Back On Line

   I was trolling the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore this morning and saw something I didn’t know existed – a blackside Singer 15-91!

   I know that several Singer models received the blackside treatment on faceplate, slide plate, and needle plate from 1941 to 1953 but had only seen it on 128s, 66s, and 99s.  According to the Bluebook, the 15-91 was manufactured from 1933 to 1956 so the production was within the period of blackside machines, but in my 40 plus years of collecting vintage sewing machines, I have never seen a model 15 in blackside.  I thought about buying it but after considering  condition, price, and space to put it, I let it stay.

I have not been very faithful in posting on this blog or answering questions because I have had other priorities.  We sold our big house and bought two small houses – one in Maryland for summers and another in Florida for winters.  The Maryland house was a fixer-upper and required much work.  Patching and paint on every paintable surface, all new flooring, all new appliances, leaking toilets and other things.  Then we discovered that the gas line to the cooktop was leaking and, since the line is buried inside the concrete slab foundation, we had to have a new line run through the attic.  We still need to get that line boxed in to get it out of sight.  About the time we got things kinda wrapped up in Maryland, we went to Florida just in time to have Hurricane Irma blow the carport off that house.

 

Fortunately, there was almost no damage to the house (just a small puncture in the roof) but it has been about ten weeks now and the contractor has not come to replace the carport.

I will probably not be posting as often as I used to because I just don’t have much to talk about.  All my vintage sewing machines are gone and the supply seems to have dried up around here.  I occasionally see a rusty hulk that was probably pulled out of a barn after decades of storage and a few Asian machines but nothing that sparks my interest.

The Final Two Weeks in the Old House

We are getting down to brass tacks now, runs to the landfill every couple of days disposing of things I held onto for years in case "I might need that some day".  We have sold everything anyone would buy and given away other items to individuals and thrift shops and now, it's off to the landfill with what's left.  I am going to post a classified ad today for the remainder of my collection

and I am listing lots on eBay because they need to be gone in a week and I can't count on Etsy to accomplish that.

UPDATE:  I got a phone call about an hour after posting the classified ad.  A lady whose Mother collects vintage sewing machines came over and made an offer on the whole lot!  Her Mother's birthday is coming up soon and her daughter wants to surprise her.

I hope the classified ad I placed for my Singer 111W155 is as successful.

  I ran across these black Class 66 bobbins the other day and just listed them along with seven other items.  I will be furiously listing everything I can find in the next week because it all has to be gone by July 13th.

Vintage Class 66 Bobbins

To see everything I have currently listed, click here All of Ed's eBay Listings

Another "What-Is-It" Item

I bought these presser feet on eBay years ago.  I believe they were listed as Viking quilting feet.  Since Kathie is a quilter and the price was right, I picked them up in case I later ran across a Viking that they would fit.  I never did and now it's time to bid them farewell but I really don't know what they are.  I have Googled images for "embroidery foot" and "quilting foot" with no positive results.  Can anyone help?

Ed

More on Downsizing

   The clean-out continues.  Today, I dug out all my Singer "Top Hat" decorative stitch cams.  During my 45 years of collecting sewing machines, every time I saw a set of Singer attachments, I picked it up.  Also, many of the Singers I obtained came with attachments.  I was shocked at the number when I dug them out and arranged them in numerical order

   Also, I was amazed that with all those cams, I only have one complete set.  Noticeably missing is the Zero cam that produces the standard zig zag stitch on machines that do not have zig zag built in.  My only Zero cam is currently installed in a 403.

I never use these cams, All my sewing is straight stitch and zig zag with an occasional buttonhole thrown in so they will all be listed in my My Etsy Shop

Ed

Downsizing in Preparation for Retirement

    As I approach my 72nd birthday, Kathie and I find that it is time to rid ourselves of our 5 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath, 3-story house and look for a home offering one level living.  We will list our home for sale tomorrow and have spent the last month "de-cluttering".  Because the next house will be smaller, we also must downsize our space-consuming hobbies.  Kathie will probably lose her longarm quilting machine and I have to find new homes for many of the machines, parts, tools, and manuals that I have been hoarding for the past 45 years.

    To that end, I have started listing in My Etsy Shop some tools, manuals, and parts that I would not let go before now.

   My goal is to list four additional items or lots per day until everything of value is gone.

   Because I don't know how much time I will have before I have to clear out this house, I plan to leave these items on Etsy for about a month, then transition any leftovers to eBay.  Anything that doesn't sell on eBay will go to the landfill.

    I also have a collection of miniature sewing machines that don't fit the criteria for Etsy.

They range from 1 inch high to about 4 inches high.  They are in as-found condition, some new, some used.  One with a bear has the bear broken loose and will need to be re-glued.  If you think you might be interested in this grouping, email me at oldsewingmachines@gmail.com.