Really Old Sewing Machines

One of my quilting friends bought a portable machine from a Bible For Missions silent auction. Leslie  had messaged me several weeks ago asking if $40 was a good price. I asked her how much it weighed. Robin, one of the other girls she messaged said it's a feather weight and $40 is a steal. Well. It's a 99K Singer portable and weighs 22 pounds, hums like a dream after she was oiled and dusted. Now, not to be outdone by her best friend, Daiva walked into a different recycle shop and picked up a similar machine for $35. We had so much fun and laughter the other night checking out the new toys. So, I came home and pulled out my 99K that was given to me quite a few years ago. I had it working at one time but had just bought a new Bernina.  

99K Singer Portable 1954.

I own several really old sewing machines. They mostly sit in some obscure place in my house, out of the way, since they are not in use. But are they usable? I have my husband's grandmother's Singer (I hesitate to call it portable) but have never tried using it since I had bought a new Brother 1500S to do my  machine quilting. But look at the size of that opening! It's a bit bigger than my Brother. But does it work? It has that fancy dancy bullet bobbin winding apparatus on the front under the hand wheel. And it has 2 bobbins and a bullet shaped bobbin case. It hides out in the back kitchen along with the freezer, floor mops and all the other stuff most people hide in garages or basements

1909 Singer Sewing Machine

Now this one scares me. Never tried plugging it in. The cords look quite unsafe. But it makes a great door stop. Again, it has a bullet bobbin. Now if only I could figure out how to wind a bobbin?

1898 Portable Singer Sewing Machine

I must have gone mad that year because I bought several old machines just because I could. This 1924 treadle had been beautifully restored and the cabinet is so beautiful. However, for the price I paid for it, it should have come with a bobbin and bobbin case. I always check for the bobbin case now before considering purchasing an old machine. And why do I need so many old machines? I don't. But I like them.
Right now, this one sits tucked away in the living room. I have a chair beside it and a lamp and sometimes do hand work while watching TV. But must remember that pins often fall out and my husband always find them in his foot. I have not figured out the rhythm of sewing of this treadle without getting my fingers caught in the wheel.

1924 Singer Treadle

I could not resist purchasing this really old hand crank machine. It will never work since some vital part is missing. It is used as a door stop in the quilt room.

Hand Crank Sewing Machine Unknown make or date

Ava started playing with this toy machine when she was barely 3. Turning that wheel by hand became the goal. Later she cut bits of fabric scraps with her tiny Dear Jane scissors with the one blunt end. My fingers are too large for those scissors. I did not put in any thread so she just fed the scraps in and let the machine "sew" them. She spent hours here in the quilt room occupied by this. But now, she is starting to use the big, real machine with thread.

Toy  Singer Sewing machine with Hand Crank

This toy machine sat on an old bookshelf outside the guest rooms for years before I thought to bring it out to let Ava try it out. Turns out that it is much easier to use.

Toy Hand Crank Sewing machine made in USSR 

Elly is just starting to play in here and Devan will soon be following. And, Gramma has 2 toy machines for that day.

 Blessings,
Chris