When is a sewing machine too old
05-03-2017, 09:28 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Fennville, Michigan
Posts: 138
When is a sewing machine too old
Hi everyone,
My 82 year old mother was throwing out her old Singer 7106. I said mom may I have it. She said why do you what that old thing. I said it may be old to you but not to me.
My 82 year old mother was throwing out her old Singer 7106. I said mom may I have it. She said why do you what that old thing. I said it may be old to you but not to me.
05-03-2017, 09:57 AM
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
Many vintage machines are still in use. Age doesn't really matter. As long as they were taken care of they were built to last back in the early days. I've tossed many ( new/ young ) machines- 1990's that were junk, cost more to fix than replace. My 1939 machine runs like a champ with the most beautiful straight stitch ever.
05-03-2017, 10:14 AM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,616
Many vintage machines are still in use. Age doesn't really matter. As long as they were taken care of they were built to last back in the early days. I've tossed many ( new/ young ) machines- 1990's that were junk, cost more to fix than replace. My 1939 machine runs like a champ with the most beautiful straight stitch ever.
05-03-2017, 11:39 AM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 8,147
There are a group of machines that can be "too old" because they are not actually old enough.
I'll take a 50-100 year old machine over a 25-30 year old machine any day.
The one thing going for the vast majority of sewing machines, they were never used all that much, some not even used enough to be properly broken in. It's rare that you find an old machine with serious signs of wear. but they can be worn out also. They don't normally "age" out like some plastic does, that will turn brittle even if it was never used.
I'll take a 50-100 year old machine over a 25-30 year old machine any day.
The one thing going for the vast majority of sewing machines, they were never used all that much, some not even used enough to be properly broken in. It's rare that you find an old machine with serious signs of wear. but they can be worn out also. They don't normally "age" out like some plastic does, that will turn brittle even if it was never used.
05-05-2017, 04:56 AM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 1,804
My vintage Kenmore (early 1970's) does a better straight stitch than my Brother I bought in 2007. It will also sew through almost anything. I have a 1960's era Singer I may get out and see how it works.
05-05-2017, 06:43 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 4,299
My personal "too old" threshold (for a machine I want to actually USE) is if it's so old that I can't reasonably get needles or bobbins for it, or if it's not a lock stitch machine.
I have no "too old" threshold for machines that are so pretty (or interesting) that I just want to look at them on my shelf.
I have no "too old" threshold for machines that are so pretty (or interesting) that I just want to look at them on my shelf.
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