There's always been something quite special about creating clothes with a good ole' vintage sewing machine. Perhaps it's the idea that you're partaking in a fragment of history…or maybe it's the fact that your vintage sewing machine was originally owned by your great-grandmother and has been passed down to your grandmother, your mother and now to you!
Indeed, when you sew with a vintage sewing machine, you're definitely linking up with a piece of history…and using this equipment from the past somehow nurtures the soul. You see, you’re not only connecting with people who have used the machine before but also with those who have manufactured it with honor and pride.
Vintage Sewing Machines Are a Dime A Dozen
When I say vintage, I refer to sewing machines that are at least forty years old…and if you are not one of the lucky ones who inherited a vintage sewing machine, don’t fret, because you can now buy them online at a price of $75 or less and this may already include shipping. Garage sales and your local thrift store may also sell them for an affordable price and the most popular brands are Singer, Kenmore, and Viking.
You just have to make sure that you buy one that is still fully functional, so it is best to ask the seller for a stitch sample when you make your purchase on eBay or Craigslist where plenty of vintage sewing machines are sold. When shopping, here’s a word of advice, if you buy on Craigslist you can check and test the machine first so this is quite ideal: and I promise you, that distinctive feeling of reaching out to the past will still be quite palpable.
Making A Practical and Green Choice
It is a well-known fact that vintage sewing machines are mechanically less complex than the new models; as such, they don't break down as easily and are easier to repair, making them perfect for beginner sewists. Also, because they don't have motherboards and computer circuits that can break down, vintage sewing machines are much cheaper to maintain. After having it refurbished, all you need is regular oiling, sometimes a minor tune up and you’re good to go for a long time to come.
Many vintage sewing machines are equipped with the same parts as the new models, like bobbins, presser feet, and needles. Accessories for vintage sewing machines which are manufactured by famous brands like Singer, Kenmore, and Viking aren't that difficult to find; plus if you really think about it, not much has changed when it comes to basic sewing machine equipment, making it a very practical choice.
Many sewists probably don't realize that using a vintage sewing machine means being environmentally friendly too. Faced with the stark reality that our planet’s resources are not finite, recycling a vintage sewing machine by giving it a new life is a kind of recycling that certainly benefits nature.
Easy to Use and Durable
Unlike the new sewing machine, a vintage sewing machine isn't equipped with a myriad of stitch functions and a computer board, so it's relatively easy to use. With no electronic parts to deal with, anyone, like you and me, can take a vintage sewing machine apart for cleaning and then assemble it back. With just a few hooks to deal with, threading is also a simple process. The rest of the parts, like presser feet, bobbins, and tension function like those in modern machines and don't need a lot of attention.
If you find any machine that's forty years old and beyond and it still functions, this is already tangible proof of its durability. The same can be said about vintage sewing machines. Remember that most of these machines were top of the line in design and production and that is the reason why they still function to this day. Just like vintage cars, they are made of a more durable metal material as opposed to their modern, plastic counterpart.
If you're concerned about what can and can't be done with a vintage machine, think back to the fact that housewives were using these machines to make complicated fashions for the whole family and fashions have, in fact, not become more complex over time.
Elegant and beautiful, vintage sewing machines are classically colored black, white or tan. They have simple curves, bare exteriors and enamel coatings that make them appealing to the eyes. Equipped with solid parts that fit well together, they sit on hinges that will allow you to tip them back and expose their base or underside. They make beautiful consistent stitches and are extremely reliable. Their allure is actually not only emotional and sentimental, it is also aesthetic and practical, and this makes a vintage sewing machine simply irresistible.
Please share your thoughts and experiences with vintage sewing machines in the comments below. Why not leave a pic of your vintage machine for everyone to admire?
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I have a lovely old Singer treadle machine. Alas, the pitman was broken when a particular teenager maliciously assaulted the machine. As far as I can determine, the pitman is a unique length, and so I’m having a devil of a time trying to find a replacement. But I’m hanging on to the machine in hopes that it can once again be functional. (sigh)
I inherited my grandmother’s 1921 singer 66 red eye treadle and I love it! It sews right through everything like butter. Took me a bit to get the treadling down but now i can do it with only one foot. I cleaned it up and oiled it and it sews like a dream. I also have a few attachments and bobbins. I much prefer it over my newer computerized machine.
