Tuesday, September 13, 2011

My Sewing machine collection


My Sewing machine Collection

9SEP
have actually come to a halt for the time being in my collection because my husband made me aware of the fact we were running out of room !:)  Many currently are packed up and it would take awhile for me to unpack and take photo’s of them .
Once we are in our new home that we purchase next year, if the 2011 Sonata does not need to be in the garage during the winter then my husband is letting me have the garage as my sewing room .
Okay this probably seems strange to you ! the garage as the sewing room ! Well you see I have TWO  INDUSTRIAL machines!
A singer sewing machine and a Juki serger ! They are heavy  and if you don’t believe me you can come by and try to lift them ! It takes about 4 men (with a lot of muscle to move one machine ) and a moving van ! No their not the type of machines you can place in your mini van and happily move it to their new location . My husband idolizes me , truly ….hence my large as anything dreams always come true :) I am a lucky girl  …with an adoring husband and a sweet  little boy !
I am not sure if I can name every machine I have but the ones that I can remember , besides the industrial are:
One – Kenmore 
The Kenmore .She does a good selection of stitsches.Which to be honest I don’t use . Easy to thread .Dual needle .
I use her to when I go to my friends homes.We sometimes get together just to have sew alongs and talk .
I had purchased her in 1996 .I still have the receipt for her. I can not believe I paid 500 for her back then .Unlike my older machines I have now ,not saying their is anything wrong with her but I would only pay the most 40.00 for her ,now ..LOL I think I may be bias against new machines !!!
Two – of the most wanted 221k  feather weights… and yes they are both from the 1930′s made in Kilowbie , Scotland in mint condition .And both have that wanted attractive scroll work on the faceplate. I had a third I had in my collection when I had started feeling bad .I felt like I was a hoarder !!! LOL  the man in British Columbia was so excited when he received it .It seemed like he was a collector himself  and was impressed I actually knew the proper way to ship the machine unlike a few he had purchased that all arrived damaged because of sellers who were not properly educated .
The Singer Featherweight portable sewing machine is a model made by that company between 1933 and 1964. The machine (model 221), adapted from an earlier portable, the Standard SewHandy (which company was bought out by Singer) weighs about 11 pounds and has been found to be an ideal machine for quilters and other sewers to take to classes or “on location.” Very quiet and sturdily made with all-metal parts (mostly aluminum), the Featherweight sews only straight stitches but it sews them very well. Even the oldest machines, if they’ve been cared for, still sew wonderfully.
The Featherweight came in a standard black model made in the U.S. Those made before World War II (and apparently a few after the war) had an attractive “Egyptian Scrollwork” pattern on the faceplate, while most of those made after the war had a simple, striated pattern of vertical stripes. They were further decorated with gold decals and the Singer name, but nowhere do they say “Featherweight” on them.
I also have all the attachments and manuals with both of these machines. Even the one I sold had everything .with them 
I was able on the internet to help a few people who had attachments who were puzzled in what they were for and how they were actually used on the machine 
One -222 featherweight
This is my treasure and my prize! I can see where she is packed but to get her would be to pull many boxes .With my luck the boxes would be on top of me and I feel a little too pushy to ask my husband to take them down because I need a photo shoot with it . So I will just paste a link to the info on them here .With the future a plan to post her on my blog .
TWO- Husqvarana’s 19e and 21 a
The two I have look similar. I have the 19 e and 21a. She has a free arm and a removable table. Very handy is the reduction gear which let’s you sew slow even though the motor is at full rev and thus very strong. Very suitable for thicker materials and/or many layers of material.
non block rotating hook mechanism, which makes the machine very suitable for darning and free hand embroidery.A drop feet machine .
They are made entirely out of metal unlike the newer ones of today ,hence a heavy but durable machine !They are made in Sweden and make for an excellent stitch !
unlike the 19 e model my 21 is capable of doing many various stitches it is complete with cams !You can switch from one pattern to another with the machine RUNNING but if the machine is stopped, then you have to set the stitch width control to zero first.
They are green Beauties :) :) Now don’t go green with envy from them !
Singer 401 
I truly love this machine .Not only is she a work horse .She sews with a whisper very smoothly !
Funny I hear people speak about just buying a sewing machine that does so many stitches , well did you know their were quite a few machines in the past that already covered that ? Besides the ones that you can do with out extra cams , she does a a good amount on her own . I have though all the cams in my collection ! What sort of a collector would I be if I did not ? And yes with the 401 you can also use two needles .
  • Full aluminum body, flat bed
  • Weight – about 22 pounds
  • Bobbin – class 66
  • Needle system – standard household sewing machine needles (15×1, 130/705H)
  • Hook style – horizontal rotary
  • Motor size – about 0.7 amps
  • Drive system – gear (no belt)
  • Slant shank
  • Built in cam stack with zigzag and decorative stitch capabilities
  • Adjustable presser foot pressure
  • Elevator style throat plate – lifts up for darning and free-motion work – feed dogs don’t drop
  • Light at the front of the machine
  • Original foot controller- carbon pile, button style
  • Adjustable stitch length and full reverse
  • Adjustable needle position
  • Adjustable stitch width
  • Uses standard, home sewing machine needles (15×1,HAx1, 130/705H, SY2020..)
  • Twin needle and double needle capable
The appeal with the 401 apart from it’s sturdy build and all metal construction, drop in bobbin and smooth rotary
hook, is it’s ability to produce many decorative stitches with the built-in cam stack and additional, external cams.
stitsch pattern chart
My Own 401 Beauty ~!
By the way my 401 ,she is a durable “Diva” she was actually rescued from years in a barn . It actually took no time to get her purring ! In fact all I did was plug her in !:) I think she was waiting 60 years for me to be born and to be in my hands ! LOL…
When this was made in the 50′s it was marketed as the only slant machine that was ever built,that out sews all others in both zig zag and fancy stitch and trust me after so many decades it still does ! If you do not believe me you are welcome to come by and try her out ! I just checked her value on ebay …in good condition ..which she is certainly in  they go from the 200′s to 300′s and that is not including all the accessories I have for her .But she is not for sale !!!!
Singer 99k
  

