Originally Posted by Cindy Lou Who

Course, this would be second on the list because I want to go play with the girls when we all meet at Miz Johnny's place for her cleaning, rearranging, story telling event she wants to hold for us. This is the one where Susan Margaret from Columbus will join in too - we'll be Miz Johnny's slave labor for the day if she just lets us get a pinky toe in her basement!! :lol:
Cindy

Originally Posted by BoJangles

No Miz Johnny, it is black, but the needles are short. There is a guide on the machine itself as to the length of the needle.

Do you know what size I need to start looking for, or what they are called? How to start a search for the correct needle?

Nancy

Originally Posted by Miz Johnny

Here's the thing--though most of us consider our machines to be priceless, the rest of the world could basically care less. There are a few truly rare and truly worth-a-lot-of-bucks models, but they are mostly in private collections such as Carter Bays or Harry I-Can't-Remember-His-Last-Name in Charlotte. The rest of us have fairly common machines. Every so often, two bidders will get in a war over something on Ebay, and a common machine will sell for some outrageous price. We all shake our heads and wonder, but that doesn't mean we can sell OUR machines for that price. Off the top of my head, I can think of two machines that I have that might spark a bidding war on Ebay. Those two machines are the 431G, a German version of the 400/403 machines with a free arm, and a Singer VS I treadle. Even so, the 431G would probably only go for $500 tops and the VS I is anyone's guess. Maybe $100, maybe $600, depending on who wants it and who is close enough to get it.

Most people want Singers and will pay more because they're recognizable, but it's rare to get more than $150 for a decent treadle. I have seen Two Spool machines and Davis VF machines go unsold at collectors' gatherings, because they're common enough that if we want one, we find one.

Just my two cents worth, and that's ALL it's worth.

Originally Posted by vintagemotif

To keep your 15-91 or not is the question. The answer is YES! Why, for FM quilting or straight-stitch quilting. The harp space is larger than most modern machines (which makes it wonderful to quilt large quilts), makes a beautiful straight-stitch, easy to service (don't need to take it to be serviced), and parts are easy to find at this moment in time. I had two 15-91s. Sold one to a lady who had her FW, but wanted a 15-91 for quilting just because of the harp space. It could be the next big rage after the FWs. So, the FW will be the machine to take to classes, and the 15-91 will be the at home machine. Stop dusting that FW and start using it- you will love the stitches.


Forgot to mention that it will sew through almost anything! Sews through leather and great for hemming jeans.

Originally Posted by petpainter

Hi, I just found this blog which is wonderful. . . Just before the holidays I acquired a Singer 15-91 reversible feed in the cabinet. . . . I have also featherweight- is this model worth hanging on to? I haven't seen anything written about it, just what I've found online. I'm a bit space challenged. . . ?
Sally

Originally Posted by whenpigsfly

What is that propeller-looking thingee on top of the Minnesota?

Originally Posted by whenpigsfly

Look at this...! They were made by Davis!
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/li...sewing-machine

Originally Posted by dunster

Miz Johnny, I thoroughly agree. I bought a few machines because I was interested in tinkering with them, cleaning them up, sewing a little, learning about them. Except for my featherweight, I never paid more than $50 and seldom that much. Lately I am watching the asking prices on craigslist go up and up in my area, but I don't think most of those machines are selling, at least not anywhere near the asking price. (Some of them reappear month after month, sometimes with the same price, often with a lower price.) The typical ad says something like "not sure what this is, but I know it's rare and valuable". Since craigslist has no mechanism to report back on what sold, and at what price, everyone seems to assume that they will be able to get the prices they see there.

So that's another 2 cents worth. Pretty soon somebody will see this and think that their opinion is worth 5 cents, and off we go. Soon opinions will be offered on craigslist at ever-higher prices.

Originally Posted by Miz Johnny

Here's the thing--though most of us consider our machines to be priceless, the rest of the world could basically care less. There are a few truly rare and truly worth-a-lot-of-bucks models, but they are mostly in private collections such as Carter Bays or Harry I-Can't-Remember-His-Last-Name in Charlotte. The rest of us have fairly common machines. Every so often, two bidders will get in a war over something on Ebay, and a common machine will sell for some outrageous price. We all shake our heads and wonder, but that doesn't mean we can sell OUR machines for that price. Off the top of my head, I can think of two machines that I have that might spark a bidding war on Ebay. Those two machines are the 431G, a German version of the 400/403 machines with a free arm, and a Singer VS I treadle. Even so, the 431G would probably only go for $500 tops and the VS I is anyone's guess. Maybe $100, maybe $600, depending on who wants it and who is close enough to get it.

Most people want Singers and will pay more because they're recognizable, but it's rare to get more than $150 for a decent treadle. I have seen Two Spool machines and Davis VF machines go unsold at collectors' gatherings, because they're common enough that if we want one, we find one.

Just my two cents worth, and that's ALL it's worth.