I went down the rabbit hole of VSMs last year and haven’t touched my modern machine since! I’ve got a White straight stitch called Kit (my powerhouse for layers of leather and heavyweight fabric for bag making), a Kenmore 158.1754 called Peppermint Patty (my go -to machine), a Necchi BU Nova called Lucrezia ((she needs rewiring so haven’t used her yet), and a Greyhound R (not yet named and also needs wires). I’ve also got a vintage Universal serger called Mabel that I just need to get needles for. I love all my old girls!
My mother in law gave me Aunt Charlotte’s Singer Featherweight, I think from 1948. Reconditioned and sews like a dream. It is dependable when my new machine struggles with a task. Sews the straightest seam I’ve ever seen. I named her Charlotte, of course!
https://www.novamontgomery.com/singer-featherweight-221-serial-numbers-and-production-dates.htm
This web site can zero in on the year of your Charlotte.
Like Bonnie, I have too many to show. While I have some modern machines, I much prefer my vintage machines because they are much better made & have fewer maintenance problems. They are heavy, and the worst thing is to drop them, so I always use a wheeled cart to move them around. I have old featherweights, Berninas, & many others. I love them all & rotate them so as to keep them happy. Vintage machines like being kept in service.
My Mother bought me a vintage 1928 Singer machine back in 1964 and I still use it today. It is really fast for sewing long straight lines. When I use it I feel like I am driving a vintage car. I love that it has tons of attachments but haven’t used a lot of them. It also has the instruction book along with all the attachments and the original oil can plus the original carry case. Love my little 12 lb. Singer!
I have two vintage machines, and I love them both. One is a Singer Slant-Needle Rocketeer, built in 1962; the other is a Singer heavy-duty machine, built in 1967. I got the Rocketeer on eBay from a guy who thought he was doing the right thing when he gave it a good cleaning (good) and then oiled it with…wait for it…3-in-1 oil (very bad, because it gummed up the machine and eliminated all decorative stitches and reverse). Once it was cleaned again and oiled properly, it’s a dream machine! Olden is golden! These machines have endured the decades because they made of heavy, metal parts. If I had room, I’d collect them, also.
I have a Rocketeer also that came in a gorgeous full sized desk. Out of my 15 vintage machines it’s my favorite! ❤️❤️❤️
I have a vintage machine from every decade since the Featherweight (1922) up to the 1980s (is that vintage? LOL) The little Featherweight is my machine of choice for quilting work, and the 1950s Iron Giant Singer sewed vintage heavyweight velvet curtains for a church window that was 20 feet x 10 feet. You can imagine how heavy that was! And it plowed through it like butter! 🙂 Love the old machines.
I learned to sew on a very old Singer featherweight that was my mother’s before me. I dated from the early 1940’s. After her death, the machine passed on to me. In the early 1980’s, I loaned it to my mother-in-law and while in her care it was destroyed when her house burned to the ground. Sometime around 2010 or so a friend found a duplicate of my mother’s machine, in good working order, and passed it along to me. I still use it from time to time as it is a joy to sew with. The feed is smooth, the motor quiet and the needle and thread seems to sing through whatever material I am using at the time. The only fault I find is that it will not sew easily through triple thickness of denim or leatherette fabric. But for those jobs I have a heavy duty Dressmaker machine. My little Singer does not do any fancy stitches, it is straight stitch only, but pound-for-pound, this nearly 80-year old machine still holds her own. People back then knew how to make things that lasted. Thank you for reading my story.
What a beauty! ! ! ! ! You are very lucky to have this one! Thank you for sharing!
I have 5 vintage machine and loved sewing on it. I have a thing about asking my machines to do more than they are suppose to. They never let you down. The modern are to touchy
I reeeealy love vintage sewing machines and collect them. I’m almost embarrassed to say how many I have now. Here’s a pic of one of my favorites.
Very nice machine!
Lovely!
Hi I have my grandmothers Singer treadle machine! I need a new belt and a book to see how to use all the funky attachments! I did buy a book but, the pictures of do not match the machine I have! So I have a problem trying to wind the bobbin on it! Can anyone help me please?Thank you,Joan S.
