Meeting the Girls – Part 3
My descent into Vintage Sewing Machine Addiction
Meeting the Colored Ladies.
After acquiring two older black machines with beautiful decals, some of the mid-century machines caught my eye. Since most sewing machines are either black or white, I found myself drawn to the colored ones.
The first one I had to have is a Singer model 185.
This is a ¾ size machine made in the mid to late 1950’s. this one is from 1958. I absolutely just LOVE the color. It came in another color – sort of a tan/rose color – but I had to have one of the green ones. I named this one Jade for obvious reasons.
I saw one on Ebay and bid on it and won it for about $35. I was so excited. But sadly, the seller did not pack it well at all and it arrived in pieces. Destroyed beyond repair. They just put it in a box and cut out a place in the top for the handle of the case to stick out. Perfect for the handlers at UPS to grab it by the handle and toss it anywhere. $3 worth of bubble wrap could have saved this machine. I was so angry. The seller immediately reimbursed me, however and with that money, I bid on another. Once I secured that one for a similar price, I begged the seller to pack it well. And they tried, but the second one arrived with a broken base, but it was still usable and in working condition. I asked for and received a partial refund. Even though it is considered a smaller machine, it is still very heavy and the plastic cases they came in orginally become brittle over time. Put the two together in a box and well the results are not good.
I don’t like my machine heads to be just sitting out without a case or a cabinet, so I had a guy on Etsy make a case for me. And it turned out amazing. Maple with walnut inlay. Jade looks fabulous in her new digs.
In the late 40’s occupied Japan began making machines with no name on them and selling them to the United States as badged machines. Whoever bought them could put their name on them , so there are many machines out there that look the same, but have different names. Some people call them clones. The next machine that caught my eye was a turquoise colored Kingston machine.
This machine is very similar to the Singer model number 15 machines. It threads and works just like it, but it is this amazing color. So beautiful. Her name is Betty Blue.
She arrived in great condition, but her foot pedal was fried, so I just use another pedal when I sew on her. She arrived in a somewhat stinky case, so I moved my RedEye to the treadle and put this one in that cabinet. She fit perfectly and looks great in it.
Another badged machine that caught my eye. A pink Atlas machine.
I was in love immediately. I mean – a PINK machine – what’s not to love? This was a private purchase from a lady in a Facebook group I belong to. I paid a little more than I should have, but it was the going rate on Ebay, so I felt fine about it.
This is a clone made from the design for the Brother Citation. There are a few minor production differences, but basically the same design. But who cares about all of that when you can have a PINK machine?? This machine just makes me happy to look at her and sew on her. I named her Aurora. And I found a cabinet for her for $25 on craigslist. And she looks fabulous in it.
I am drawn to a couple of other machines that have interesting colors, but I haven’t added them to the herd yet. I am waiting to find them for a reasonable price. And that is part of the fun for me – the hunt for a fun and pretty machine for a decent price.
The descent into madness continues ….