pearl: Black and white outline of a toadstool with paint splatters. (Default)
pearl ([personal profile] pearl) wrote in [community profile] sewing2011-10-18 07:00 pm

Vintage sewing machine.

Hi all,

I have been lucky enough to get my hands on a treadle-powered Singer model 201K that (according to the serial number) dates to 1939. After taking over the garage, pulling most of it apart and putting it back together again, I have a new (to me) machine that sews in a straight line, is very quiet to run, and doesn't need to be near a powerpoint to work.

Photos are below the cut:
Click on the photos to see larger images.

This is the cabinet, closed and open.
Closed sewing machine cabinetOpen sewing cabinet

This is another photo of the treadle mechanism inside the cabinet. You can see the leather belt that drives the machine in the upper-right hand side.
Treadle mechanism

Finally, the sewing machine itself (which is also known as the 'head' I think?). From left to right, it is the 'front' (ie. the side you see when you sit down), the face-place, and the 'back'. I haven't managed to get all of the old oil and grime off, so if anyone has any suggestions it would be appreciated.
Sewing machine front Silver faceplateThe backside of the machine

The person selling the sewing machine also gave me two mystery boxes of attachments. Some of them I recognise, like the tool used to keep your hem stitched straight, but others... this is what downloading the user manual is for, I guess!

Box of accessoriesButtonhole attachment
rydra_wong: Black and white photo of a seam ripper. Text: "Soft drugs and a seam ripper." (sewing -- seam ripper)

[personal profile] rydra_wong 2011-10-18 09:45 am (UTC)(link)
Ooh, treadle-powered. I was having a moment of brainfail and confused that with hand-cranked (which is what the one I remembered from childhood was). That's a gorgeous beast!
weaverbird: (Sewing)

[personal profile] weaverbird 2011-10-18 12:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, very cool. What a beautiful machine! You're going to love sewing with it.
buffarama: (Default)

Mystery feet

[personal profile] buffarama 2011-10-18 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Lovely find. My grandmother had a 99 and a 401 that I inherited, she was a seamstress and taught us everything she could. Here's most of your mystery feet identified with the correct names or their usage, as i had them. Never seen the one on the bottom right, but if your manual doesn't list it, there's a couple sewing groups out in yahoo land with people who might remember.

Photobucket: Mystery Sewing Machine Feet