I love my older sewing machines. I have 2 Singer treadle machines (201 and 66K), 3 more Singers, a 319K, and 2 “portable” 99Ks, a Borletti, a green Elna Supermatic 2 and the more modern Elna Supermatic 1964. .
Could I please post a brief warning when buying Older machines?
I had Singer machine, 1960’s model, I think – the first that used plastic gears instead of the metal ones. It stopped sewing and when I checked the plastic gears had melted, dissolved, turned to sticky goo. Sadly spare parts are all the same vintage and depending on how they were stored, could be a waste of time and or money.
I love my all metal old machines that use cams for patterns! And my old reliable straight stitchers
My first sewing machine was an old cast iron with the motor exterior mounted, a knee lever and it only ran one way– no reverse! It finally did wear out– the electric motor still ran but wear did have the timing no longer synchronized to sew well. So now, I enjoy a newer model, but often I do stop, lift the lever and spin my work around from habit!
I did search out a newer machine with a vertical bobbin as the old one had. I believe that is a very good simple structure.
Hi Roch, thanks for this and your other comments!
My mother bought me a Kennmore machine when I was 15, let’s see that would have been…….1983. So not really a vintage machine, but getting close. This is still my primary sewing machine. I have a Brother that someone gave me that does all the fancy stitches, but when it comes to plain sewing my Kenmore is my go-to machine. About 10 yrs ago I thought I wanted a knew machine and started looking at the shop where I take my Kenmore to be serviced. The little guy that owns the place told me, “You won’t ever find a better machine than that old Kenmore of yours.” So I changed my mind and am happy I did. Granted it doesn’t do well on knits, but since I don’t sew on knits much I’m ok with that. As long as it keeps running I’ll keep sewing on it.
Indeed Shannon, why fix it if it is not broken? great story 🙂
Loved this article and I really enjoyed reading the comments and heart warming stories. When I started sewing 45 years ago I would never have imagined that I would own more than one machine at any given time. Once that multiple machine bug bites, there is no turning back. I love vintage and modern, electric and hand/foot powered, large and small. I have more machines and accessories than I have space for. Luckily hubby is a modeler and his modeling room is larger and has more stuff in it than my sewing room so no complaining about too many machines happens in my house. One of the things I often do is use my vintage feet on my modern machines, there are just times when they work better for the project at hand.
This is interesting I never heard of using the vintage feet on modern machine, but if it works for you why not? You are a lucky girl to have such space for a formidable collection. If I had the space I probably would too. Thanks for sharing!
I am a bad one to talk to about vintage machines, between my sister and me we have about 0 of them, including tradle machines. One thing I would like to point out for anyone choosing a straight stitch machine, but wanting zz function, there are buttonhole and zz feet you can buy. Just check to see which machines go with which accessories.
You cannot use a “family” short shank zz accessory on a slant or high shank machine. Check the singer and ismaac sites before purchase. Very important.
Indeed Karen, you nail it on the head, low and high shank are the key especially when buying a set of feet online.
I love my vintage sewing machines! I have my Mother and Grandmother’s Singer Treadle machine. I learned to sew on it. It is so quiet and still runs soooo smoothly. I inherited my husband’s Grandmother’s vintage Bernina. It is in a cabinet. She needs a little work as she doesn’t zig zag or make the decorative stitches so will have to be worked on,. I bought a Singer 401 A from Ebay. A wonderful machine! Sews like a dream and is wonderful for thick projects as it is a workhorse. It has cams for lots of decorative stitches. It also has many built in stitches. It was a top of the line machine back in the 60’s. I love it so much that when my 8 year old Granddaughter wanted to learn to sew, I bought her one like it for Christmas. I figured she couldn’t tear it up and it would do basically all she needed to do. I also have modern machines. I love my Janome New Home 4000 sewing machine. It is over 20 years old and has a computer but works wonderfully and is a workhorse. I also have a small Janome 300E for embroidery and a Husqvarna Viking Designer SE for embroidery and sewing. It isn’t the work horse my others are but has a lot of nice newer stitches and a larger embroidery field. I love them all and wouldn’t part with any. I used to wonder how anyone could have soo many machines and now I have a good little collection as well. All are used for different things. I attend quilting and embroidery classes/clubs so take the smaller more lightweight machines to those. I never met my Grandmother as she died when my Mom was 3 yrs old but feel a huge connection to her through sewing,. I was told she was a magnificent seamstress and made all the 7 kid’s clothes without a pattern even. When I sew on her treadle machine I feel like I am spending time with her.
