just dropping in to report…
i may or may not have put a deposit down on a singer featherweight yesterday :X
MY BAD.
my bad
27 Dec- Comments 22 Comments
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well i must say, in catching up:
1. bully for you!
2. you make awesome shit.
3. your boyfriend is HAWT.
4. i’m glad it went bright green.
Congratulations! They are beautiful machines and who can beat a 60+year warranty that they still give out today. This will look gorgeous in your adorable sewing room 🙂
Oh and “YEA” for finding the right kiwi green lining. I’m wondering if Mood just has an overstock of a bad dye batch. I got a sample from Fabric Depot and it looks like the picture. Definitely a yellow/green. Good to hear Vogue has it too and at the same low price! Can’t wait to see your finished coat!!
Well, that is definitley a bad thing happenign to good people! Envy…feeeel it coursing toward you.
Is this like Bizarro World where “my bad” really means “this is the coolest thing I have done for myself this year?” I think so. That is a beautiful little gal.
Oh boy. Is it wrong that I’m salivating?
I’m clueless. What’s the featherweight all about?
it’s kind of got a cult following – especially with quilters & vintage/antique sewing machine enthusiasts. it’s just a really nice, solid machine, with a beautiful straight stitch that can sew through pretty much anything. and they are tiny, although the whole “featherweight” thing is a bit of a stretch – they are made of metal, so they are still pretty heavy!
I mentioned to my mother-in-law that I’d like to have an old Singer and she told me she had a few in storage. Turned out she had a 1901 treadle machine and a 1952 model 15. Both are beautiful and we’re cleaning them up right now. Problem is, the treadle machine wasn’t in a table, and the model 15 is missing the power cord. Guess I have some googling to do, huh?
^Heather!^ There are tons of parts out there for older Singers! If you can’t find a treadle cabinet that you are happy with, that head will slide into a case and convert to an electric if you are so inclined. And, the power cord for the model15 should be readily available on EBay.
Lauren, congrats! I’m glad you’ve found your machine!
Thanks for your help! I didn’t know the treadle machine could be converted. I’m searching for a power cord now.
ah man, i’m jealous of your machines! don’t you love it when things work out like that, though? 😉 hope you can find the pieces you need!
I run a converted 1905 Singer, it was commonly done in the twenties and later, as electrification spread. Sewing shops did it with genuine parts that Singer manufactured. Other companies piggybacked on the Singer popularity and made compatible parts, too. Generally, the hand wheel was replaced with a lighter version, the body was drilled to accept the motor mount and a light that was designed to clamp in with the back access plate was added. The head was slid into a case that was designed with the same mounting hardware that the treadles had, a belt was added from the new motor to the hand wheel and the pedal and power cord were plugged into the base of the case.
I have seen all of these items on EBay. But, I’m not sure if it would be harder to find the treadle cabinet you are after or to round up a qualified person to do this conversion. You can do a lot of research online, though. There are several dealers on EBay that specialize in antique sewing machine parts and it will help if you know exactly what machines you have, in order to know exactly what you are looking for. You can send your serial numbers off to Singer: talktous@singerco.com and ask them what models your machines are and when and where they were manufactured. (You might do this too, Lauren!) It’s likely that they will come back with the exact date of manufacture of your machine; they did with mine. Also available on EBay are repro manuals that will give you all of your part numbers, don’t forget to look for the attachments manuals! Also, you are going to need to know about the Singer shuttles, they made three different versions of the long bobbin style vibrating shuttles and they are not interchangeable.
Also, just today I shopped out the needles for my Singer 27 and my Montgomery Wards treadle, they take the same needle: 126X3 and I’d bet yours will, too. I called Sharp Sewing Supplies (they’re in L.A. and on EBay) and they are ordering them in for me. Once you are sure of what your machines are, you could call them and make sure of what you need. Their customer service was awesome to me. 1-800-225-2983
Lauren, are you interested in this stuff or am I getting too off topic?
oops, sorry i didn’t approve this earlier – for some reason it was lurking in my spam folder? i guess because of the links.
anyway, you are not getting off-topic! i love learning about old sewing machines & doing mods & buying parts 🙂 especially since i am going to need some for my featherweight – at the very least, a new bulb & a pack of bobbins. i’ve got time bc the machine is currently on layaway, but for now i’d like to just get my options all sorted out 🙂
Do you know what all you get with your machine?
This is a seller I ran across while looking at manual repros (I prefer the repros, they’re inexpensive, they’re not precious and you don’t have to worry about damaging them) http://www.ebay.com/sch/april1930s/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686 and she specializes in Featherweights. She might be someone you may be getting to know!
I see she has nice repros of both the general manual and the adjuster’s manual, too. If you aren’t getting a manual and/or attachments with your machine, you could pick up a manual and start shopping out your wish list 🙂
And, while I am at it…here is your ultimate accessory: the folding table designed specifically for your machine.
http://www.jslyle.com/model221.htm
i’m not completely certain… i know the manual is there, because i used it to figure out how to thread the needle (so i could test the stitches – and they are beautiful! yay!). i only saw one bobbin, but those should be easy to obtain more of. there was a whole box of feet, i’m assuming they are all the feet that came with the machine. there was also a box that i think had the buttonholer attachment. pretty sure there were extra needles in there too. oh, and the case – with the handles & latches intact 🙂
That is really good news! It’s sounding like it got a lot of love. Often, sellers separate the parts and sell them independently. How very, very cool if yours is coming to you as a package.
The machine is a beauty. Repect! lol
Ooohh!! That’s beautiful!! The only “bad” thing would have been if you didn’t buy it!!
I have a machine similar to that that belonged to my Granny. It folds down into a wooden table. I always remember in being in my Granny’s, I was always fascinated and it was a real treat to get playing with it. 🙂 It now lives in my house, and I wouldn’t be parted with it. Sadly, I don’t use it because there’s no power going to the foot pedal, but I also have my Granny’s newer, and easier to use, machine.
Good luck with yours!
Once you go vintage sewing machine it is hard to go back.So glad you have the manual. Finding manuals is like a treasure hunt for some models. I had to laugh at your other post about the Pfaff and Janome. I really enjoy my Janome Memory Craft, but yes after sewing with my vintage machines I do notice how it shakes.No matter, it’s still my buddy.
Enjoy!
That is awesome! I love antique sewing machines. My grandmother has at least three, and they’ve always been her favorite to use. They just don’t build ’em like they used to.