Yep, got to agree, no shows are so frustrating! I used to be in the same situation of having to tidy up etc, before an appointment, but I've since moved my sewing room upstairs and see appointments downstairs in the living room, which doesn't get much other use. I have dressing screen in there too, for the more modest customers, and a full length mirror.
Just as annoying are the ones that turn up late, without thinking how it impacts on the rest of the day. They invariably do it on a busy day and coincide with the next appointment. Or, when you make an evening appointment and are waiting to have your meal afterwards and they either don't come or arrive late. Drives DH mad cos he does the cooking and never knows what time to aim for.
I find it's usually the ones that make an appointment via my Facebook page that don't show up, or arrive late, but luckily not many of them. The ones that actually phone usually turn up.
I do usually send a text or message asking if they've forgotten their appointment, if they don't show up, but there is always the odd one you're glad hasn't turned up. They don't get a message!
Texts and Facebook messages at all times of the day and night and weekends are also a bugbear, especially as I never remember to silence my phone. An early morning text is very annoying when you're asleep!
I keep home visits to an absolute minimum, as it takes too much valuable work time up. But I do have one exception, a lady I've visited for many years. She has problems parting with any clothes that aren't totally worn out, and further problems with not being able to resist a bargain. Hence, she always has stacks of skirts and dresses awaiting some attention (quite often letting out waistbands over the years). I usually end up spending about 3 hours with her while she tries them all on and I pin them. It takes so long because she likes to chat and can't seem to dress and talk at the same time. Luckily I've been blessed with a lot of patience and look on these afternoons with her more as a social call (don't get a cuppa though). Since her health and mobility have deteriorated I've even ended up putting her clothes away for her, in her wardrobes. Above and beyond the call of duty, but can't have her falling over trying to do it herself.
Hoping next week's visit to her isn't too time consuming.

Suzie 

Cheap and cheerful here, for me. It usually sits on a shelf willing me to make it up, so I don't want to spend too much on it. I did buy some John Kaldor French crepe a few years ago though, at £14.00 a metre, and it got made up within weeks. So maybe that's where I'm going wrong?
The most expensive fabric I've worked with though, was some a customer brought for me to make her a lacy jacket to go over her evening dresses. She paid over £100 for the 1m piece  . Scary job cutting that one out! It lightened the stress of cutting out a wedding dress in £50 m flocked polka dot tulle though, or the Linton tweed jacket at £34 m. All beautiful fabrics, but cheaper alternatives are available for similar results.
The lace jacket -


Suzie 

Just had a browse out of interest re Jones machine names and came across this list. I'm amazed at how many different ones there were 
http://www.sewmuse.co.uk/Jones%20Labelled%20machines.htm.

Suzie 

Lovely machines, SP! Your friends Harris does look quite a lot like my Naumann, doesn't it. Hers looks a bit less work worn though.
I think a lot that were made in Germany were the same machine, badged up with different names, as were some Jones machines in this country.
There are a lot of similarities between yours and your daughters too. The shape looks identical, just the bobbin winder that looks a bit different, and the decals.
Hope you'll keep us informed about your research. It's always nice to find out their origins.

Suzie 

Hi ScarlettPoppy, sounds like you've got the bug too. You do know there's no cure, don't you? Just go with the flow and adopt any that come your way.
Your machines sound lovely and I'm looking forward to seeing your pics soon. I have 1 German machine in my collection. It's a Naumann, not sure of age, but guess 1920s. My sister found it in the loft of the old farmhouse she'd bought, while they were renovating, and brought it my way. So far all I've done is dust it, but it would be nice to try get it back into working condition.
This is how it came to me, years of dust at no extra cost.





Suzie 

Another neglected beauty from my collection. It's a 66k from 1923 that has been retro fitted into a much newer base and case, with a pale green handcrank.
I guess it was originally a treadle powered machine that has been made portable. I'm intending to fit it into my drawing room treadle cabinet sometime (yes, I've been saying that for ages), to replace the very shabby and slightly broken 27k that's in it now. This 66k is one of the back clamp models, so other machine feet won't fit, unless I convert it to side clamp, but happy to leave it as it is. It has its normal sewing foot and I managed to get a back clamp ruffler attachment very cheap on EBay.
It was also missing the bobbin cover when I got it and the previous owner had attempted a cover out of balsa wood - not at all successfully - so I got it a new one of those too. The one in the photo is new and stainless steel, which looks wrong against the chrome needle plate, so I've managed to get a used one in chrome, which looks a lot better. It sews very nicely, but the handcrank is a bit gratey, like something is very worn, so it will be much better without it and converted back to treadle power.



Suzie 

Oh nooo!! Hope it's just a temporary blip. I don't go often, but have recommended it to customers wanting to buy fabrics for me to make up.
Maybe I should have visited more often too.
Keep us posted if you find out any more details. Wonder if the Leeds market one is still open? Anybody over that way know?

Suzie