Hi Brenda, I loved your story, thanks for sharing 🙂
WARNING: vintage machines can be addictive. First there’s the sweet Singer 66 that followed you home from a yard sale, then the monthly trips to antique sales that yield the cute little featherweight and the stately Singer 201…then hubby starts helping,calling and asking if I’d like a Wilcox & Gibbs (my gasp of you found one?!? answered that question). oh and never casually comment, I’ve always wanted a treadle or a hand crank, else hubby will find on of each and bring them home (white treadle and singer hand crank)…recently, he discovered that after WW2 airplane designer Messerschmitt started making sewing machines, so now a green Messerschmitt has joined the herd of black Singers….
Andrea, your hubby is awesome! I talk about getting another machine and mine says, “You already have three, why do you need another one?” He just doesn’t understand.
What’s not to love? My cousin has my grandmother’s old treadle Singer and I have my mother’s White brand machine – circa 1940. It’s in it’s own cabinet and it still works smoothly and quietly. They made those babies to last – no “planned obsolescence” (spelling?) back in those days. I learned to sew on it when I was 7 yrs old and made a lot of my own doll clothes. It needs work though – knobs for tension and stitch length have corroded and crumbled off. It needs a new power cord too. The old one is a rubber-like substance which is cracking and no longer safe. This marvelous machine is run with a knee lever and it makes perfect stitches. I was so used to using my knee on this beauty that when my mother gifted me with a wonderful new Kenmore zigzag model around 1968 that I had a terrible time adjusting to using a foot peddle!! I had that machine for years and years and even made two wedding gowns with it. Some years ago one of my former Sunday school students wanted to learn to sew, so I sold it to her for a few dollars. She used it for a long time but her mother thinks she’s done with it so hopefully I can buy it back, have it and my mother’s old White machine refurbished so I can use them. They both have a decent sized harp and would most likely be great for FMQ. I currently own a 20+ year old computerized Baby Lock (which works beautifully) plus a new Brother machine which has a great selection of useful stitches and works VERY nicely but is a bit small for FMQ’g. I also have a nice Euro-Pro serger that I bought about 10 years ago and that works wonderfully as well. I love craft sewing and quilting and with all four machines running I’d be in sewing heaven. I just have to figure out how to get them all in my tiny sewing room!!!
Happy New Year everybody! And keep on sewing!
Hello Sue, your story brought a few tear to my eyes, thanks for sharing, I am happy for you you got your gem back. No matter how tiny your studio might be, what comes out it id what counts. Please do share your projects if you can. kind Regards, and Happy 2017 Sewing year.
I am totally hooked on vintage sewing machines. All of mine are from the 50’s but one and I love every one of them for what they are. The one I use most was built in the 70’s it is a Kenmore. It was on the street in a very nice cabinet. I knocked on the door and inquired about it and they told me to take it away. What a deal! They didn’t have to tell me twice! I took it to a repair shop but all it really needed was oil and a bobbin case which I was glad to to know!
I have four Singers (!); a 201, 306, Touch-n-Sew 640 and Touchtronic 2005. I found the latter two in a thrift store, the 305 I picked up at an estate sale and the 201 was simply given to me as the former owner didn’t like Singers. The Touchtronic needs to go in the shop as it won’t backstitch but the other three work splendidly! The 305 is in a nice cabinet and has all the bells and whistles that could be had at the time! It was sitting in a bedroom and no one would bid on it. I could tell it was the previous owner’s favorite and when no one else loved it I made an opening bid of $5 and got it for that! I confess to being somewhat addicted and will probably collect more. Right now I would love to find a nice little toy machine. My recently refurbished 201 sews beautifully and I am delighted at it’s quaint beauty. She was pretty beat up but not anymore!
Hi Linda, thanks for sharing. I too am a fan of vintage machines.
