It's all about sewing machines baby!

I LOVE sewing machines! I can't pass up a good vintage or antique machine to save my life. I love the simplicity, the complexities, the history, the strength and the restorative aspects of these old machines. I can't think of one machine today that is made with the same quality and durability of these old machines. Several of the machines in my collection are 70+ years old and still going strong! Some are over 100 years old! Ever since the introduction of plastics manufacturing has changed: cheaper prices = lower quality. The days of making an heirloom machine that will last several lifetimes is over. A machine today requires professional maintainance and service. I maintain my vintage and antique machines myself, armed with basically a screwdriver, toothbrush and a bottle of oil.

Someone has to save these machines from landfills and scrap metal yards. I believe that someone is me. Its not obsession, its history preservation :)

My Italian 1950s Necchi BU in a Singer

treadle cabinet. Strong smooth and silent.

So many useful attributes: bearings in the oil

points to keep out dirt; 3 position presser foot

so you can raise the foot and maintain the

tension, or not; calibrated adjustment for

the pressure foot bar and the thread tension...

A true workhorse! My favorite machine.

My 1940s (?) Singer 201-2 machine. A solid

machine with drop in bobbin, metal gears,

potted motor and beltless operation. Strong,

but can sew silk to light leather.

Ah, the Pfaff 130. This semi-industrial machine

is Pfaff's first consumer model. It's chain-belted

inside for added strength to sew through anything

in its way! I'm still cleaning up this new addition

to the family but I'm so happy to have

snatched it up for cheap this week. I've been

coveting this model for a long time.

My beautiful New Home/Janome Japanese

machine. 10 built in stitches in a solid all metal

machine. Made in Japan in 1960, its a Centennial

machine which celebrates the 100 years of

New Home. I got this machine down the Jersey

Shore for next to nothing, made some minor repairs

and now she sews like a dream.