The Sewing Place
Machine Talk => Vintage Machines => Topic started by: LeilaMay on December 25, 2017, 10:22:48 AM
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A Singer 98 in funky gold paint!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gold-98K-Singer-Sewing-Machine-with-Foot-Pedal-Electric-with-Dust-Cover/112697753884?hash=item1a3d4f411c:g:4AEAAOSwVA5aOAFs
I just love how it looks :)
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They’re a bottom of the line model, very no frills and quite mediocre... so I hear.
The gold is cool, but I’d save the space for a gorgeous 320 ;)
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I do have a 319 ~ :)
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I always maintain a little gap in case of a 320, or something else beautiful... Necchi Julia, Elna Supramatic.... anything glamorous on your wish list?
The same gap is probably the last ‘final straw’ for the mrs...
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I have a similar dilemma. I'm trying to tell myself I don't need/want a beautiful Sphinx decal 15k which has come up locally. I have no room for it either. The auction finishes on Thursday so I need to be strong until then! :S
eta: I've looked at lots of YouTube videos and the 15k's seem to be slightly "clunky" so I'm clinging to that as I like my machines to be really quiet.
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I can't find much info on it when searching the web, but I thought 98K and 286K were very close to a 99K and the Spartan? The advantage is the compact design, it doesn't need a separate base. It's very minimal in every way, and I assume a lot of people had lights fitted. If the small controller isn't any good I guess any general replacement would improve on it. If this model were cast aluminium, it would be much more sought after. 3/4 size light weights are few and far between. If I ever came across a 99K with a cast aluminium body!
For the 15, I don't really think you can fault it much. Most of the comparisons on the web is up gainst a Singer 201 with the gear driven motor. Nothing is a smooth as a well oiled 201.
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You know I don't really have a wish-list for sewing machines. I just have some I like the look of :) It was the super colour and the compactness of the 98 - even though I know it's fairly basic.
I have a:
Bernina 730 Record
Husqvana - um white and 1960s? don't remember her exact number
Singer 201
Singer 99
Singer 66 (for the decals - a gift)
Singer 28 - the oldest machine I have
2 x Singer Featherweight 221 - both black
Singer 319
Elna 'Grasshopper'
Now I COULD sell one of the featherweights and add something else - what would be your best suggestion?
:)
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I have a similar dilemma. I'm trying to tell myself I don't need/want a beautiful Sphinx decal 15k which has come up locally. I have no room for it either. The auction finishes on Thursday so I need to be strong until then! :S
eta: I've looked at lots of YouTube videos and the 15k's seem to be slightly "clunky" so I'm clinging to that as I like my machines to be really quiet.
Are you still being strong I wonder? :)
I do have one machine simply for it's decals - a Singer 66K - a back clamper - with the Lotus pattern on it. I don't believe they put them on any other model, so there it is. Someone gifted me theirs, it's beautiful and I shall probably never use it, but it sits in a place where I see it often and love it every time :heart:
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I’d love a 66 lotus for the same reasons... my decals machine is the 48k... I feel I should find it a new owner who can take care of it...
The colour of the 98k is great, I quite fancy a 15k because of the stories of how strong they are, but the 95k is I suspect more than tough enough for me!
I’d maybe switch a 221 for a 222... it would be a good addition to your collection, especially as they have the smallest free arm going.
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What decals does the machine in question have? :)
Not sure about the featherweight swap - I find I do prefer a heavier machine for nearly all the stuff I do - I'm not traveling with it so the weight to carry isn't an issue. The featherweights are fun, but not my best loved machine . . .
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The 48k has the ottoman rose decals http://www.sewalot.com/singer_48k.htm
They’re almost translucent metallic. Really pretty and a very unassuming machine.
Maybe a 401 or one of the Elna supramatics (there’s a white and a green one, the white I think they sorted out a problem with the belt, getting a kink and becoming noisy) they’d both add something a bit different, as well as being work horses and use standard needles.
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That 48 is very beautiful, I can see why you keep it :)
(Looking at 401s)
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That is a beautiful machine. I also love the 'Egyptian' decal ones.
However, if I was ever going to indulge it would be with a Featherweight (and I daren't think about starting).
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Featherweights aren’t the be all... some people swear by them others aren’t so fussed, they are very cute tho, and a fantastic portable option, personally I like the Elna grasshopper better, mine is very rough tho the paint was peeling off it, so I stripped a lot of it off, which was a shame, if I found another I’d get it :)
401g is the commonest variety in the UK, they’re reasonably common, I love the look they always remind me of classic cars. But some people are of the opinion they’re Fugly!
Internally they’re all metal except a cog behind the hand wheel I’ve never heard of this cog breaking or needing replacing, they’re direct drive ( a little noiser than a belt but can be smoother and firmer.)
They have a ton of built in stitches by using the 2 dials, and as they’re German the stitch lengths are in cms.
They’re slant shanks, so feet can be tricky but I do like the visibility and they are almost a high shank in terms of clearance. They use top hat cams for more stitches!