I have a Singer Touch & Sew 756 from about 1970-that is the copyright for the instruction manual. Works great. I am a beginner and am learning on this machine. Came complete with all the presser feet, etc. The only challenge is that it does not have a free arm. One of my first projects was a tote bacg that I made in a class where the machines used did have free arms. When I made more of the tote bags at home with my machine sewing the perimeter of the top of the bag without a free arm was a challenge. If anybody has any insights on how to get around not having a free arm for this type of thing I’d love to hear them!
If you don’t have a free arm machine, sew from the inside of the bag or garment. That way, the round of the garment is on top of the sewing, not below. Still a bit challenging, but a lot more manageable!
and btw, I have a gorgeous little singer featherweight from 1956, it has the most beautiful straight stitch, it’s perfect for bags and quilts etc. And it’s a tough little baby, I can sew thru 3 layers of leather (the kind from deconstructed coats, wonderful for bags!) I made her a travel case out of an expandable carry-on size suitcase, and she goes every vacation!
Can you Send me a picture please? Sounds like a jem to me. I would love to add the picture to the post.
I have a vintage Franklin in the original fancy cabinet and it is completely intact. It is a treadle with the long bobbin and i even have the feet to make several stitches, such as zigzag, pintuck, hemming and zippers. I LOVE THIS MACHINE!
wow Joan! O would love some picture t add to the article. Can you share a few?
You do learn how to make a French seam when you have one stitch!
The hardest thing with an old machine is that patterns will ask you to use zigzag or special button feet and when you are learning how to follow patterns, it is hard to know what best actions to take. It can be really frustrating. I do wish that tutorials didn’t always have to include these. You also don’t get springs in the feet that make different thickness of fabric easier or allow you to handle knits better. They’re nice, but they are difficult because of these factors. Then again, I’ve only really used a modern machine in junior high (and likely it was “vintage”).
I have an imitation Singer w/shuttlecock, c. 1890s-1910 based on the old manuals and documents you can get online (lots in library collections, which are, v. useful for helping to service). It has one stitch. Going backwards is done by turning things around. I learned on a Singer treadle, so the knee push is easier (though you have to account for the sideways push you might be causing the whole table). I inherited the machine I have and I wouldn’t have a sewing machine if I hadn’t.
I don’t really think of a machine that has a round bobbin as vintage, cause they have all the new-fangled extra tricks. I do think it is not as easy to learn how to sew anything complicated on these machines just because you can’t get the instructions for how to do it.
Last bit: Moving a machine that is so solidly built up and down flights up stairs through many apartments is not such a joy. I love my machine, but there are clear disadvantages.
The Singer company has the owner manuals for all of its past machines as PDFs on their website. It was a great help when I found a 24-7 (1907 or so).
HI Stacia, I think I am jealous. would you be so kind to send me a picture, I would love to put it on this article, I will give you credit of course.
I have 2 vintage machine both singer’s. Now after reading all comments,I know it’s time to see how good they work.One I purchase for 75 dollars in the cabinet,the other was given to me.Now I’m going to be busy. Thank you guys.
I inherited my mother’s Necchi (steel) machine when she passed as I am the only sewer in the family. Not sure how old it is but she sewed all of our clothes on it growing up and her clothes before we came on scene (I’m now almost 63).In 1969 she bought me my very own Universal (steel) machine as she was tired of fighting me for sewing time. I still have both and won’t relinquish them.
This article was a nice find too. Not sure exactly when the vintage machine bug hit me. That is for actually using them versus simply looking at them. (Years ago I found a treadle on a curb, picked it up, , and used it in a hallway for decoration.) No doubt when I married the hubby five years ago it was firmly established for we live off the grid.
Now I have two Singer handrails, one named Tabitha and a Sears Minnesota treadle named Hadassah that I am terribly intimidated by simply because she has a vibrating shuttle. I attempted to sew with her after consulting You Tube on jow to use the VS and no stitch formed ; ( Not knowing what I am doing incorrectly I closed her up and relegated her to the bowels of my sewing trailer on favor of Tabitha.
Now I want to trade her for some other vintage treadle but with a round bobbin. Perhaps I should make it a matter of prayer for I really want to begin using a treadle machine.
