OT cooking stoves and hand vacs

Singer sewing machines for years were among the very best available. Then the Name was sold. The machine quality went downhill as the "company" was sold several times. A couple (??) years ago they were finally purchased by the same company that owns/is Husqvarna-Viking USA, and which also owns Pfaff sewing machines. So Singers may be making a quality comeback. We shall have to see.

Several years ago I was the sewing machine manager at a local House of Fabrics store. We carried Singers, but I didn't like to sell them. Especially the low end models. Some of them were made in Brazil. sigh.

Pati, in Phx

C> >

Who would have thought that "major suckage" would ever be a _good_ thing.

NightMist bemused

I do know that Crosley and Maytag are the same company. Mary in VT

...

What a great idea, Val! I'm going to hit the yard sales around here till I find something like you found. Thanks!

Yeesh. That's a shame (about the "name" being sold so many times and Singer turning into a crappy product). I remember when I was shopping for my first "baby" (about 10 years ago, LOL!) the dealer I was talking to (who did have Singers - trade ins) warned me against them in no uncertain terms. He said he wouldn't even service them ...

That's great about H-V & Pfaff taking them over - wouldn't it be nice if Singer wasn't such a curse word in the sewing world again?? I admit that I have over the years compiled quite a collection of Singer memorabilia - the tins and tin signs especially. It'd be nice if I could hang them knowing that they're back to making those who sews' lives easier again! :)

"Connie" wrote in message news:040820071218520839% snipped-for-privacy@knologyDOT.net...

Actually Viking and Pfaff didn't technically take them over. Since I started following the complications of this tangled web it's like trying to follow the "who's on first" routine.

I'm a Wall Street mergers and acquisitions info junkie and have been watching this chain of events going on for quite sometime, since around

1992, about 15 years ago when I first started seeing the Husqvarna name being batted around like a tennis ball.

Knowing the chain of the acquisition events, by whom - of whom, I'm just holding my breath that Viking and Pfaff aren't dragged down to where Singer ended up all in the interest of profits, mergers and "collect $200 when you pass go". Singer may not be the only name cursed in the sewing machine world as we *thought* knew it.

Husqvarna Company sold their sewing machine division to a conglomerate who also bought Pfaff, they combined the two companies under one name. The two plants (so far) are still assembling (assemble is the key word here) their own machines but much of the manufacturing of parts is done elsewhere. They acquired Singer and now are going to be manufacturing all their machines under the new division named "SVP Worldwide". So far they are still assembling Singers in the same way they have been but some of the plants have changed. Many of the parts for all 3 of these machines are being made the same contractors and then shipped to whatever plant will assemble.

The Husqvarna company bought out an Italian motorcycle company, lawnmower company, chainsaw company. They were then bought as a whole by another group that already had acquired Pfaff but had the rights to and continued to use the name Husqvarna. This group also had recently bought out Electrolux. They then merged with a group who bought Saab and the Moped Company. Husqvarna used the European division of Electrolux, to make the stoves they sell under other names. Because of rapid expansion Husqvarna was cash strapped and was a victim of hostile take over. Husqvarna, as a whole, was acquired in a leverage buy out and then divided up and resold. Confused yet?

This group bought the *NAME* Singer which means they can now make any sewing machine anywhere and call it a Singer. For awhile there was even a small Janome assembly plant that was contracted to slam together a cheap little machine and slap the name SINGER on it. (I am NOT bashing Janome machines, that plant was just making a machine to spec as per contract.) The sewing machine division of this corporate ball of snakes, now called 'SVP Worldwide' are the ones responsible for making Singer, Viking and Pfaff, hence SVP. "They" is Kohlberg and Company in N.Y. Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C. is a leading U.S. private equity firm. This means they excel in making money (their estimated NET worth -free and clear profit- is now over $3 BILLION) not products. Kohlberg, established in 1987, acquires "middle market" companies valued from $100 to $500 million. Kohlberg invests in companies where it can work in partnership with senior management to identify growth opportunities and implement fundamental operating and strategic changes, resulting in substantial increases in revenue and cash flow. This firm's use of moderate amounts of debt financing in acquiring companies affords them the financial flexibility necessary to attain these corporate objectives. Their mission statement says "corporate objective" which translates to "make financial profit" as in minimize outgo, maximize income. "Corporate objective" is not necessarily synonymous with "quality".