The 401a 401g and 500a all have approximately the same internals. But some argue the 500 isn’t as strong as the 401 because it was style first.
If you get one and need any parts I usually have quite a few knocking about because I dote on my 500 <3.
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My husband declares you are a dreadful bad enabler :)
401s look NICE
Right now I appear to be saved as all the ebay ones turn out to be in USA . . .
:vintage:
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I’m glad you like the look of the 401, (apologies to your husband!)
eBay is very skimpy at the moment! Not much on at all. I got mine from a local auction for not a lot. Hope you find a good one. But they seem to be on eBay for between 50-100 normally.
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I see what you mean eBay is really poor at the moment... they are incentivising sellers to get busy on there again now
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I’m glad you like the look of the 401, (apologies to your husband!)
eBay is very skimpy at the moment! Not much on at all. I got mine from a local auction for not a lot. Hope you find a good one. But they seem to be on eBay for between 50-100 normally.
Haven't found the right sort of auction here yet LOL
If you see one, let me know?
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Sure thing, I keep an eye on the auction eBay and gumtree locally, I’ll let you know if I turn up a good one.
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You might need some patience! I waited 2 years to find a 401g local enough for pick up at a sensible price, but it was worth the wait. It's all down to luck. I put some photos in the gallery at the time.
One thing to look out for, sometimes the studs clamping the throat plate can be damaged. People think they are screws and try to take them out, whereas in fact they lift up to allow the plate to slide out (sounds easy, actually causes many sweary-words and broken nails). Zoom in on the photos to check.
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I have to think twice about my vintage purchases too, but I can't resist. I still have a 201K-2 on my list, and I hope it will turn up at a time when I have the money and preferably locally since transport is always a bit risky.
I am very intersted in one of the early cast iron zigzaggers, a Bernina 117, a Mundlos Victoria (probably the first domestic zigzagger). They take regular needles.
I have hesitated a bit about the 401, they turn up now and then, and one went within a day at a local charity shop a few weeks before Christmas; less than £30 in a small table. Most go for around £50-£100. If I didn't have a Bernina 730 and an Elna Supermatic I would probably have taken a chance on the first I came a cross.
Roger has this industrial straight stitcher in a nice cabinet within reasonable size. I am still envious ;- )
If I add the Featherweight, the Grasshopper or another neat light weight portable with a clever design, that's eight more!
I have not forgotten the early Singers with rose decals, or the Gritzner with floral art nouveau decals...This thing never ends, I haven't reached the old German developments yet. I'm not expanding beyond my book shelf capacity until I have a heated barn for storage, and before that I aim for some very nice pieces of furniture :- )
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Hi Skout,
I haven’t encountered any issues with the raising of the plate (you don’t drop the dogs) I have found there’s a sweet spot in the timing and leaning on the leaver a little raises the studs a slim amount more.
I hadn’t realised they were such a tough machine to find.
Arrow, that’s a nice wish list!
I’m really looking forward to using the 95k40 more in the new year. I think it might be great for circle skirts... but the top speed will take some getting used to.
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Are you still being strong I wonder? :)
The auction finishes in 9 hours, and there are no bids so far. The fact that I've done nothing about it indicates to me that I'm not totally convinced I need (want) it. It's really pretty, and in a cabinet, but I really don't have anywhere to put it. :( If I saw it in a shop I would buy it on impulse, but it's much easier to resist when it's online and an unknown quantity. :S
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Thank you all - I will start keeping a look-out for a 401, and if Roger is scouting his half of the country too maybe we'll find one eventually (Thank you Roger I am grateful for the help)
OH says he could have one of the featherweights in his room - he just likes the look of them, which does create space for one machine . . .
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Hi Skout,
I haven’t encountered any issues with the raising of the plate (you don’t drop the dogs) I have found there’s a sweet spot in the timing and leaning on the leaver a little raises the studs a slim amount more.
I hadn’t realised they were such a tough machine to find.
It's not the raising, but the changing. I sewed curtains on the 401g recently and the fabric was a right.. bother... to sew. I needed the straight stitch foot and throatplate. My lovely husband stepped in when he couldn't stand the language any longer and sorted it. He's more used to tractors, but it seems the skills are transferable.
They come up reasonably often further south, but are scarcer up here, and I was being fussy about condition. I paid just under £50 for mine and consider it a lucky find.
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Goodness, I've found myself off piste and in here! It's a whole new language ..... there's a place just outside Exeter that sells all vintage machines I shall have to wander around now with some of these terms so that I can sound vaguely informed! :[
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If anyone is hesitating over a 'buy it now' eBay have a 20% off code on purchases over £20 until 6pm!! I think you can find it by clicking on daily deals, or it may show on your watched items, it would be rude not to use it...! :ninja:
Edited to add the code! PNY2018
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there's a place just outside Exeter that sells all vintage machines I shall have to wander around now
Careful RD, it's a slippery slope... :D
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My grandmother had a Singer treadle. I remember it very well. It would have been produced, I am guessing here, around 1920-25I know there was a model that was prized around that time and she had it but I can't remember which Singer series it was. :(