Old sewing machines (pic heavy)

[Jack Bounder]

We have a hand-cranked Singer 99K. Serial Number EA-842301, so made in 1936. This has been in the family from new. It's a bit wobbly in the base but otherwise still useful.

Our new machine arrived today. It's a Janome SMD3000.

 

[Jack Bounder]

Here are a couple of pictures....

 

[Tengu]

I have four machines









is the youngest.









My only non Singer, a Vibra...it turns without a judder, but nothing goes up and down

Ill post the other two in a min

 

[Tengu]

Here is an older singer, a pretty plain one, and as the black has run in places, seems to have been made in a hurry, -war years?







This must be the oldest of all, as its an egyptian design, sadly the wooden base is falling to pieces

What do you think? Im getting rid of a at least two. which ones would you keep?

 

[Angst]

lovely to see people still adding to the thread...keep 'em coming!

as soon as the weather is stable i'm going to get my collection outside and photograph them all...

s

 

[Adze]

We've one of these:

It's a 1904 27K which we bought approx 4 years ago from a local shelter charity for the princely sum of £25.

Granted, the woodwork has seen better days and the top cover is missing:

But it does have it's original treadle:

...and what appears to be a vintage leather drive belt:

I'm not convinced the drawers are originally from this table:

They were a proper Aladdin’s cave though, masses of needles, pins, bobbins and old wooden cotton reels:

We suspect this may have belonged to the wife of a policeman at one point there's a slack handful of these buttons:

After 106 years, a little light machine oil and some Google Fu by my better half to find out how this went together:

...and the machine sings quite as beautifully as it ever has. Sadly, we won't be saying the same about any DVD player, laptop, washing machine, or, I daresay, sewing machine created in the plastic age.

 

[Mr.punch]

In the past week I have ended up with 3 1910 28k hand crank machines, one is in fantastic condition but gunned up with old sticky oil, not a problem. One works fine but had one cover plate missing, one is complete but very dirty and has no cover.
I am going to use the latter to base my dismantling and rebuilding skills on after that it will be surplus to my requirements, as will the second one which apart from the bobbins will be complete as I am keeping these. What I would like is a little advice, should I break them for spares thus helping others complete projects, put them on the bay of e as are or as I see most on this thread are in awe of the finished article, turn them into heavy chic table lamps painted red and gold or that crackled emulsion an wax finish?
Your thoughts please.

 

[sachapost]

About six months ago I found this beauty, a Singer 66K with a motor, in an antiques store in Scotland for £20. I remember seeing it coming to life again after some heavy oiling in the store. The owner was convinced it would run again, "Singers never never never ever break!" And it did come to life indeed!

It came with the original manual and the little key for the wooden cover, which locks in place when you open the cabinet. Back home I gave it a thorough clean and oil, back to its original sheen. Took me a while to set the upper and lower tension and rewire the machine (the electrical wiring was precarious to say the least), but now the little motor runs through canvas and leather fine.

I am still completely in love with this machine and constantly try to find time for new projects so I can use it. Just sewed in a new YKK zipper in an Austrian Army Goretex Jacket I picked up recently (wonderful jacket by the way!) Planning to do something with an old parachute, any ideas?

 

[Angst]

lovely stuff....

and sacha thats in beautiful condition....whats the serial number exactly please?

s

 

[sachapost]

Thanks! It was a real find

I believe it's a Singer from 1933, the serial number is Y9067003. Do you have experience with this particular model?

 

[Harvestman]

This thread has gone on much further and longer than I ever expected when i started it, and it is great to see all these lovely old machines in working order. Sadly mine has some bent parts and has been relegated to decorative value only.

Keep them coming folks.

 

[Angst]

hiya....not really, i'm a 201 collector...just nice to see one starting with a 'Y' serial number...theyre usually the earliest ones, i have a 'Y' 201.

hope she serves you well!

s

Thanks! It was a real find

I believe it's a Singer from 1933, the serial number is Y9067003. Do you have experience with this particular model?

 

[Skaukraft]

Hi. Long time no see.
I have just got this old lady in the house. It is from an old shoe makers shop. The serial number is 11400037, and as far as I have found out it is a 1893 model.
But thats about all I have found.
It seems to be in fairly good working condition, but needs some TLC.
I was kind of hoping to find some instructions, parts list or any thing to help me get it back in service.

 

[Twodogs]

Wow i do like that ...

I have just picked up an industrial Singer myself and it amazes me the lack of information on the web for them and the amount of different tasks they were made for .

Looking forward to seeing how you get on with it

All the best

Cliff

 

[Skaukraft]

She is a beauty
I have been googeling for two days now, and not found one single picture of a machine similar to this one.
But I am mamazed over the tightness and precision in the mechanism. And it is a round leather drive belt on it. I have reason to belive that it has been in use in a shoe makers shop up to the 1960's.
I have sent a mail to Singer hoping they have something in their archives.

 

[Twodogs]

Fantastic ...living history right there .......

 

[Macaroon]

This is what's known as a "Patcher", and it's notoriously difficult to find any info. on them; I've just shown the picture to an elderly neighbour who worked all his life with harness for the working horses and the boots and leather gear the men who worked them used to wear. He says that's the machine they always used to patch riding boots, neck collars which needed re-padding and any tubular-shaped items, including non-leather items.
He doesn't know any specifics about that machine in particular but warns that they were well known for the fact that you had to set them up to use fairly light thread to suit the job you needed them for, and then leave them that way to do that job; almost impossible to change without calling in a specialist for a full set-up if you changed anything. The chap they all used was based near here but died about five years ago and he doesn't know of anybody else with the knowledge and skill required for these.

Personally, I would look at the American vintage saddle restoration sites, there's a wealth of knowledge there and it's a big thing stateside. I hope you find what you need, it's a great machine

 

[Skaukraft]

Thanks for the info.
Sounds like I'm on to quite a challenge here...

 

[Twodogs]

Adds to the fun though

 

[Skaukraft]

Your tip about the saddle restoring forum payed of Macaroon.
It is a 34K. The biggest column sewing machine made by Singer. It was produced approx 500 of these in the end of the 1800's and beginning of 1900's.