Olly Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I am very proud of this and couldn't resist posting some pictures! I thought about buying a sewing machine last month, but I don't often need to use one. At the same time my mother's machine, which I could never part with because it holds so many memories, was languishing in a corner. She made all our clothes on it, and as a teenager I made most of my own clothes (I've never used an electric machine, in fact). I found a man who fixes machines, and he was delighted to take this on - he prefers old machines ("no plastic!"). He said it's now working as well as on the day it was first bought. I know this was used by my grandmother to make my mother's baby clothes. Mum was born in 1916, so at a conservative estimate this is about 100 years old. Can anyone beat this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Olly, how lovely! I'm so impressed that you are able to make your own clothes, I'm not very deft with my fingers at all. Now that your lovely machine has been restored, perhaps you should treat yourself with the money you saved by not buying a new one. Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 that's a really nice machine, my mum had a singer a bit similar to that that she made clothes for us on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emily95 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 What a beautiful machine! I cant compete. My machine's made of the dreaded plastic Emily xxx Edited for Typo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 What a thing of beauty . My brother bought me an old Singer machine at an auction for my birthday (over 30 years ago ). It looks just like yours but it's electric so is obviously just a baby! It's in the attic . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I have a Singer Sewing Machine at my Dad's that my Gran gave me............apparently it was made in 1905. It doesn't work at the moment but we didn't have anywhere that restored machines where I used to live and my Dad took it into safe custody when the OH threatened to throw it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Oh Olly that is indeed a thing of beauty! And a Frister and Rossman! You don't see many of those! I bet it still sews like a dream - it may not have fancy stitches, but I bet it copes far better with thick fabrics than the modern machines. Even my 23 year old copes better than the modern ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 What a lovely machine. I think my Mum's friend has one like this, but it doesn't work as the foot pedal doesn't work and needs fixing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 My mum had a machine that was in a cabinet with double doors. She lifted up the top & the machine was upside down in it, & you just flipped it to get the machine on top. The whole base of the cupboard was the foot pedal. She got rid of it not long ago, I don't know where to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Ooooohhh how beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Thanks for posting this Olly. I have an old (electric) Singer machine, and I've been thinking for a while about getting some dressmaking tuition (spookily enough, I was searching for college courses only yesterday. I had thought that if I did manage to get some tutoring, I'd buy a new machine.... but you've made me rethink that. Maybe I'll stick with the singer. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 How beautiful I have an old Singer - but not as old as that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 my mums singer was basically the same as that one, I dont think she still has it I will have to check. even the same little handle.. which fold in and tucks away if I remember rightly. I have an electric machine a brother one, which I have had a few years, with all good intentions... ahem... but the singer was SO easy to use that it made it a pleasure to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bekibutton Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Wow, that machine is amazing! And looks great considering how much use it's had over the years I have a Frister and Rossman machine too, although it's probably only from the 60s or 70s I guess. The man who serviced it for me said it would go for years too, like yours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egzandra Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 That's a beautiful machine. My mother has an old Singer treadle machine that her mother had. When I looked up the serial number on an internet site, I found it was built in 1913. It is built into a table which flips open, making a sewing table and the machine is upside down under that, a bit like Jules' but not in a cabinet with two doors. My mum used it a bit, but I used it to make all my dresses on when I was around 15, with varying results, I might add, but all of which I wore. It only does straight stitch but that is perfectly adequate, I used to turn the inside of the seams over and stitch them to neaten them. My mum has still got it. I would like to have it restored one day if my mum will let me have it. My electric Husqvarna is lovely, but even though it does fancy stitches I don't love it more than the old treadle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Keep it!!! I love my new machine but you'll never get a machine that sews a better straight line than the old ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 Well thanks for all the positive replies, I am very proud of it but I did wonder if I was the only person who thinks it's lovely. I wonder what happened to all those treadle machines, upside-down cupboard ones and so on? For anyone else out there who's got an older machine, it's definitely worth getting it serviced. This was part of my 'spending mindfully' - why buy a new one if the old one will still do - and I am very glad I did. Whether I'll ever get round to making anything on it, is another question ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 It's a lovely machine Olly, well done for spending a bit of money and tlc on it I have my mother's old Singer, it's about 50 now (I think). I sewed my finger into it when I was 10, and making some dolls clothes It's a hand machine but I turn the handle fast The needle had to be pulled out with pliers after my finger was frozen with an icepop I also have an old treadle machine in the summerhouse (left behind in the house I bought) , it's a bit of a wreck, but I kept it as a project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 I can't beat it though mine is beautiful. I inherited my mothers when she got my Grandmothers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Do singers have a date on them? I don't want to risk my back getting it out but I might if I knew it was worth looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Do singers have a date on them?I don't want to risk my back getting it out but I might if I knew it was worth looking It should have a serial number Bron, and from that it can be dated. Is it a treadle or a hand wheel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Olly, I found this page about Fristers. there is a pic of one pretty much identical to yours if you scroll far enough down. Interesting comment about it's value today! Frister + Rossman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 ooh Snowy that's brilliant, thanks! I'd done a bit of Googling about them but hadn't found that page (and mine does look pretty similar to the one shown). I will have a look tomorrow to see if it's got a place of manufacture or anything. My grandmother, who was the original owner, was a cook in a private house and she wouldn't have had a lot of money, but perhaps it was a wedding present or something like that. I wish I knew! "Ooops, word censored!"ody left who can tell me, sadly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Its hand wheel. My guess would put it about 1950s in style of the case but I'm not sure. I think my mums one now would be older. thats reminded me I have a sewing question oh the number is F2607149 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Its hand wheel. My guess would put it about 1950s in style of the case but I'm not sure. I think my mums one now would be older. thats reminded me I have a sewing question oh the number is F2607149 Wow, according to this site it was made in Clydebank, Scotland in 1912! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
