Well. Most of the new ones use round bobbins They don't make them like mine anymore. ^_^
Seriously though, if you aren't doing anything with a lot of stretch and need for fancy stitches, I would suggest you look at an old Singer treadle machine. (Mine is a White which is a bit more difficult to find parts for) But you can get one for $50-$100 from the 1920's or so. They're just about indestructible and for teh cost they work way better than an electric and aren't really that much exercise to work.
The downside, of course is that they only do straight stitch so you're limited on some of the fabrics and patterns you can do. But for most stuff that isn't stretchy or skin tight they work wonderfully. I'm not sure why they ever went out of mode. (I guess weight and because you couldn't sell the same person a new one every 2 or 3 years)
I got my for $70 at an estate sale and it came with a box of all the original quilter accessories. Other than light oil and greasing, this is the first part that I've had to replace in 10 years and it cost me a whopping 15 dollars. Singer STILL makes parts for their treadle machines (they're used by missionaries and such) ^_^
At ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN YEARS OLD my sewing machine still performs better on a straight stitch than most NEW sewing machines under $200. ^_^
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2004-07-27 03:57 am (UTC)Seriously though, if you aren't doing anything with a lot of stretch and need for fancy stitches, I would suggest you look at an old Singer treadle machine. (Mine is a White which is a bit more difficult to find parts for) But you can get one for $50-$100 from the 1920's or so. They're just about indestructible and for teh cost they work way better than an electric and aren't really that much exercise to work.
The downside, of course is that they only do straight stitch so you're limited on some of the fabrics and patterns you can do. But for most stuff that isn't stretchy or skin tight they work wonderfully. I'm not sure why they ever went out of mode. (I guess weight and because you couldn't sell the same person a new one every 2 or 3 years)
I got my for $70 at an estate sale and it came with a box of all the original quilter accessories. Other than light oil and greasing, this is the first part that I've had to replace in 10 years and it cost me a whopping 15 dollars. Singer STILL makes parts for their treadle machines (they're used by missionaries and such) ^_^
At ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN YEARS OLD my sewing machine still performs better on a straight stitch than most NEW sewing machines under $200. ^_^