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KJ Lyons Jan 12, 2009

I think I've told just about everyone about my move, in the middle of the Seattle snowstorm  :doh:  My sewing machine was pulled out of the table in the last minute and just wrapped with cardboard. When it got to the house it was upside down, leaking oil and generally, abused    This is a 31-15 Singer from the late 40's or early 1950's and was used in a NYC sweatshop. IT's had pretty much constant use all it's life. I've had it for over 20 years and all I've ever had to do is change the needles. I've just set it up and added new oil. Amazing, it's quiet and works as strong and as fast as ever. I had to marvel at the machinist who milled the parts for this machine. What craftsmen ! Of any machine we buy now, how many could stand constant use for over 50 years?!
OK, Back to work.....
Karen

Mutz Jan 12, 2009

Karen.

So glad to hear that your sewing machine made it through your move!  I have an old sewing machine too.  It is a Singer 401A that my Grandma bought on installments for $449.50 in 1958 (I still have the receipt). I have always loved the fact that I use the machine that my Grandma taught me to sew on  when I was a little girl. And I agree, I don't think that newer machines could cope with the use and abuse that older machines constantly perform under. 

I hope you machine continues on for another 100 years!

Amy

TamiL Jan 13, 2009

thats great, they sure don't make things like they use to!

WildThyme Jan 13, 2009

You gotta love the pride of craftmanship that is so obvious in those older machines.  Now that many of the less expensive (and even mid range) machines are made of plastic, it's actually practically cheaper to replace them than to fix them!   :doh:   Seriously!  I hand sew, so I rarely use a machine for anything bear related, but I bought a basic Singer model for something like 100.00.  A couple years down the road I needed to have it serviced and they wanted like 75 bucks and two weeks to do it.     I actually ended up just buying another cheapy.   :doh:   Those of you who use a machine to sew their bears... I don't blame you one bit for hanging onto those wonderful old machines.   :hug: 

Kim Basta

Plum Cottage Bears Cute Animal AmbassadorJan 13, 2009

Karen, I'm glad your old faithful sewing machine made it through the move as good as ever.  The machinists who put together those machines were indeed craftsmen.

customteddys Jan 13, 2009

I was wondering what kind of sewing machines (those of you who use machines)other bear makers use. I have an old Singer Diana that I bought over 30 years ago. I can't tell you how many bears she has sewn together and is still going strong.      hats off to those good old machines      Vicki

doodlebears Celebration AmbassadorJan 13, 2009

Thank goodness your old pal is OK Karen, they really did make things to last in the past, whereas things made today seem to be built to fail after a short lifespan. I bought a sewing machine in 1977 and it works perfectly, it is also quite heavy so no jumping around the table like the one my daughter bought a short time ago.

Hugs, Jane.     

Laurie Brady Jan 13, 2009

My mother gave me her Elna, bought in the 50's.  It was an amazing machine, until the flood that is .  My heart was broken.  But, my mother-in-law had the same exact machine and  I now use it,  :dance: along with an old singer from the 50 - 60's.

I love, love, love my machines and can appreciate the anxiety you must have felt when you found yours in that conditon.  Glad everything has worked out.

-Laurie

elle Jan 13, 2009

Hi Karen,  so glad your wonderful machine made it through the move!!  Those old commercial machines are powerhouses.  They go so fast, though, it's a little scary to me.     Here's a Youtube video of someone making a pair of doll jeans on a commercial machine (at least I think it's commercial by the sound and speed - it's a Juki, but you can't see too much of the machine in the video).   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11u0_oroBKE

I have a newish BabyLock that I bought mainly because you can start and stop sewing by pressing a button instead of using the foot pedal.  I have problem knees, and pressing down on the foot pedal for any length of time was painful.  I think there may be one or two other brands that have this feature.  You can also set it so the presser foot automatically comes up when you stop and needle is in fabric.  I use this all the time for doing curves and corners.

I also have an old Pfaff that is wonderful and a super heavy Viking from around 1980 that is very powerful.  I still miss my old Bernina that I sold.

Hugs,

Ellen

KJ Lyons Jan 13, 2009

Ellen,
You thought that was fast. Whoa, you should see how fast my machine is for straight stitching. Having the foot pedal and knee pedal for curves makes sewing very easy. I use a lot of heavy fur and even leather and with home machines I was always breaking needles(Made me a nervous wreck sewing through thick seams waiting for the needle to snap ) and I had skipping stitches because the machine couldn't handle the thick material. Luckily I was in NYC and a dealer with the old industrial machines recommended the 31-15. It's also pretty good with the small stitching I use making the kitten faces. BUt I think if you sew costumes or a lot of delicate details something like a Bernina with the "Bells and Whistles" would be useful. For costumes I do a lot of hand sewing.
Karen