewing machines?

sixfootdan

I can purchase a 1952 Toyota sewing machine in perfect working order. It will do heavy canvas and such with no problem but I know absolutely nothing about them. I may flip it or I might keep it just because. I was curious if anyone else was an expert on them?
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sixfootdan · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 7:22 pm Post subject:

Wow, Tough crowd! Laughing

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busdaddy · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 8:27 pm Post subject:

I've got a 1953 Singer 155W that I use regularly, awesome machine.
I know nothing about the Toyoda but they make great trucks, cars and forklifts.
Best you check on parts availabilty before pulling the trigger, sometimes stuff like that is for sale for a reason.
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Brian · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 9:32 pm Post subject:

I think my sister has a swinger that was made way back in '03.
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andk5591 · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 5:35 am Post subject:

My wife has, regularly uses and maintains a late 1800s Singer treadle.... Cant help you on those new-fangled electric ones..... Laughing

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coad · Samba Scapegoat Joined: September 12, 2002 Posts: 7552

Messerschmitt made some handsome sewing machines after the war:

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raygreenwood · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 5:46 am Post subject:

Nice thread actually. I like/am interested in any well made old industrial equipment. As part of the industry I work in...off on the fringes....garment production and industrial sewing used to be part of the section I worked years ago. I used to go to a trade show that was just for all of that (industrial sewing, seaming, embroidery)....called the Bobbin Show.

It was amazing to see the industrial sewing machines....Singer, Toyota, Bernina, SWF, Fafnir, Tajima.....
New Industrial single head sewing machines still look like 1940....and are bulletproof and can run for eons....and cost $$$$$. Ray

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raygreenwood · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 6:58 am Post subject:

Malokin Martin · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 7:21 am Post subject:

OB Bus · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 8:04 pm Post subject:

Our "everyday" sewing machine is a Singer Featherweight in white. The white ones were made 1960-63. Nice simple machine that was purchased new by my wife's now departed Mother. It requires frequent cleaning and oiling but runs great.
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blue72beetle · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 7:48 am Post subject:

We use quite a few old sewing machines at work, although I wouldn't call them vintage. Mostly Consew, even have a giant heavy duty that will put a needle through your finger bones if you're not paying attention. The balance wheel is like a giant automotive flywheel.
My favorite is the Consew 206RB, I'd like to get one for myself someday.
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babysnakes · Samba Member Joined: August 19, 2008 Posts: 7106

I have my grandmothers old Singer. It is a fold away desk/table unit. It has not worked in years. My grandmother passed in the 80's. I'm thinking the machine might be from the '50s. I hope to bring it back to life someday and restore the wooden table along with it.

anthracitedub · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 8:15 am Post subject:

I'm a huge fan of old well built machines, big and small....didn't know Yoda made a sewing machine.

While, I do sew... I have a late 80s brother... Kinda cheap, but I've made quite a few items with it. Recently made a grey cord headliner for my 57 ghia and wind lace.

I scored a 59 atlas/craftsman lathe that's in super nice shape along with a box of tooling and a 4 jaw chuck. It's a lot of fun running this thing and whittling up various doodads.

Dave · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 4:55 pm Post subject:

Until retirement, my wife was a professional seamstress.
She has:

3- Pfaff 130 machines, two in cases and one in the cabinet.
5- Singer Featherweights, anywhere from 1935 to 1967, including the hard-to-find 1951 "Blue Label" and the even rarer 221K "Free Arm" machine, and
2-Singer card tables the machines fit into.
2- Juki Overlock machines, one a 3 thread, one, a 4 thread.
1- US Blind stitch machine that does the hem stitch you can't see from outside the garment.
4 or 5 working Treadle machines, Singer, White Rotary, and New Home.
5- A collection of about 75 Toy Sewing machines, mostly Pre-World War 2 from Germany, Mueller and Casige. They all work, and make what is called a "chain stitch".
I'm sure there are some that I am missing; she stays out of the garage, and I stay out of the sewing room.

<edit> OB Bus, the white Featherweights were produced in England (Scotland, actually).. the definitive book is "The Perfect Portable" by Nancy Johnson-Srebro, it gives you everything you need to know about Featherweights. It's like "Progressive Refinements" for Featherweights.
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raygreenwood · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 7:17 pm Post subject:

Awesome thread! For those who look on...and dont appreciate things as mundane as the sewing machine....without it.....you would either be naked....or look really stupid in your bone needle, leather stitched medieval fair outfit Laughing

Ray

janerick3 · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 7:50 pm Post subject:

I tossed my mother's circa 1950 Free-Westinghouse console in the dumpster about 15 years ago, as all the rubber and cords had rotted away, the blond veneer covering the table and drawers was becoming delaminated and my brother had thrown out the box of attachments a couple of years previous. Up to that point, it was complete, including the manual and tools.

I picked up a postwar Singer portable a few years ago for around $15 that didn't have as many accessories as the Free and had similar rubber rot, but at least parts are available. What's weird about it is that the serial number is for a Model 66 from early 1925, which tells me there were companies that did manual-to-electric conversions to meet demand either during or right after WWII.
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raygreenwood · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 6:47 am Post subject:

youngnstudly · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:52 pm Post subject:

It's nice to see others on here are into Vintage sewing machines. I started out buying my first sewing machine (an old 1951 Singer 15-91) in my early 20's, and it worked well for what I was doing at the time, but I always wanted a walking foot machine. So, I sold the Singer years back and found a decent Juki 563 with the table and everything for $650. I couldn't pay for it fast enough! Very Happy

It's nearly stock with a few obvious exceptions, and I'm hoping to eventually close the open area at the bottom with a homemade floor pan and some carpet. I made the fold down table top while working in the sheet metal shop years ago, but never took the time to fab up the floor section. I like that it's a quiet hobby that doesn't require you to get dirty or become exposed to dangerous chemicals and such (hey, just like doing mechanical work!). Laughing

Plus you can do it inside (cool in the summer, warm in the winter) while watching TV or listening to the radio, which is nice on rainy days when you're stuck inside.

I still have my mother's Pfaff in case I need to do any other kind of stitching that the Juki won't do (it only does straight stitching).

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OB Bus · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 9:15 pm Post subject:


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