Sooooooo ~deep breath~ this all comes down to the fact many of the old trusted names are not actually the old trusted companies but are being acquired and run by one large investment company's MBA bean counters who want the bottom line to read *PROFIT* which means that none of us can be sure, who, when, where or what we trusted to be quality is any longer in a brand name alone. The very first Viking SM I bought (some time during the Bronze Age) had a little card attached, proudly signed by the two people who built that machine and the signature of the person who gave it the official thumbs up when it left the factory personally guaranteeing the lifetime quality of the machine. In almost 40 years I've spent a grand total of $26 on that SM for one repair (my fault) and it still sews as beautifully as the day I got it. Sadly, I don't think we'll ever see those days again.

.......and the chain of events that lead to this post, started by Polly asking about stoves and vacuums, is about at convoluted as the corporate machinations and buy outs leading up to who is now making what machine. WHEW!

Anyone need smelling salts or cold clothes for the back of their necks?

Val

Thanks for the info Val. Barbara in SC

Which may explain BS (before Swamp) why when I wanted a dishwasher to match the other Maytag kitchen appliances, I had (I think) a Whirlpool because the Maytag factory only made black dishwashers with the Whirlpool label. It seems to me that Sears has always done that. You could have an SM that said 'Sears' but was actually made by Singer or Tonka. Who knows? Polly

I have ONE question: Would you be interested in taking a look-see at MY investment portfolio?!

Cause, Girl, if you were able to make sense of all that financial and investment hooba-doo and say it plainly so's people like me can understand it, You are the person to talk to! :)

But yeah, it's sad ... I'm in the market for a nice, bang-for-the-buck,

*quality* SM for my 13 yo (who's a quilter, too! YAY!!) and I am scared SPITLESS!! I don't want her future desires to be stifled and destroyed by a crappy SM. And since I'm not entirely sure that she'll still love quilting a year from now (she's just now "discovering" boys), I don't want to spend a gajillion dollars. :)

But I have to plug my SM though - I bought it about 8 years ago - a Kenmore computerized model (top o'the line at the time for a Kenmore) - and I've NEVER spent a single dime on repairs. It's always been a fun, tough, hard-worker! I've never bought a another SM (I don't think a serger counts) - never needed to or had the desire (though I do have my eye on an embroidery machine - though I LOVE hand embroidery)!! :)

Connie-

I *think* Janome has been making Sears sewing machines for some time. Remember the year old gently used Janome Jem I got for $150 a month or so ago? That would be a sweet machine to buy for a beginning kiddo and if it didn't work out then you'd have a nice machine to carry along to classes and for a back-up machine, etc.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Oooh! You think I could get a deal like that, too??! DD would LOVE that.

She deserves it - she's an AWESOME kid!! But we're already spending a mint remodeling her room for her crafting (she's a crafting wonder! Beading, sewing, paper-crafting ... there's not a craft she'll turn her nose up at!). We're installing a HUGE L-shaped desk (takes up two walls) with plenty of storage for her computer set-up, a spot for homework, crafty items, fabric, and beads. So, I have to be a bit on the cheap side ...

Thank you SO much for the recommendation .... I take it your new baby has been treating you well?! :)

I'm still a firm believer in givng a good machine to a beginner, but a good machine doesn't have to be a NEW machine and it doesn't have to be expensive. I'd go to a dealer and try out those trade ins they have on a shelf for $100. If she's quilting she doesn't need a ton of fancy stitches, she needs a reliable, consistant performer, maybe one that you can get a good walking foot attachment. I think, and this is just my personal opinion, but the Singers made in the 50's did a wonderful straight stitch, ran smooth and made the EverReady bunny look like a slacker. The Kenmores and Domestics were great machines in the 50s as well. I've seen these on Craig's List and in the paper for as little as $25 dollars and they are usually in a nice cabinet. BONUS! Take some fabric and go plug it in and tell them you want a test drive. Even if you spent the money on a cleaning and tune-up you'd still be ahead and your 13yo would have something good to learn on. Later if and/or when the hormones calm down and she's developed a strong addiction (not a bad thing, then you can teach her about S.E.X) and wants a new machine you've got a great graduation gift to think about.

