What's on Your WorkDesk Wednesday#370 and Black Beauty

Today's work desk is a totally different post for me.  Last week Steve and I went to an estate sale and FINALLY I found a used sewing machine here in San Antonio!  There were actually a few but I picked a Singer 201 and a cabinet.  the price went from 165.00 to 65.00 I really felt like given the state of the machine it shouldn't have gone over $50.00 How ever this particular machine is one that I needed for work sewing and thread painting.


here is a photo of one in very nice condition:

Before I show you mine and my workdesk, let me tell you what happened when I got the machine home.

The machine has the foot controller hard wired to the machine, so it was there.  The power cord was not!  So I borrowed one from another machine and ordered the cord ($12.00)  The machine ran great!  But the cabinet was missing the hinge pins! 


So I ordered those ($7.00)  and rigged the machine to sit in the hole so I could use it - I have done this many times before with other machines, it usually works just fine.

Well not this time, I stood up and lightly bumped the cabinet and Bang the machine fell through the hole and it the floor!!  First time for everything I guess!


The machine was fine!  However the bake light plug was crushed ( this was the borrowed power cord)  No surprise this machine is 40lbs of cast iron!



If I named sewing machine  - I don't , but if I did this would be Black Beauty.

The machine has really been used and abused:

for some unknown reason:
the lamp shade has been sawed in half


And the foot pedal has had the toe rest sliced off??

The decals are all gone:

This is one used machine!!


Today the new power cord arrived and my hinge pins!
Here she is all tucked up in her new cabinet!!

Cleaned, oiled and given a little TLC!

 It sews perfectly and has a very good motor.  This machine will sew 1200 stitches a minute!
I can't wait to start thread painting with this machine!!
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget ot go over to Jans Blog to pick up on the rest of the world wide crafty hop!!



Comments

Oh Ginny this takes me back to my mother's sewing machine... it was a post war Singer, I think called a Jubilee model, and was robust enough to be able to have a motor attached in the late 50's. It sewed for many years and did many miles of sewing on it. Unfortunately I was unable to keep it and it had to be sold :-(.
I do love you post about this beauty, and all your comments about it - yours certainly has had a hard life, but Singer is always a great machine.
Blessings
Maxine
Oh I'm so glad you've got it up and running - I like the bit where it fell through the hole. I learned to sew on an old Singer treadle machine when I was about 6 - I hope your tensions work a lot better on yours. Have fun with Black Beauty x Jackie 14
Lunch Lady Jan said…
What a WONDERFUL post - I really enjoyed reading it. You did well to persevere and get it running but I love all the personal touches about it, where someone has used that machine hard for many years. What a story it could tell - I'm so glad you rescued it :-)
Hugs, LLJ xxx
shazsilverwolf said…
Hi Ginny, what a life that machine must have led! And how marvellous you have been able to get the bits it needed to make it whole again. That really surprised me, I must say. Have a great week, Hugs, Shaz #5 xxx
Sharon said…
What a beautiful sewing machine. Imagine the history of that machine - who used it? What was it used for? There's a whole story in that wonderful machine.

Enjoy
Sharon K #27
April said…
Congrats on your purchase. I hope you share what thread painting is. :-)
April #32
Dorlene Durham said…
Wow. This is just gorgeous. Have fun with it. Dorlene #35
BJ said…
WOW what a story. I have my late Grand Mother's old hand Singer machine with its rounded wooden case. I don't use it but love it. BJ#25
craftyani said…
I have a very old SInger industrial machine and when I am sewing often wonder who else has sat in front of it and what did they make. Wouldn't be without it you can keep all the modern machines and I have about 5 plus overlocker. My mum always swore by her Jones hand machine and made covers bedspreads eiderdowns etc.
Lori said…
Ginny, I have a 1906 Singer sewing machine! It does not have a motor. It is run by belt and foot pedal! Lots of exercise there! My machine is in its original cabinet and I even have the original instruction booklet. all in fabulous condition! My husband and I found it in 1989 at an antique shop in California, when we lived there! I don't remember what we paid for it though. Anyway, I did not know that they came with motors. I wonder what year they added motors to them. Happy Sewing! Hugs Lori
Pleased to hear the machine is working well. I was worried when you said it had dropped but luckily it went straight down as falling over can damage the take up bar. I learnt to sew on an old hand cranked Jones. Hope you have a great belated woyww and happy crafting, Angela x
Sofie V said…
Congrats on your purchase! What is thread painting? I have never heard that expression.

Greetings, Sofie #45
http://sofie-s-world.blogspot.be
ToadilyDiane said…
I do not know what thread painting is, but I'm so happy you found a machine for it. You could also use it as a weapon! don't let it fall on your foot! LOL
Have a great day!
Diane #24
dmgarafalo said…
You never cease to amaze me my dear friend, awesome work with the machine. so what is thread painting - dare I ask? I had time to post, but not make the rounds til now. donna #34

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