I don't know about you, but I love finding vintage sewing machines.ccI wonder how old they are, what they've made, where they've been. I wonder what's happened to their owner? Did they love their machine? Did they sew all the time, or was it never pulled out of the closet? Was it a wedding gift, or something they saved up to purchase? Did they sew because they loved it, or was the sewing machine a way for them to earn a living? What to you think about when you find an old beauty like this?
The following machines are in no particular order other than the order in which I found them. :)
You can barely read Singer across the front of this one. It's been really well used.
In 1851, Isaac Merritt Singer started the Singer & Company in Boston. He created and patented the pressure foot to hold fabric and mounted the needle vertical. Seems like that really set the standard for machines still today. He also tried to patent the foot petal or treadle (I always thought it was called trendle, isn't it nice we can learn together!) but that had already been used for too long for him to include it in his patent. But still, he kind of killed it with the longevity of his design don't you think? It wasn't until 1857 until a true domestic machine, the Family Machine was introduced.
Now I understand the love for classic cars. I could sit here for hours looking at the curves of the machine, the colors, the knobs. I wonder if they still run and what it would take to fix them.
This Spartan is a Singer Manufactured sewing machine. I do wonder why most of the sewing machine these days are white and most of the vintage machines are black. I think I'd like a black sleek shiny machine! What color would you like?
I'm not even sure who made this one, it was in a glass case and couldn't get into it, but you can surely tell it's an old one!
I found this one at my local Salvation Army. It was $50 including the cabinet! I'd love to take in old sewing machines and make them purr again, but let's face it, it's hard enough trying to find time to sew as it is without adding another to-do list! As it is, my husband hasn't had a warm meal yet this year! Just kidding, he's a great chef. Thank God or we'd never eat....and I might be thin. :0)
And then theres that...what are these babies worth...?
Look at this beauty! This one wanted to come home with me! It had a lot of the original parts, the hand wheel spun freely but I just have to wonder what the repair bill would be after spending $200 on it.
Look at this Little Betty! (ignore the creepy doll...if...you...can...) These were made in England by EMG. The company started making toy sewing machines in 1935. Straco was an American toy importer, and in 1940, they started importing these. At some point, Straco partnered up with Walt Disney of all people and Snow White was pusing sewing machines for a while! Betcha didn't know that!
Umm, this is just true, I couldn't help myself!
The White Sewing Machine Company was founded in 1858 in Massachusetts by Thomas H. White. At one point in 1900 they also started making automobiles. No wonder these ran so well! :) SVP Worldwide now owns both Singer and White, and a few other names that I'm sure you'd recognize, Pfaff, Bernina, Juki.
This Singer is very close to the one I learned on, and sewed on for twenty years...then the light burned out! Oh how I loved this machine!
Isn't the artwork on each amazing. All the designs or decals are different.
This little (literally) Sew-O-Matic Senior is also made by Straco (the makers of the Little Betty).
This White even had it's original feet box with it. Pretty amazing!
I found these next two at an Estate Sale just this weekend! In doing some investigating, seems like there is not an Antique Sewing Machine Museum in the US. There was one in Arlington, VA but it closed. I'd love to go to a Sewing Machine Museum! Add some fabric, and I'm there!
FYI, this is not my arm...if it was I would have waxed it first. My husband wanted to show the size of this little Sew Handy Electric sewing machine. At first I thought it said Sew Randy and thought that was a weird way to promote sewing!
I hope you had fun strolling down memory lane with me. I hope if you have a sewing machine, it's not tucked away in a closet. If it is, take it out! Take it for a spin! Contact your local Quilt Store ask them when their next beginning class is. Patronize a Quilt Store and they will help you learn how to use your machine!
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