Bonnieres (France) 1950 -60

(french ) 191b (the mystery gal)
Well for those of you who do not know “Singer ” has an excellent date service ) And “no” you can not find a man on it !:) Before some of yo contact me for their number!:)That is how I have been able to find out for many of my machines the year and date their serial batches were made on .But you see they themselves do not have a full history on many due to the war and other events (like the burning down of  their headquarters in one year )many records that were lost .On my french 191b they have admitted  that they have no records for her :( :( but what I can tell  is she can sew though leather like most of the “singer” old gals like if it was butter!:) If anyone finds more info on her let me know!!! I searched the internet  and the ones who have this machine are also in search of info ,like myself .
Singer 185k
once again for those who do not realize it for Singer ,the “k” at the end of certain models just means that this one was specifically made in kilowbie, Scotland. She has a captivating mint green .
they were 3/4 size machines but still very heavy ,unlike featherweight which are known as the quilter’s dream.
My Babylock embroidery machine-what I should say is I really need to find the time to use her more often !
Which I will once I have a good sewing room set up again . She comes with her own scanner for custom designs :)
Actually she is an amazing machine .Really embroidery machines just work by themselves .You place the cards in and watch them go at it :) As you can see I have her under wraps stored.
The Brother Quattro 6000
I picked this beauty up at the sewing craft show. She has an electronic eye for embroider and does 4d. She was purchased for 7,000. I know a little crazy,but that is considered a great deal on her .But for those of you who do not know , an issue with my husband is once he knows I want something he buys it for me . I really have to watch what I say at times !
Well winter is coming and hopefully my” etsy” store will be back running .I have almost made back the money on my machines .I see them as investments !
Because their is so much features to her , I am just placing a link
Singer Industrial 211G
This industrial machine will sew a  little more then a half of an inch thick .Good for leather work
Their is about two dozen points in this machine to be lubricated.It is an industrial so does not have it’s own self lubrication system.Technically it should be lubricated daily :( yikes I know lol
Sadly due to it’s heaviness both my industrial are in my mom’s garage for now.And no matter what I try to tell my mother  she is a stubborn woman who does not listen to anyone but herself or cares to .I have issues with this for many reasons and she keeps piling her Junk on my beautiful machines:( I can not wait to rescue them next year

My Industrial Serger 

Juki MO-3700 Series High-Speed Overlock

provides consistent thread tension even when running at high speed, thereby contributing to improved productivity. With its low-noise and low-vibration mechanisms, a quiet working environment is assured. The machine has been developed so that soft stitches with a good feel can be created. Easy maintenance.
Here is the joke . I needed to get a copy of the maual .I contacted juki’s head office seems they do not keep manuals after a couple of years :( !!!! Except for their service manual /repair.  But I was lucky I found an amazing family business.
Paul Garde they have been running a family business for more the 60 years .He gave me a manual for free :)
   

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