I’ve been out and about a bit thrifting. Not too long ago I was at a thrift store and saw this machine…
I need ZERO more machines but still, I always look. I was particularly interested in this one as it has the exact cabinet of my Singer 15-91 and I just love this cabinet.
I believe from the dating that it’s a Singer 201. Darn. I had been looking for one. It looked to be in really good shape but seriously…I needed ZERO more machines. ZERO!
It appears to have been manufactured in 1951. I decided to take a sneak peek at the price tag. WOAH! That was a lot more than I expected. That’s not terrible as it looks to be in good shape but much more than machines typically are around my area. There is some damage to the decals at the base…In the end I was happy that it was that much. That way, I wasn’t tempted.
When I went to the cross stitch retreat in Osage I hit up a new to me thrift store. It was perfect as on the day I went, everything was half-price. There happened to be a machine there as well. The cabinet on this one wasn’t as nice.
This one is a model 66…ugh. Another one I don’t have. This one was made in 1949. This one had what eBay was calling a gorilla finish. Meaning it’s not a shiny glossy finish.
This one was much cheaper. It was priced at $50 but remember everything was half-price. That means it would have only been $25. That’s my kind of deal…but I didn’t buy it. I have no room and need ZERO machines. I keep telling and retelling myself that. ZERO MACHINES for you Jo Kramer!!
I do keep rationalizing that before long I can get rid of some of the toys I keep here on the main floor of the house and put a sewing machine there. Hmm. But, I’m a little way out from that happening.
So I left that machine there but I did bring some vintage picture frames home.
Do you remember that I like to get vintage frames and use them for my cross-stitch finishes? Well, I found some great ones!!
Actually, Kayla was shopping with me and found this one! Oh, I love that it’s gold. It looks good with so many projects and I love the detail of the frame. At $8 it was expensive for my thrift stores but it was half price so it came home with me.
This one ended up being only 50 cents. The hard thing about this one is that there are two circles in the middle of each side so if I cut the frame down, I have to cut from each side. Hmm. I bought it anyway!
This is another that had some nice detail in the frame and it was only $2.
I liked the detail on this frame too.
Oh…I liked this one and then I looked close and liked it even more. Aren’t those detail in the frame so pretty? They almost look like peacock feathers.
I ended up buying this one too. I can see myself putting a seasonal piece on this in the middle. I have previously used a board like this and really liked how it turned out.
Well, now I have frames. I better get to stitching so I can fill them.
Those are my latest finds when I have been out and about thrifting. I am so happy with all of my purchases. I have to admit, that $200 machine with the wonderful cabinet is tempting. If it’s still there and they knock the price down closer to $100 I might think about it a little more. But before I’d buy it I would be sure to see how the stitches are. Hmm.
But Jo Kramer, you don’t need any more machines…seriously, ZERO machines. Oh, I hope someone else buys it!! If you want the address of where it’s at, send me an email and save me from myself!!
I took a break from sewing… on my new to me 201 that I didn’t really need… to check your blog, lol. The 66 you saw is just like “Prudence”. She was a gift from my DIL who bought her for $15 and used her for decor. That is the machine that started my flock. I’m the last person you’d go to for discouragement haha!
Sometimes you can make an offer and they will accept it. But not Goodwill. That machine will work when the children grow some. Your frames are beautiful, they will look great with your cross stitch.
The crinkle finish is not gorilla. It is called Godzilla and comes in black, brown and burgundy depending on the individual manufacturer’s recipe.
I’m a sewing machine collector with hand crank, treadle and electric machines dating from the 1860s (Folsom hand crank) through the 2023s (Bernina 570qe).
My favorite machines were manufactured by Wheeler & Wilson beginning in the 1870s.
I love my Singer 15-91s. The Singer 66’s are great, but I prefer the 15s.
Phyllis, Oooh, I can tell you’d be an interesting person to have coffee with lololol! I love hearing the stories about how vintage machine gatherers came to have their machines and what they think of them. All of it is interesting to me. Blessings!
Oh Jo, I feel your pain.
You’ve got three interesting finds before even considering the frames. Two of the items are referred to as motto prints or poems, and the baby is a print of a vintage work by Charlotte Becker.
