scotjimland
LIFE MEMBER
- Jul 25, 2007
- 2,347
- 10,197
- Funster No
- 15
- MH
- A Woosh bang
I had an old Singer 98k sewing machine which I inherited from a great aunt. I loved it, made all sorts of stuff for the different vans and motorhomes I had owned.
Peg bags, window awnings, loose covers, curtains, wind breakers, etc etc. but sadly had to give it away when we went full time. :Sad:
I decided to find another and bid on one on eBay .. won it for the princely sum of £35
When I collected I was amazed at how good a condition it was in, had all the bits and bobs, thread still on both bobbins as if the last person to use had packed up and forgotten about it.. or perhaps had passed on.. The only thing needing fixed was the plug that fits into the motor, one of cores had been pulled out..
When I started it up it literally ran like a sewing machine .. as good as the day it left the factory in 1956 .. (I found the manufacture date from the serial number on the Singer web site) ..
The point of posting is only to comment on the quality of things from a bygone age, we don't make stuff to last any more.. a machine built to last and if looked after will last another fifty years or more.. what do we make today that has that sort of life expectancy .. or will give the same satisfaction fifty odd years on.
Of course my daughter said .. Ohhh dad , what did you buy that old thing for , I said.. to make all your new clothes .. she just looked aghast and said.. I don't think so dad.. but when I got it working and was testing on some old cloth I couldn't keep her away..
jim
Peg bags, window awnings, loose covers, curtains, wind breakers, etc etc. but sadly had to give it away when we went full time. :Sad:
I decided to find another and bid on one on eBay .. won it for the princely sum of £35
When I collected I was amazed at how good a condition it was in, had all the bits and bobs, thread still on both bobbins as if the last person to use had packed up and forgotten about it.. or perhaps had passed on.. The only thing needing fixed was the plug that fits into the motor, one of cores had been pulled out..
When I started it up it literally ran like a sewing machine .. as good as the day it left the factory in 1956 .. (I found the manufacture date from the serial number on the Singer web site) ..
The point of posting is only to comment on the quality of things from a bygone age, we don't make stuff to last any more.. a machine built to last and if looked after will last another fifty years or more.. what do we make today that has that sort of life expectancy .. or will give the same satisfaction fifty odd years on.
Of course my daughter said .. Ohhh dad , what did you buy that old thing for , I said.. to make all your new clothes .. she just looked aghast and said.. I don't think so dad.. but when I got it working and was testing on some old cloth I couldn't keep her away..
jim