"It's Purple!" Kenmore 158.321

That was the first comment from my daughter when she saw me working on this Kenmore 158.321 sewing machine.

Little treasures

I look forward to rummaging through the little things that come in the drawers or compartments of sewing machines and bags of accessories I acquire. Below are a couple things that came in a White Rotary I recently brought home.

First is a Singer needle threader, number 36806. I'd guess this is from the 1930s. Interesting thing, it comes with two replacement hooks secured to the handle. Now someone was thinking when they did that.

My very own Singer Featherweight

At last, I've acquired a Singer Featherweight. Ok, so it's not THAT Featherweight. This is a model 322, not the coveted model 221. I can at least say I own a Featherweight though...

Singer made a boo-boo

I worked on a Singer 360 tonight. It is one of five machines I picked up at a Goodwill a couple weeks back.

Here's a new one. Bernina 730

New to me, that is. I purchased my first Bernina yesterday. A 730 Record. Or is it Record 730? I don't know. According to the manual, it is a Bernina-Record Model 730, so I guess I still don't know what's right. Ah well, no biggie. I'll just continue to call it a Bernina 730. About the only other major sewing machine make I haven't picked up yet is Elna. I passed up an Elna SU at the local thrift store for $25 but it had some issues. In hindsight I should have bought it. I went back a couple days later but it was gone.

As I said, I'd never laid hands on a Bernina prior to yesterday, and I had to patiently wait the drive home to delve into what makes a Bernina tick. I'd heard and read that Berninas were some of the best machines out there. Now it was my turn to see why.

Ok, this is getting a little out of hand. Singer sewing machines.

Hit Goodwill again last night. 50% off blue tags. Two sewing machines with blue tags (actually three but I was only interested in two). What do those facts equal? Another couple machines to add to the mix. And I still haven't come close to going through the machines from the last two Goodwill buying sprees. Plus I have a Singer 758 that is causing me heartache. It won't do buttonholes. It only goes in reverse. I've found the mechanism that I'm guessing needs adjusting but haven't gotten it dialed in yet. Not enough time in the day with work constantly getting in the way. Retirement will be nice.

But on to the two new additions... Both Singers, one is a 101 from 1929 and the other is a 750 from about 1973.

Fixing an old Singer 'carbon pile' foot control

Tonight I was working on a Singer 758 sewing machine. This machine looks to have been used very heavily. I adjusted and oiled it, then noticed the foot control was one of those that is either on or off, no variable speed in between. The machine has two speeds but having variable speed control would still be nice to have, so I ventured into the depths of the foot control.

The ubiquitous Singer clamshell controller...

Addiction

People may think I'm addicted to buying sewing machines. Nothing could be further from the truth. Well, ok, maybe it's a small addiction. The last couple days I hit three or four thrift stores in the area and I came home with 5 machines. But on the flip side, I left another 7 or 8 on the shelves. I think I deserve kudos for that minor feat of self-control. Here is a nice portrait of the new additions.

Goodwill...

Can you say "Half Off Everything Sale"? Well, a couple Goodwill stores in the area had just such an event the day after Christmas this year. Not the sort of thing a sewing machine nut of my calibre (caliber?) can pass up. And wouldn't you know, they had some sewing machines. Seven to be exact. The rest of the family knows with certainty now that I am quite nuts. But enough of me, on to some photos...

Here goes nothing

My first official blog... and it is about the ubiquitous Sewing Machine of all things. Other hobbies of mine have come and gone, so this one may or may not last. Only time will tell.