Thrift Store Gems - Singer Edition - Sewing Machine Tour

[@debwillner5598]

It was great to see you two! I collect featherweights. They are my favorites. I have a few others but my bestie is my moms Elna🥰

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Thank you so much! Featherweights are awesome, Elnas are super cool. Thanks for watching!

[@UniversalEngineer]

Vintage Singers. 👏👏👏. My everyday machine is the Singer 201. My “modern” machine is the Singer 404. Great channel! ❤

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Thank you so much! That is great. Both awesome machines :) Thanks for watching!

[@johnclapham9333]

Good on you with your sewing machine collection, I started with Singer in 1957 and had a collection of mainly Singer. I have retired now. Your 128 Le Vincendora started out as hand machine then fitted with the 1921 BU bracket Motor, foot control and light, the foot control is the Original and both the motor and control should have a Brass name plate Regards John.

[@NeverTooMany2023]

That's great. Thanks for the info and thank you for watching!

[@robinr6399]

Oh my! You find some beautiful machines! Each of these are just lovely machines ❤️

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Thank you so much! Ya, we are really lucky to live so close to so many thrift stores. The folks in our area are awesome to donate machines on a regular basis. Thanks for watcing!

[@jeanettewithrow9641]

Love that you two love those old machines and are respectable to them. Love watching your channel. Thank you so much

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Thank you so much for watching! We do indeed love and respect all of the machines that we come across. So much fun :)

[@michaelcaselli2716]

Thank you for taking us along on your Singer exploration! I’m a new subscriber to your channel and love old(er?) machines! I’ve found a few at a local thrift store that I both love and use, including a New Home Memory Craft and an aqua/green Singer 327. The New Home was completely seized-up but runs beautifully after a spa treatment at my local sewing machine center. Sewing and quilting are two of my passions and, now, adding to my ‘fleet’ is my new pastime. Can’t wait to see what lucky sewing machine will cross your path in the future!

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Thank you so much for the kind words :) That is great that you are out saving old machines from thrift stores. So many stores send unwanted machines to the landfill everyday. Sounds like you have some pretty cool machines. Very nice. Glad you found us on KZbin. We will definitely have more machines to show. Thanks for sharing, and thank you for watching!

[@rwheatley0206]

Awesome Machines, We are looking for a Singer 500A Rocketeer right now. We collect old sewing machines as well. We have a couple of 128's a 401, a 301, 2 touch Tronic 2010's and many others.

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Thank you so much! That's great that you collect as well. So much fun :) Funny that you say you are looking for a 500a. We just scored a free one on marketplace in our town. It did not come with a power cord or foot pedal. Of course we have 4 or 5 sets that work with it so no problem. Once we got the machine all cleaned up and lubed, it works really well. Sometimes you just get lucky :) Thanks for sharing and thank you for watching!

[@lynnec222]

Futura!!! I learned to sew on a treadle machine and when my parents realized i was serious, my dad surprised me with a Futura. It was 1973-1974 and the Futura was top of the line. I made most of my Jr High & High School wardrobe with this machine and used it daily until I went away to Design school and got a portable Elna SU. The Futura served me well. Here is what i remember about it. Bobbin does fill in place by sliding the lever (with red arrow) to the right. This made for very finicky tension problems that were only fixed by emptying bobbin & refilling. I believe the feed dogs are rubber and disintegrate over time. The machine does have plastic gears and the plastic shell yellows with age/heat, not necessarily from smoking as i never smoked. My machine was in a cabinet with a knee lever. Side switch is indeed 2 speeds. I personally could never get the cam stitches to work correctly but the best thing about this machine was the buttonholes. Insert the button into The back of the large foot and slide it so button is snug. There is a lever to pull down to the left of the needle. Pull it all the way down & pull it forward (it will snap) this engages a new buttonhole. If i remember correctly all dials get set to red and start sewing. This automatically makes a buttonhole to the correct size of your button. The pull down lever hits a tab on the foot to signal size of button hole and to reverse for second side. To make another, you just pull the pull down tab towards you until it snaps. This was totally innovative for the time and i still dream about the perfect buttonholes this machine made. It must have been expensive to manufacture as Singer quickly discontinued this feature.

