She is in a Cabinet Table number 2 with 5 plain fronted drawers.
Her decorations are the Egyptian Lotus, mostly intact but with some loss where the original owner would have wrapped a cloth around the arm to put her pins in whilst she was sewing.
I call her "Nellie" after another famous Australian singer. She sews well, and is kept in the lounge room all threaded and ready to go. My DH likes to do minor sewing jobs on her as she is so simple.
Then in 2012 I bought a 1989 model Bernette 440 when my modern computerised sewing machine had to go to get repairs, and I couldn't imagine having a month or more without sewing. Now, I know that a 26 year old machine is hardly "vintage" but she gets in this list because she is a fabulously simple and well made machine which purrs along beautifully. Bernette went to a happy home recently because I have a new machine and thought this was just 'one too many'.
This is my 1954 Singer 306K which came home from church during a clean-out. I got her to work, but her wiring is a bit frayed so I have been waiting to get her to the repair shop for some work.
We got her working with a new pedal -she is a bit of a workhorse by reputation-very strong and able to sew multiple layers of fabric. It has a big harp so is a great quilter, with a low shank walking foot. I have got some special needles for her -that is the only thing -she needs special short needles.
She has been serviced recently and is doing well. Her name is Nina after Nina Simone, a singer of her era.
My Aunt bought this 1936 Singer Hand Crank sewing machine when she was 21 years old. She paid it off one shilling per week. When she came to Australia this lovely machine came too. Now it lives with me. Pristine condition, works like a dream.
I used to have a 328 sewing machine made in Australia. She is beige and built like a tank!
Apart from the fact that her plastic lid cover has a bit which is melted (!?!) and she has lost the covers which would have been cushioning the feet on her base, she is in great working order. Here she is in operation on my "Mountains of Mordor" quilt top.
In September 2017 I passed her on to a young person who is learning to sew, and I hope they are a good team.
NEW 401 -bought for $50 on 16 April 2023
The Best Machine Ever Built
The Best Machine Ever Built
I have added to the vintage fleet- a Singer 401, reputedly the 'best machine ever built". Advertised online, she was absolutely filthy, but I have cleaned her up and sorted a thread tangle in the bobbin area. I still need to sort the tension out, but I have a service manual and a YouTube clip to watch, so I have hopes of getting this done without a trip to a repair shop, but we will see.
The 401 was built in the late 1950s or early 1960s. It has an inbuilt not a potted motor. Five 'top hat" cams. Many, many stitch combinations. Drop in bobbin. A feed dog raise/lower lever. It takes a 15 x 1 needle.
Recently I found a retired sewing machine mechanic who serviced this machine and it sews like a dream!
DH built a box for it so that it sits flush with the sewing table extension he made for me.
Now, this is a very fine machine, and I love the knee lift on it too.
1 comment:
These are wonderful - my mother still has her 1940's Singer and it has a knee lever instead of an electric foot control. The knee lever clicks into a key mechanism in the base of the machine to regulate the speed.
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