Cheers,
Lyric
I have a 1917 66k and a 28k I’m fixing up for my mum from 1905. The 28k uses a shuttle bobbin, originals of which are getting harder to find and my 66k uses a round drop in bobbin that are really easy to find. Both machines were working, just in need of a very good clean and oil. Do not be sucked in when listings on eBay etc state a machine is “rare” (millions were made all over the world in the case of Singer) or “semi industrial” (maybe by today’s standards… yes they will go through thin leather, canvas, denim but use the right needle,and never force it), Neither are true. Don’t pay over the odds either, people list in hope that someone who has not done their research will be looking. Only if a machine is in showroom condition is it worth a lot. The key is, they’re only worth what you are prepared to pay. Treadles cost more than both electric and hand crank (certainly in the UK, thanks I believe to the charlatans that rip the machine out to make “shabby chic” furniture). Mechanical wise they are dead easy to do basic repairs and maintain, but if there are electrics involved and it comes without a certificate to say it’s been recently tested, get it tested before plugging it in. There are many sources of manuals online (ISMACS and the Smithsonian online library are my two best sources). ISMACS (International sewing machine antique collectors) have identification information on their website and there are many other sources if you do a web search.
A scruffy but working hand crank machine can be picked up for a few pounds/ dollars. Parts and accessories for long-standing models are freely available and many can use modern accessories. Set yourself a price after seeing what they sell for and stick to it. Older, rarer machines need non standard needles though these are not going to be machines for everyday use. If you love sewing and sewing machines a vintage machine in your collection is a pleasure to own, so much fun learning, maintaining and researching. Occasionally treasures are found but to me, both old ladies with their worn out decals tell a story of generations of sewers before me and are treasures for that reason.
I’d love an newer (1945-1970) Singer, I’d love a featherweight! But for now my old girls and my modern mechanical will do me fine. I wish I had space for a whole room of vintage machines as I find them fascinating.
I’d urge anyone to pick a vintage machine up, you’ll fall in love and end up spending hours reading and researching and more hours again sewing with it.
The proof of my growing addiction here, after seeing the link to this article from the ‘history of the sewing machine’ piece, I was reminded that since my comment a tan brown 1956 201k has joined the family. I had wanted an electric 1950s machine as I love the styling and this came up locally for £25 last summer, just a few weeks after this post! I’m now totally in love with 201s and I would do dubious things to get hold of an early black cast iron 201k. Sadly due to poor health my 201k has not had her overhaul yet but she’s a priority case soon as I’m up to it. I may be wanting that old black 201k but I still want that featherweight too.
Addictive as chocolate but not as calorific!!!!!
Are you curating a museum? It all sounds very interesting and a must to see if ever around your town. Hope you dont mind I invite myself.
A word of advice for Jessica on her search for a treadle sewing machine. If you plan to sew large volume projects (i.e. quilts), look for a rotary hook treadle. The long bobbins on a vibrating shuttle bobbin do not hold a lot of thread. You will have to be constantly winding thread on the long bobbins. No other complaints, vertical shuttle treadles perform perfectly and have terrific stitches.
For any sewing machine purchase, make sure that you know what type of bobbins, needles, .shuttles you prospective purchase takes, then go online check on replacement availability and cost.
You would be surprised at how many of the non singer treadle machines have specialized requirements that are difficult to obtain.
I love vintage machines, they are far stronger and much more durable thanmodern machines. Whichever vintage machine you decide to buy, do your homework. The internet is a wonderful tool to help you. Many knowledgeable people are generous with their advice. Good luck.
Thank you for this article. I have been sewing since I was a child, and am now 72 years of age. When my grandmother passed I wanted her sewing machine. It is a prior to year 1900 model. I got it and I still have it, don’t use it, but I won’t give it up. I still also have the Singer I received for my high school graduation, plus three other Singer machines, newer models, and a Janome machine. These are my treasures, and I plan on keeping all of them.
Over thirty years ago, when I was expexting my first child, I sent my husband off to a craft fair to sell some items I had woodburned with wildlife scenes.
A bit like Jack and the Beanstalk, he spent the takings on an investment for the future; not magic beans, thank goodness, but a hand cranked Singer Sewing machine.
In the many years since, I have loved and used the machine gratefully.
I made babyclothes and home accessories galore silently, when babies were sleeping.
The machine starred in a school Victorian Day event.
