My Museum of vintage sewing machines
Vintage machines from 1896 onward including my mother’s 1955 99K that I was 1st taught on.
Over the last couple years or so, I have been downsizing my collection from between 15 to 24 machines to the ones you see here. As we are older now, it has become difficult for us to move the machines around as some of the portable ones weigh 25 to 30 pounds, and I also thought that it was time for a younger generation to enjoy and learn about these fantastic old machines.
I have sold off 2 of my 3 treadles, keeping just the 1936 15-88 as I love to play on it once in a while. It is like a little tank when it comes to getting through multiple layers. I used to use it for making all of my microwave bowl cozy’s. It just sailed through the thickness of the batting like it was nothing. That, and I can use it if the power goes out lol!… seriously I have! By the way, the weight on the ones I sold, (the Eaton, and the Singer Parlor model) were at least 75 pounds EACH!
My oldest two machines from the 1800’s are more display pieces but they do work and I do play with them now and then. The one from 1896 I am partial to, as that is the year that two of my grandparents were born. I thought that was kind of cool. Both of them are hand crank style. Now that takes some coordination! Using any one of these is like literally stepping back into history!
The Rocketeers
- My first Singer 503J “Rocketeer” is out of commission due to a nasty accident. It is now my parts machine for the replacement one we found.
- My second Singer 503J “Rocketeer” I purchased in November of 2024. It is a cabinet model and has an option for either foot or knee controls (pictured above). It is identical to the first 503J the parts machine. The cabinet is worn and has some damage on the front. It looks like someone put something hot on it and it ruined the finish. I also have to have a small shelf under the fold out section of the table as it too is worn and tends to sag downward. So the shelf is there to help support it and keep it level. I keep this machine opened up, and it is part of my main sewing area. I use it for when I’m working with tougher projects, thicker layers etc.
Rocketeers are a huge favourite of mine because they can do just about anything! You can drop the feed dogs so you can free motion quilt. It can zigzag, and other stitches if you have the disks (which I do). The needle can be changed from center to right or left positions. It was quite an adaptable machine for its day.
Mom’s Singer 99k
My mom’s 1955 Singer model 99k is the machine on which I learned to sew when I was about 9 or 10 years old. It is still usable today. That machine will stay in the family of course.
The original box for her machine rotted with age, so I had put it into a sewing machine table for a while. I later managed to find an idental box as her original. It was in decent shape other than cosmetically so it was put back into its original home. The above photo will be updated at some point as it was taken while the machine was in the machine table.