Old Singer sewing machine

[garynortheast]

Tinkering with an 80 year old handcranked Singer 28K sewing machine. I spotted it in a charity shop for £35 a few days ago and couldn’t resist it. I’ve been after one for some time to use for all the sewing jobs I have waiting to be done.

Wasn’t sure whether anything was missing or broken when I bought it, but it turns out all it needed was a good service and oiling. There was even a bobbin in the boat shuttle, with thread still on it.

Both Sioned, my daughter and I have been using it today and it’s deeply satisfying. The sound takes me back to my childhood.

The last two days have been spent going over every joint and moving part on it, cleaning, freeing off, and oiling. Made in 1940 at the Singer factory in Scotland, the body is solid cast iron. It’s a strangely beautiful device, and a real joy to use. I like the fact that it’s not reliant on an external power source either.

I think the fact that I have a mechanical background helps account for my appreciation of this lovely old piece of machinery.

I’ll try and remember to post some pictures of it later.
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[squirrel_hunter]

My Mum had an old Singer of some description. Lovely bit of machinery and supported our family for 30+ years. A couple of years back she sent it to a charity shop. I'd not really used it and have no call for it but it still made me sad that its no longer with us.

[garynortheast]

My Mum had an old Singer of some description. Lovely bit of machinery and supported our family for 30+ years. A couple of years back she sent it to a charity shop. I'd not really used it and have no call for it but it still made me sad that its no longer with us.

That’s a really common theme with so many of the folk I’ve mentioned this to SH. They’ve either sent them to charity shops or they have them lurking in the attic or a shed somewhere.

My mum had a treadle operated Singer and I still remember the sound of it all these years later. When you finished using it I seem to remember you could invert the machine in the stand and it became a table.

[Ruffy]

We still have a hand cranked vintage sewing machine that gets occasional use (inherited from wife's grandmother). I agree they're fascinating machines when ticking along.


My operational challenge is that I generally need two hands to control the material so I struggle to crank and sew with any sort of accuracy. I acknowledge my low skill level!

[embee]

I have a Frister and Rossman, dates from mid 1920s, lovely thing.

[Dave20046]

My mum used one of these when I was a kid, she still has it. They are reasuringly weighty and really satisfying to use..I used to pretend it was a machine gun :/

[Craig380]

Things you learn from watching Bargain Hunt: the really valuable old hand- or foot-cranked sewing machines are the 'saddleback' ones with an arched or curved upper arm, collectors go mad for them.

[garynortheast]

Just bought a 1909 New Home hand cranked machine. It's a New National U model in need of a clean and a bit of a restoration. It was in a charity shop and cost me just £15!

The encouraging thing is that aside from a couple of small screws and the lid, it's complete and working. It's a vibrating shuttle machine like my Singer 28k and, like the Singer, when I took the bobbin out of the shuttle there was still thread on it.

I've been taking bits off of it and cleaning them up. It'll take me a little while but a good clean and service should see it perfectly usable again.

Edit*

Not doing a full restoration at the moment, instead gave it a clean, an oil, and a service. I want to make sure everything works as it should and that it will actually sew. It does feel very nice to use, everything turns, oscillates, and rises and falls as it's meant to.

A couple of observations.
1. It's amazing how little the basic design of this 1909 American machine differs from my 1940 Singer.
2. It's a nice little machine but not in the same league as my Singer with regard to quality of components.

Here's a picture of it after I put it all back together. The little glass file full of red liquid on the base was wedged into the compartment under the machine. I suspect it's machine oil, and probably nearly as old as the machine.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50551297441_8de9489c6f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2k23BxP)
New National 1909 (https://flic.kr/p/2k23BxP) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

There are a couple of screws missing from it which I need to source but otherwise it appears to be all there.

[embee]

Wonderful! :D

[garynortheast]

I’m dead chuffed with it. I need to find a picture of the cover/lid now so Iknow what I’m looking for.

[Bibio]

you'll end up like this (https://londonist.com/london/museums-and-galleries/sewing-machine-museum) Garry. BTW your vile of oil is probably likely worth more to the mad yanks than what you paid for the machine, they go nuts for stuff like that especially if you also have the wax.


bet there is a few websites full of nutters dedicated to old sewing machines and their restoration.

[garynortheast]

you'll end up like this (https://londonist.com/london/museums-and-galleries/sewing-machine-museum) Garry. BTW your vile of oil is probably likely worth more to the mad yanks than what you paid for the machine, they go nuts for stuff like that especially if you also have the wax.


bet there is a few websites full of nutters dedicated to old sewing machines and their restoration.

There’s a forum I’ve joined which is full of folk restoring some of these old machine. It seems a fairly sensible bunch of folk asking practical questions and getting practical answers. Generally a useful resource.

I might have to call in and see the museum one day if I ever go that far south again.