Finally!

[Vantage]

I've been after a vintage sewing machine for ages but couldn't afford a good one.
My own machine recently developed a fault and had to be left in for repairs leaving me without a machine.
A very nice person stepped in and offered me one for free. Came home with this last week...

She's a 1935 treadle powered Singer 66k.
Friggin gorgeous!
She need a teensy bit of restoration which I'm leaving till summer but otherwise she runs beautifully.

 

[PeteXXX]

With a proper table, too! 😎

 

[KnittyNorah]

If you only want/need straight stitch, there's little if anything to beat a black cast-iron Singer. The 201k is said to be the best domestic straight-stitch machine ever manufactured.

My favourite machine was an 1895 hand-crank Singer 15K; I did lots of craft fairs in company with her, and never failed to have a fascinated audience who could hardly believe that a sewing machine could (a) operate without electricity and (b) still work perfectly after well over a century of use.

 

[KnittyNorah]

With a proper table, too! 😎

It's not so much a table as an entire operating and storage system!

 

[HMS_Dave]

Lovely machine. My late Nan had one. Only wished i knew what had happened to it when she passed away.

 

[Reynard]

I have a 1941 99K with a Hillman electric motor - sews like a dream. A skip find, that one.

Also have about half a dozen hand-cranks - including the same one as @KnittyNorah plus four other assorted 1960s jobbies among which numbers a very nice Pfaff.

 

[Drago]

What a lovely old thing!

Is it working? Are you planning to use it or did you just fancy one for the ornamental value?

 

[Vantage]

It is indeed working
I'm planning on using it when the need arises. Or when I fancy a change.

Originally the lady who passed it onto me said it was a 201k and then someone else checked the serial number to reveal it was in fact a 66k.
The 201k is indeed considered to be the finest sewing machine ever conceived. Rolls Royce used them to make their seats etc. Singer reven gifted one to I think princess Anne? As wedding present.
Bit of a disappointment to find out it wasn't but it's still a beautiful piece of machinery. And it was free!

 

[Drago]

It's marvellous. I love to see old gear still working perfectly. Who'll be using a 2023 iPhone in a century's time?

 

[fossyant]

I'm not showing MrsF, oh no. She who has 7 working machines !

 

[annedonnelly]

I rather like the look of your bike lamp to the left of the Singer. And is that box something to do with Anchor threads?

 

[Vantage]

I rather like the look of your bike lamp to the left of the Singer. And is that box something to do with Anchor threads?

House warming present from my sister
The anchor box I've no idea about. It came with the machine with a few bobbins etc.

 

[Vantage]

I'm not showing MrsF, oh no. She who has 7 working machines !

I personally have 5 now.
The lady I got the 66k from has 25+ machines.
A few others on the sewing forum have over 10 easily.
One of them could put the n+1 bike ownership people here to shame.......18 bikes!

 

[Drago]

Us cyclists do seem to have a bit of a hoarding problem.

It's starts with bikes, now you have 5 sewing machines.

I'm have 9 bikes...13 basses, 2 mandolins 2 guitars, and I'm eyeing a balalaika...

 

[wafter]

My mum has a similar one (boxed, not on a table) that she keeps banging on about getting rid of, however I love it just for what it is - seems like a properly engineered piece of kit. Pity I can't drive it to save my life