I took the machine to use when volunteering with craft sessions locally and could set up anywhere without worrying about finding a power socket.
When the weather is nice, I can sew in the garden without trailing cables or making any noise.
Lovely, lovely thing.
My sister-in-law convinced my parents to buy me a sewing machine for my high school graduation. Previously,I had been using a Singer that my mom and grandmother had used for decades. Although I was grateful for my gift, I must admit I was bummed at the time to see my classmates receive cars instead! My Pfaff quickly became my most prized possession, and it lasted 30 years. Since my local dealer wanted $100 just to diagnose it, my husband bought me a new machine. The new one has many more bells and whistles, but I long for the simplicity of the older machines. I’m a bit of a purist, as Grandma taught me that hems, buttonholes, and embroidery must be sewn by hand. She also decreed that “garments should be as pretty on the inside as they are on the outside,” so I certainly was held to a high standard. (Every time I see a quilt with unfinished edges, I imagine the poor woman spinning in her grave!). Thanks for the article; you have rekindled my desire to make my older machine functional again:)
Thanks Rosemary. The new machines just never seem to be as good.
I live in Spain and inherited my mother-in-law’s Singer that she got when she was married 1937. It was made in Scotland. I use it very often and. I would never change it for a new one.
I have a 1947 Featherlite which sews beautifully and my husband recently came home with a Singer treadle machine which was made in 1919. I have cleaned It all up and it looks great. It has all the extra feet and attachments with it. The belt needs to be tightened and then she will be ready to go. They really are lovely machines and I’m sure my very expensive Husqvarna embroidery machine will not stand the test of time as well as these.
I have two 50 year old Singer sewing machines. I call myself a “doll maker” and most of my seams are 1/4 inch. These machines ( “Slant-a-matic” and a 335) have metal parts and sew beautifully. The modern less expensive machines have plastic parts and do not sew as well (I bought one and ended up returning it!). Both of my machines have zig zag capability- which i do use. Do see if you can find one!
Hi Michele, thanks for sharing your comments and happy sewing!
I was incredibly fortunate to discover a 600 series Singer (in a cabinet) at a local
Thrift Store. As soon as I saw it, I had to have it. It is the exact same model my mother had owned, and the machine I learned to sew on, from the age of 10. My husband wasn’t so sure I needed another machine; after all, I have a Singer treadle foot (in working order), a metal Brother about 40 years old, and a computerized Brother with all the fancy stitches. I managed to convince him I “needed” it and somehow, cabinet and all got stuffed in our Honda Civic. All the way home I worried it wouldn’t work. Got it in the house and plugged in the foot control then the power cord. Held my breath and switched on the light – it worked! So far, so good. Long story short – everything worked perfectly, bobbin refill and all. Lots of accessories were still in the cabinet, including bobbins, all the presser feet, and cams for specialty stitches. I felt transported to the past – remembered immediately how everything worked; even the sound was familiar. I particularly enjoy having the large throat for quilting work. I’ve now logged a couple hundred hours on it and it’s running perfectly. The price – including cabinet – a whopping $20.00 – and it was senior’s day – my husband has hit that milestone, so it all cost me $14.00. So, keep your eyes peeled, and you might spot a deal. There’s nothing quite like sewing on a vintage machine, thinking about all the busy hands who worked with it before yours did, and the things it may have helped create.
Hi Mary, thanks for sharing your story. You certainly made a lucky find and got a great deal. Congrats and happy sewing!
I have been wanting to get a treadle machine for such a long time! Do these pros of buying a vintage sewing machine still apply?
I would certainly think so. If a treadle machine has been around this long and is still functioning well, you can probably bet it will continue on for a while more.
Awesome! Let the search begin!
Good luck with your search. I hope you find a wonderful piece of history. Happy sewing!
I picked up a vintage machine with zigzag capability from the late 50’s for $25 in a cabinet from our local goodwill. Spent about $45 for a new potted motor, belt, and electric foot pedal online then spend about an an hour cleaning and oiling everything. Even with my upgrades it’s still less expensive than a buying a new entry level machine!
The biggest surprise is how much quieter it is than the basic brother sewing machine I had been using. Plus with the cabinet it’s a flush sewing surface and I can drop the feed dogs which means I can work on my FMQing.