IMS wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
On the electric scooter lists, I always tell people that they can buy the Bic pen of electric scooters -- those cheap Chinese scooters -- or they can spend money to buy a pen that will last for years and years. But people don't seem to want to spend $500-1000 on a scooter that will last for years and instead prefer to spend $100-200 on one that isn't goign to last 3 months, and then they think they are all junk.
POC = Piece Of C__P YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary
;-)
When I say older, I mean mid 60s of prior. I'm not sure what year the "older Singer" is that you have experience with. My 1960 (bought brand new that year) Singer 401A is a gem, I would not part with it. I don't know how many hours I've put on that machine, but I'd guesstimate thousands. It still hums like new. I recently bought a Singer Quantum XL 5000, and I will set it up for embroidery *only*, as my "real sewing" will continue to be done on the 401A.
Last summer when I was sewing for my DD's wedding I purchased *two* Singer 401As on eBay for under $150 each including S&H. Both needed a bit of cleaning and lubing, but that's it. They took right off sewing like dream machines.
You're quire right, the return issue, buying used on eBay, is a problem. But that's not the *only* way to buy an older used machine. Dealers take them in on trade, service them, and usually offer a short-term warrantee. I haven't looked, but I imagine there are a few listed in the classified ads in the newspaper, too.
Sorry, I don't "collect" machines, I only buy what I intend to use. But good luck. ;-)
[curtsying] Thank you kindly, ma'am. ;-)
"BEI Design"
I was speaking of one made in 1912 that was converted from treadle to motor during WW2 and a Touch and Sew from 70's.
However, my experience with sewing machines is rather limited but being an engineer/entrepreneur who retired at age 43 because of these talents, I think I have found a benchmark that defines the sort of "good old machine" we both have in mind.
Aside from very expensive machines that most casual sewers would not even consider, the machines started having reliability problems with the advent of the built in motor. There is nothing inherently bad or cheezy about plastic and aluminum if used in the right places so I ignore comments about "cheezy plastic". Current machines weigh a fraction of what the olders ones do. One thinks twice or many times before moving even a portable old cast iron machine. Aluminum frames and plastic cases are nice.
Plastic gears are another issue altogether but not necessarily because of cost reasons. I suspect that Singer diecast metal core gears with plastic teeth are there for quiet and cost more than metal gears. Unfortunately, there are very unreliable under stress.
Machines with outboard motors use pulleys and a belt to get the motor speed down to sewing speed. Nothing is simpler or more reliable. All the moving parts are just cams, levers and turning shafts which are reliable as rocks.
The built in motor forced designers to use gears to reduce the speed and transfer power and herein lies much of the problems associated with the more modern machine.
To get to my point, I think one can be far more confident in purchasing a used machine with an outboard motor than with one that is built in and that is my advice to beginners wary of the Walmart special. Not just old but with an outboard motor. For the futzer, they are a lot easier to fix, maintain and tinker with also.
js
-- PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
And have a huge amount of fun, plus filling the house with vintage machines...
Watch out, pooch - your bed space is needed for a treadle... ;D
Don't you believe it! I teach kids to sew on my Husqvarna Lily 550 (TOTL non-embroidery machine in 1998 when I got it originally, with a list price then of £1100), and one of the BIIIIG attractors for the kids is all those fancy stitches, the name-writing capacity, and the pix like the way you can put a steam train together! Boys, in particular, love this feature. And my view is, if it gets the little blighters stitching, bring on the fancy stitches!
Nah... Those old mechanical things usually only need a bit of a clean, some oil, and a little TLC to be good for another 100 years! They'll still be going strong when my Lily with it's fancy step motors, mother board and 240 stitches is landfill. Gotta love that Lily, but I do recognise its fixed lifespan.
So buy close to home and avoid shipping... Or join Treadle On and get the advantages of their Pony Express attitude - anyone going roughly your way will take it on to another Onion, who will pass it along... And so on until it gets to you! Can be slow, but for enthusiasts, that adds to the fun!
If you like, I can pass the details on to Treadle On for you: there may be an Onion in your area who can collect.
I sure can rrelate to that. I had a simplicity machine, cost around $200.00. It probably cost me more than that bringing it in to be adjusted all the time. I finally gave up on it and stopprd sewing for about 10years. I bought a small mechanical Viking for around $450. Love it and sew all the time now. Great little machine. Juno
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