I don't regret spending the gazillion dollars on my Designer1. It's fun. I wanted it and I had the cash. I didn't NEED it. It still makes me shudder a little when I think I dumped more money into that machine and the programs than I did to buy my first house. I still have a 1955 straight stitch Singer that I adore, my other Singer dressmaker circa 194?, that I learned to sew on disappeared somewhere between the sidewalk and the truck during my last move. I'm still pretty miffed about that because it had a knee control and beautiful cabinet. My old Viking is a real work horse, I've stitched up leather chaps, rifle scabbards, canvas army surplus tents, too many wedding and prom dresses to count, family clothing, home dec projects and school costumes on that darling. She never let me down no matter what I was sewing. And Connie, I'm a hand embroiderer as well, I love it.....and I also do tatting. The weird deal is I can't crochet or knit to save my life and Lord knows I've tried to learn. *sigh*

Val

Yup, and it gets even trickier because everyone of those companies job out contracts to different places for different models in different years. And just because Sears says a particular washer was made by Whirlpool doesn't tell you that parts were made in China, Mexico, Brazil or Egypt. Then you have to dig to see if they were made partly assembled in Mexico or other non regulated places and what company has hidden that fact when they slap their name on it and ship it out of a facility in the USA. It's worse than the sewing machine fiasco. The best thing you can do is get the model number and start doing research, the internet is your friend, on who had their fingers in the pie at that time your appliance was made. As far as appliances go anymore I think the only smart thing you can do is buy an extended warrantee contract after you've checked every current consumer report you can find for the model you want.

One thing that we all need to remember is that all these things, and this started in the mid to late 60s, are now engineered to self destruct. The baby furniture industry was the first to start this. You can't make big profits if that crib, stroller and highchair doesn't fall apart after 2 1/2 kids, or sooner. That wonderful, indestructible, heavy hard maple baby furniture and arc welded steel stroller that was passed around families, friends and neighbors for generations isn't going to happen anymore. There won't be anymore Grandmas washing clothes and vacuuming with that wedding present that's 40-60 years old and still working. We are now geared to be a disposable society so the manufactures can make the big bucks. I know my old Singers and old Viking will still be wonderful functioning machines long after I'm gone but I have serious reservations saying the same thing about my Designer1, or any of the newer machines now on the market. Our Kate, among others in this group, are still whirling away on treadles that were made before electricity was put in homes and there was a horse in a stall instead of a car in the garage but have run TOL sergers and sewing machines into the grave just from use, not neglect or carelessness. Think about it.

Val

And how many other thriving and respected companies have been the subject of multiple takeovers and subsequent closures, often in the name of globalisation.

Its heartbreaking when you remember all the hard work and dedication of the original workers that's just been thrown away. DH retired 7 years ago shortly after the first takeover of the successful manufacturing company he had worked for for 30 years. He was so lucky - it is now an empty deserted building.

Yes, yes quite a lot, yes, very easy to clean, yes and yes

I keep my stove top covered with a tea-towel when I'm not using it to keep dust, etc off it so I only have to clean it after I use it, which is what the instruction are to do.

I recently got a Dyson cordless which works great but may be a little heavy for you as it weighs in at 1.5kg.

Actually my oven is a fan forced electric, stove top is ceramic but not the fancy sort I love how easy it is to clean.

Does the Dyson baby have the ability to connect to the cute wee little tools that can go inside the innards of the SM, serger and pc? Polly

"melinda" >wrote> I recently got a Dyson cordless which works great but may be a little

Polly, I have a ceramic top and I love it. there are no cracks for crud to hide in, no burner depressions to have to wipe out, just a nice flat surface with a bit of a rim to keep stuff from running over the edge. My cooking and cleaning are limited (as evidenced by the state of my floors and that easy-clean cooktop), but that's my story and I'm sticking to it...;-)