The Sewing Place
Machine Talk => Vintage Machines => Topic started by: LeilaMay on June 06, 2017, 14:15:05 PM
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Still too much in shock to have much to say about this lovely yet - but bought in a charity shop here in Glastonbury this morning, an untested black Singer Featherweight - for £10!
Has it's case, the electric cords and connector (although the tiny bolts are missing - the bobbin case and one bobbin. Nothing else. I'll need to test her with my existing power cord and proceed from there, but WOW!
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<3 0_0 <3
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Looks like its in decent condition too from what I can see!
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:flower: Well done ... what a find!! :flower:
L :vintage:
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:vintage: :o :o :o <3
Suzie :vintage:
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It runs!
I only plugged it in briefly - with a circuit breaker in place - but the light comes on, the motor runs and the needle goes up and down! No smell or burning :) Brilliant.
Serial number is EL538722 - part of a set of 5000 numbers assigned on 13 June 1956. Next set of numbers was assigned January 1957, so I can assume she was already made by then.
Decal pattern is 'Prism'.
Mr will rewire the plugs, it's in pieces and needs replacing anyway so will be nice new black wire when it's done. I will have to clean and service the machine, and together we will take a look at the internal wiring and the motor/brushes etc.
Who needed to work in the garden, unpack the rest of the boxes, or even do any sewing? LOL
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Congratulations, she is a beauty, looks in good cosmetic condition too :loveit:
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How much?
Congratulations (sincerely meant but said through gritted teeth).
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Is it OK to covet one's neighbour's Featherweight?? Well done, LM - great find and such a bargain. Let us know if you find any more at £10 a pop (300 more at £10 each for all the peeps on TSP)!! :loveit:
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I know - I'm sorry :) But I couldn't not show you all could I?
If I find any more I'll be sure and snap them up.
Yes it's fine to covert your neighbour's machines, we all do that anyway LOL
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What a great find...it looks in good condition too.
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What a little beauty! Congrats :toast:
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It's been over-oiled in the wrong places, and had grease put down the screw holes on the motor!
But it will be fine, the motor runs and there's plenty left on the brushes. I have grease as well as oil so I can do the necessary once it's clean.
The feet are totally ruined/crushed/dissolved - partly from contact with the oil, which was dripping out the corner when I pried the feet off - but I can get replacements. It seems to be something about the compound they used then.
The case is in good condition, but missing the small tray which should have sat just inside the lid on the let-hand-side. I would seek one out, but one of the two luggs it would have sat on is missing too, so I'd have to figure out how to make it stay there.
It should have looked like this when complete
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fZoq6SAqmZs/T_CQhHf4KEI/AAAAAAAAEyo/d-k9GxQJTbU/s1600/IMG_2236.JPG
except that the pedal fits onto the lid like this
http://www.scrapquilts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/AL392-case-inside.jpg
I pinched both those pictures from the web - my thanks to the original posters.
:vintage:
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Good find. I'd say they didn't realise what they had in the shop.
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Good find. I'd say they didn't realise what they had in the shop.
I thought charity shops checked things nowadays. They really slipped up there.
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Oh my, what a find! I love charity shop treasure. I once found a Kenwood Chef for £5 and a Brother knitting machine which was 'make an offer' so I paid £10. Never seen any sewing machines though :(
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I once found a Kenwood Chef for £5
A working one?
Seriously?
Now that would have been a real bargain.
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I'm seriously jealous, what beauty
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If your case looks a bit tatty, it can easily be revampt, or stripped off and made look completely different. One of the cases of my Fetherweights looked really bd, the fale lether coating came of in big chunks. So, I decided to explore wht's underneath. After a lot of elbow grese sanding it down, and severl coats of wax, this is how it looks now.
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That case looks nice, good job!
I have said before, and now repeated to that charity shop that I will happily come in and give them an opinion on any vintage sewing machines before they go up for sale. But you can only offer can't you? If they don't choose to, then I will buy bargains if they offer them up :)
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A working one?
Seriously?
Now that would have been a real bargain.
Yes, a 1970s classic in good working order with attachments. I was well pleased!
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Fabulous find.
Best of all, with such a low price, is it's gone to someone who knows its real value and will treasure it for that rather than someone who only knows what it's worth in £££ and will just get it up for sale quick to make a profit.
:D
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Awesome find and so lucky.... I keep an eye open at our local carboot for the unidentified 'black record case'.... no luck yet. :)
But I'm really glad you found a lucky one!
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I lust after this machine like no other. I dragged Mr Acorn round a load of charity shops yesterday (actually he's a willing accomplice) but we didn't have your luck...
Car boot sales... they're probably a better bet, but they start so early!
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Mr will rewire the plugs, it's in pieces and needs replacing anyway so will be nice new black wire when it's done. I will have to clean and service the machine, and together we will take a look at the internal wiring and the motor/brushes etc.
I'd be interested in any tips and hints on this, as I snagged myself a featherweight last year, and it was indeed smoking a bit when we first rigged it up, although the actual sewing action was smooth.
I did some googling, and spoke to Helen the sewing machine expert, and cleaned it all up, but I'm cack handed with anything electrical so passed it onto the missus. She's UBER cautious though, and is wary of venturing far intot he thing. Any help appreciated!
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I tend to give anything electrical im worried about to John, Helen Howe's other half, hes pretty reasonable (30-60) for a rewire, and you get the PAT cert and dont have to worry about it yourself :)
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That may be the plan then, thanks
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I'd second the recommendation of John and his work.
But for those who like to work on their Featherweights themselves, I would recommend the tutorials on this site - absolutely fabulous resource
https://singer-featherweight.com/
You'll find a whole loads of instructions and videos under the 'schoolhouse' section but the whole site is worth looking through.
best wishes
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There's a FB group...
https://www.facebook.com/SingerFeatherweight/?fref=ts