Browsing Tag

sewing machines

New Treasure! Singer 99

Uncategorized April 6, 2012

Believe it or not, my sister in law found this in the garbage.  Someone had just decided to throw it out with the trash.  The lever, and all of the parts (including spare needles and bobbins) were just sitting inside the box (which was locked and had to be picked open.

After doing a bit of research, and looking up the Serial Number, I’ve found that this is a pretty common machine, a Singer 99 Made in 1928.  This one is fully electric,  but has a knee lever as opposed to a foot pedal, something that I personally have not seen before.  It took some tinkering, but Dan and I got it up and running.  I gave it a good oiling and cleaned out the dust, but other than that, it is in remarkably good order for an 84 year old sewing machine. 

See it in action! Purrs like a kitten… an 80 year old kitten…

Possibly the coolest thing is all of the attachments.  There is a rolled hem foot, zipper foot, and a bunch of other crazy attachments that I’m not really sure what they do. Luckily, it is pretty easy to get information about these kinds of machines.  Neat, huh?

New (to me) sewing machine!

Uncategorized February 13, 2012

Ooohhh… Look at my Valentines Day Present! Isn’t it pretty? I got this today at an auction sale, along with some other goodies (a lamp and a table). I’ve been trying to research this well-loved sewing machine all afternoon.

This sewing machine has no obvious identifying marks. I can see where there once was a name plate of some soft, but it has long fallen off… There is a number, “131693” stamped into a metal piece on the front of the machine. I can tell this sewing machine got a lot of use, as the gold detail is worn off where fabric would have passed over it, over & over again. An inlaid mother-of-pearl flower has also “Disappeared.”

It seems to be in working order, and came with one wound bobbin, in the shuttle already in the machine. I haven’t threaded it yet, but have oiled it up and all of the parts move as they should.

The case it came in is beautiful on it’s own – inlaid along the top, and with a beautiful silver handle.

I’ve scoured the bottom of the machine, underneath the machine, inside the case, everywhere – to see who made this machine so I could try to date it, but nothing! I am told it is a German make, and it does resemble the Frister and Rossmann or Herman Kohler machines. I think it looks to be anywhere from 1880 to 1910. What do you think?
I just love old sewing machines… I can’t help but daydream about the woman who had used it before me… what she might have sewed, and for who… what her life was like. I am so excited to get this machine threaded up, and bring it back to life again!
We also picked up this rather unusual lamp… It’s only about 5′ high and has a long tassel pull on it. I think we are going to paint it white. It has made it’s home (for now) next to a lovely old wing-back we got from Dan’s Grandma, which she had upholstered in beautiful grey cut velvet damask.