Vintage Sewing Machines
Click on the images to view sewing machine details
This is a 1923 Singer 127-3 treadle with the Memphis Sphinx decals. There is some damage to the decals on front near the Singer name because of pins. Beyond that the decals are in beautiful condition. Manufactured in St. Jean, Quebec, there are many of these still around in Canada. It is a vibrating shuttle machine and the shuttles and bobbins are still readily available. The 5 drawer treadle cabinet is in excellent condtion and pretty enough to deserve a place in the dining room. (When the machine is folded down the surface serves as an excellent buffet table.) Treadling is easy with a little practice. Once you get the momentem going it goes non-stop. That's why I like this machine for when I sew large objects. I wouldn't use it for doll clothes or other tiny items. It has an incredible amount of power and can sew with heavy-duty thread and through several layers, so it is great for upholstery materials and denim. Recently, it effortlessly plowed through six layers of upholstery fabric. For more pictures, click on photo.
This is a German vibrating shuttle 3/4 size sewing machine probably made in the late thirties. The bobbin winder, to me, seems very primitive yet oddly, the machine can sew in reverse - Singer didn't do that until much later!. Also nice is that it can function with Singer needles. The only indication that is is German is the ruler embedded in the wooden base and the sliding lid on the storage unit. It has a gorgeous coffin case with a skeleton key. It was made for export to England and since things German were not particularly popular at the time, no markings of origin exist - a stealth hun machine!!. (I'm still researching the manufacturer.) The plate on the base says, "S. Jackson & Co, Bradford Warehouse, Shipley". This was the British distributer. When I brought the machine home, I was delighted to discover that the storage unit it the base contained extra needles, a needle plate, bobbins and shuttle, a tension spring and extra rubber bobbin winder rings (sadly degraded; rubber is time-sensitive) as well as other sewing notions whose manufacture indicates that the machine spent its early days in northern England before the owner emigrated to Canada. Judging by the age of the notions, the machine does not seem to have been used beyond the forties. It was stored in a safe, dry environment and is in excellent condition. For more pics, please click on image.
This is a a Singer 28 vibrating shuttle machine from 1918 and was manufactured in Elizabeth, New Jersey. When my husband got it for me it was actually an electric. These early electrics are quite rare - being extremely expensive at the time (about one month's wages), most people bought treadles or handcranks - after all, the rich didn't need to sew. The incredibly heavy motor was decidedly Edwardian in design and was held on to the machine by a cast iron arm. (I still have the motor so if anyone is interested, contact me.) The wiring was very frayed and exposed and the bakelite plug had a crack so in the interest of safety (My spouse advised me not to risk it!) I converted the machine to a hand crank. Important parts of the tension dial were missing but with the help of some Singer and Jones (English,1898) parts and a heck of a lot of fiddling, it now has a working tension dial. The decals are the Victorian style and are in great condition. For more images click on photo.
This is a 1921 Singer 115-1. It is a rotary hook sewing machine and Singer did not make them for long. It was manufactured in St. Jean , Quebec. The bobbins and bobbin case are unique to this machine and hard to find but Singer Industrial 20U bobbins and bobbin cases work just as well. My husband found this for me at a thrift store in Niagara Falls but the badge on the machine indicates that it was purchased from W.E.Smith Sewing Machines in Ridgeville, Ontario which is just a short drive from our home. It started its 'life' as a treadle and was converted to an electric. Judging by the turquoise colour of the pressed wood case, the motor and the light this occured in the early sixties. My husband fitted the sewing machine with an old Jones' handcrank (some grinding was involved), placed it on a neutral wooden base and now it looks nearly as pretty as it once did. It sews beautifully. Sadly, some of the 'Wing' decals have turned silver because at some time it had been cleaned it with ammonia. I thought hand cranks would be tiring to sew with but I sewed a summer wardrobe for my niece using mostly this machine. Click on photo for more images.
This in a 3/4 size Singer 99 oscillating hook sewing machine. It was manufactured in Kilbowie, Scotland in 1932. It is an electric portable and has a bentwood case. For a portable it is incredibly heavy but then again it is cast iron. Little wonder that the aluminium Featherweights became so popular. All of the parts are still original, including the wiring and the foot pedal. The bobbins for this machine are available in any fabric store. The Filigree decals are in wonderful condition and the machine has very few scratches. It appears the original owner did not 'take' to sewing. Click on photo for more images.
This is a Singer 15J which was manufactured in St. Jean Quebec in 1954. It is an oscillating hook sewing machine. It came with a 3 drawer desk and stool with storage lid and all are in excellent condition. The drawers in the desk contained a buttonholer, a container with sewing machine feet (some of which I have no idea what they're for), notions, bobbins, thread, buttons and even an old Singer 115 treadle manual (I guess the owner upgraded to this machine). Some of the wiring had to be replaced, sadly and temporarily with white. The machine has a knee pedal and sews in reverse. A strong, direct gear drive motor gives it incredible strength. I'm presently trying to locate a zig-zag attachment which will make it the perfect machine. Click on photo for more images.

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Just as an aside, it is interesting to note that 1/2 of my machines were actually made in Canada. Hardly anything is made in Canada anymore and it is a pity. I only collect working machines and each one of these machines is still fully functional. I don't have a preference for Singers. It just that their needles, shuttles and bobbin cases were standardized long before the other manufacturers took note. Needles (and often shuttles) for obscure or older machines are murder to find and who wants to sew with something when you only have three, precious needles in your possession with little hope of finding more. It's also great that Singer still keeps the serial numbers in their archives so the date and location of manufacture can be discovered. These machines will last and last - no plastic parts, no nylon gears, just solid cast iron and steel masked by dainty gold decals to give them some feminine grace. I have a serger and I even have an electronic low-end Brother for when I sew knits and stretch materials but for everything else I revert to these old beauties.
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