Quiltville's Home for Vintage Sewing Machines

Quiltville Custom Quilting
http://www.quiltville.com

Quiltville's Home for Vintage Sewing Machines!
(Or...Old machines never die, they just go to Quiltville!)

What is this Quiltmaker to do when a lonely and unloved vintage machine is cast aside in favor of a modern computerized wonder-model? I adopt them! I love them, each and everyone!

It seems the more "modern" machines advance to become computer driven and pre-programmed, producing die-cut perfection in their abilities, the more I feel that real skill is taken from the Quiltmaker, and atrributed rather to the machine, instead of the person driving it!

The fancier the machines get, and the more expensive their add-ons and abilities, the more I want to run to my vintage friends, leaving the wonder-machines to those who want to live in the modern world. I'm more of a piecer, than an embellisher, so all I really need is a super straight stitch, along with the occassional zig zag for when I actually NEED to sew on a button by machine, or perhaps join scraps of batting together to make a piece that is big enough for whatever quilt I am getting ready to quilt!

There is NOTHING like sewing on a vintage machine. Nothing in the world can connect you to Quiltmakers Past than feeling the hum of their machines beneath your fingertips as the fabric pieces feed through.

These are the machines in my household! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Click on each thumbnail to see the full size pic!

~Treadles & Handcranks~

Wilcox & Gibbs Treadle head. Serial # A734336 Nick Name: Willie	Davis Treadle,circa 1880-1890 Serial # D806080 Nick Name: Mavis Davis	Singer 15-30 Treadle , 1913 Serial # G3366451 Nick Name: Tiffany (Her decal pattern is Tiffany!)
1973 reproduction of 1923 Singer15 This was the 50 year anniversary of the orignal machine! The machine head is beautiful but I'd love to replace the cabinet with something more "vintage". Nick Name: Cleo (as in Cleopatra, her decals are Egyptian!)	Seidel & Naumann Hand Crank, Serial # 76108 Nick Name: Pearlie (from the mother-of-pearl inlay!)	Singer 15-98 Hand Crank, 1941 Serial # ED017851 Nick Name: Winston (found in Winston-Salem, NC) Also Winston for Winston Churchill! His decal pattern is called RAF, a WWII baby!

~Electric Full Sized Vintage Machines~

Singer 221K Featherweight, 1945 Serial # AG545758 Nick Name: Bertha (from Boise!)	Singer 221K Featherweight, 1964 Serial # EV970152 Nick Name: Bea (as in the Beatles!) (She was made in Great Britain after all!)	Singer 15-91, 1942 Serial # AG370158 Nick Name; Verna Fern (Named after my Grandmother This was her machine :c)
Singer 99K, 1927 Serial # AB804064 Nickname: Greta Garbo	Singer 24, 1946 Serial #AG740463 The Singer 24 is a chain stitch machine! Nickname: Lela (The name of her original owner)	Wizard by Precision Sewing Mach Dist. Serial # 88291, Japan, 1950's? (clone of singer 15-91) Nick Name: The Wiz :c) I love this blue color, and the little bit of decal on the bed. Who wouldn't want to sew on a blue machine named Wizard!?
Singer 404, 1958 Nick Name: Norma Jean	Singer 401A, 1957 Nick Name: Sandra Dee	Singer 328K, 1953 Nick Name: Sally (found her and her converted treadle cabinet at the Salvation Army)
Singer 185J, 1954 NickName: Mean Judy Green	Spartan 192k by Singer, 1958 Serial #33681 Nick Name: Sparty, Spartacus	Bell Micro: Real, not a toy! 1954 Nick Name: Lloyd Bell (posed in front of 185J Judy to show actual size!) More Info
Singer 301A, short bed 1951 Serial # NA289792 Nick Name: Ugly Betty Poor Ugly Betty was a gift from friend wo discovered her at a flea market after having spent all winter outdoors under a tarp! She still runs!	Singer 99, 1941 Nick Name: Gracie This one has the "godzilla" finish and was found in her decal adorned cabinet at a second hand store in Kernersville, NC! She came with bobbins, needles, thread, and the green button holer attachment box. RUNS GREAT! She is now living in my guestroom.	Singer 301A, long bed, 1951 Serial # NA156809 Nick Name: Edie Edie is a tan long bed, found at the Quilter's Unlimited show in Chantilly, VA where I was teaching June 2009. She just HAD to come join my menagerie!
Hot Rod Magenta 221K Featherweight Aquired in Sept 2010 at the Jacksonville Quiltfest! (This sister is complete with ghost flames, check her out!)

~Novelty and Toy Machines~
My friend Lucy started my toy collection! The first 3 shown were gifts from her, along with two mini quilts!
The third machine, a Regina, is shown with a mini quilt that I made myself.

Casige, 1940 Nick Name: Thelma	" Made in USSR" No age idea on this one? Nick Name: Louise (Also known as Red Russian!)	Regina, 1940's Nick Name: Regina Shown here with her box and the mini quilt I made.
Singer 40-D, 1950's Serial #22855 Nick Name: Little Brownie	Little Singer Touch & Sew, 1970's I always wanted one of these when I was little. I didn't get one then,but I have one now! Nick Name: Marsha Brady	Found in Virgina, unknown manufacturer battery operated, says Japan on the bottom Nick Name: Japan Blue
Little Gateway NP-1 (1940) Found in Altoona, PA Nick Name: Rosie	Singer Sew Handy, 1950s This little cutie was adopted at an antique mall in Augusta, Georgia while shopping with my friend Siobhan. The box is even in great shape!

I DO sew on my vintage machines,but this isn't the end of the list!

This is my main workhorse! Bernina 1080, 1994 Nick Name: Nina	Viking/Husquvarna 500, Late 1990s Thought I wanted embroidery to do labels. I still do not do them! Nick Name: Laura (After my friend who had one just like her) Mother's day 2009 I gifted this machine to my mom who is learning how to quilt! YAY MOM!! :cD	Pfaff 6230, late 1990's Bought on Ebay,still needs servicing. I thought I needed the evenfeed,but I like my Nina better! Live and Learn!
Janome "Hello Kitty" 2008 This little baby weighs 9 lbs and is too cute! I saw her at a quilter's retreat and really "HAD" to have one. She has lots of features my featherweights don't have, including needle up/down. I haven't sewn on her yet! Nick Name: Kitty	APQS Millenium, 2008 Known as Fiona, (Because she is BIG like Fiona from Shrek, but still a Princess and SO COOL!)	2009 Janome 6500p I bought this because of the thread cutter! and I do love it for paper piecing.

~Great Links for Vintage Machine Collectors~