Nice thrift scores, Jo! I’m singing that same song. I need NO MORE machines!!!
I just love your frames and also a couple of the pictures in the frames. The baby in the high chair picture is just adorable. I’m hoping you’re going to save that picture as well as the angel one. They look really old and I love that you showed them.Your thrifting adventures are always my favorite posts
Connie, I nutcracker the old prints in the frames as well. I’m curious to see if she finds a way to use them as well as the frames. They all look vintage and like something that would have held a special place in the original owner’s home.
That’s the same model I inherited from my Grandma. Sure wish I had kept it. Best machine I’ve ever had
The baby print picture you have is a Vintage 1950 Charlotte Becker Baby Print “Baby Asleep in Hightchair.
In the pictures from the retreat, Janet was using something to hold the fabric. What were these called and where can you get them?
She was using the large size of Nurge embroidery hoops. You can find them HERE. https://amzn.to/451iG7x
Jo, I’m wondering if Sandy was actually asking about some kind of bands or something that one of the lady’s was using to hold her fabric out of her way. You gave us a link for it but that didn’t work. I was interested in knowing what she used also. Right now I use the bigger quilting clips that are like clothes pins.
These are the magnetic cord ties Janet was using. https://amzn.to/3OzRqYi
G’afternoon Jo, I’ve a ’49 Singer w/the bullet shaped bobbins I bought at a thrift store several years ago. It’s in a carrying case in perfect condition. Like yourself, I’ve many machines. I didn’t need it but bought it anyway. My older sisters & I grew up sewing on a ’52 Singer Featherweight that I inherited several years ago. I replaced the cord/peddle & bobbin case on the Featherweight. My problem is w/the tension…I can’t seem to adjust it correctly. Do you have any helpful hints? There aren’t many seamstresses left & I happened to come across your pics. I thought you may have an idea on my tension issue. The Featherweight will sew anything & I’d love to use it. Any tips on the tension? Thank you for your consideration.
the photo bomb bombed !!! very disappointing that we did not get to see what i imagine was Gannon bombing Carver photos.
The Singer 201 is the best machine they made – I have 3 of them now and 2 have been my daily sewers for years. They power through everything and are very quiet! Not really anything that can go wrong and you just need to oil them occasionally – no servicing needed. Looks like the cord needs re-wired on that one. They were going for $350-400 online when cleaned up. 1951 with the blue badge is the centennial model. I like them better than the 15-91.
My Mother’s machine and cabinet is just like that. I learned to sew on that machine. It’s still at her house because I don’t have room for it at my house.
You found some beautiful frames – I love the detail on them. Don’t forget to read the back of the prints from the frames if there are any. Sometimes we can get an interesting history lesson from them!
Love and prayers
Oh, Jo, you are so funny. I read your post to my husband as we had our morning coffee. We both could relate and laughed out loud at you trying to talk yourself out of another sewing machine. My count used to be 9, but one was a treadle machine in “foster care” while trying to sell it for a friend. It took a couple years, but I was finally able to find it a good home. Like you, I am always tempted when I see an interesting machine or cabinet. Good for you for for being able to “just say no!”
I also love your Thrift store finds. I buy for myself ,friends and mostly my family. In Southern Ca, I don’t find a lot of fabric. But I always buy great shirts.
In my area of the country $200 for a machine with no cabinet is cheap. Mostly they start at almost $300. Nice ones go for more. I found one at an estate sale for $225 thinking I was getting a good deal. I only realized later some one had pilfered the bobbin case. It took awhile to find one.
In a cabinet you are looking at more like $400 and up.
It is good to begin my day with a giggle. I’m behind on my reading of the blog and this is what I needed. I too “rescue” machines. Now people dump them by me. Every time I adopt one out, I get more. I have 5 set up with projects – my fave for piecing is my Aqua Singer 337. Just was given a Kenmore 158.1040 3/4 size in mint condition – finally a machine I can lift. I have 5 more that I rotate in and out to keep them in shape. I’ll keep trying to adopt these old girls out but there is not a lot of interest in these workhorses. I think we should start an adoption agency for them.