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Wow. Thank you for all of the wonderful information! It is very interesting...of all of the machines that we show on this channel, by far the most reaction we get is from people sharing their experiences with the Touch n Sew era machines. So much fun. We love hearing about all the great memories people have. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge with all of us. Thanks for watching!

[@renitageorge9007]

I also have a Futura; 1977. Mine is in a cabinet. I have tested it out on a few functions, but haven't cleaned it up yet. That's yet another one that I need to get to. Oh my! Like you, I can't resist taking them in and giving them a good home. It has some features that none of my other machines have. It can do chain stitching,and of course,wind the bobbin in place. I'm looking forward to getting it cleaned up. Keep up the great videos. I have a 27 treadle machine from 1895, that came with the Puzzle Box set of attachments, including a ruffler. It's amazing, the in the day!

[@NeverTooMany2023]

That is cool. I was hoping that someone out there would have a Futura as well :) I can't wait to get ours up and running. The noises it was making weren't promising, but it is worth a try. Thanks for the info and thanks for watching!

[@renitageorge9007]

Before I got more comfortable taking covers off of machines, that one scared me a little, because it has as lot more going on. I've since cleaned up and serviced a small variety of machines, and it doesn't seem so scary now. I'll definitely have to get to it. It didn't look like yours has a free-arm, but maybe I just couldn't see it. Mine does, and just behind the needle plate area, the bed swings down, to access the free-arm. I'm sure you've discovered by now that the Reverse is on the stitch length dial, which is pushed straight down. Thanks for your response.

[@hawkinscsa]

That 503 was my mom's machine of choice. Still have both of her machines. ❤ The hidden spool pin is for the top of the machine. That is its storage position. You're lucky most of them are missing.

[@NeverTooMany2023]

That is great! So many people love this machine. It has to be one of the most recognizable models out there. Thanks for sharing!

[@hawkinscsa]

@@NeverTooMany2023 , Personally I like the 403 better, but then again I like almost all Singers!

[@colin101981]

Thank you again guys, that was really good fun. Hope you get the last one working, I've never seen anything like it.

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Thank you for watching!

[@renitageorge9007]

Regarding your 1919 Model 128; you asked if anyone had seen a plug assembly like that. I have a 1917 Western Electric that has a swing-down motor, with a rubber-bound pulley that drivers the handwheel. My foot controller is similar to yours. By the way, I have a 1941 128, with blackside plates and covers, with "Wrinkle" finish. I haven't cleaned that one up yet, because we moved, and I've also been acquiring more sewing machines,and getting them going. I think that will be my next one to clean up. It's pretty clean already, since it's in a case. I love your videos,and would have to agree...Never Too Many. My husband doesn't feel the same, ha ha!

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Wow, that is really cool :) I never would have thought that someone would have the same foot controller. The blackside plates would be really neat to have. That is great that you are collecting and showing old machines the love they deserve. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for watching!

[@julieweber6670]

The Futura looks a little bit like my singer 1425N. Same bobbin, same tension dial, similar reverse and stitch length dial and I have 25 stitch choices showing on the front of the machine. Super heavy machine. Love this video -thanks for sharing .

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Thank you so much! You are right, it does look a lot like yours from what I can see online. Really looking forward to getting that one working right. Love a good challenge :) Thanks for watching!

[@elainebukowsky9187]

Another great video! Keep them coming. I love the decals on the 1919 Singer. Can’t wait to see a demo once you get the hand crank attached.

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Thank you so much! We will keep our eye out for a hand crank. We haven't ever operated a hand crank machine. It sounds like fun :) Thanks for watching!

[@lindadalton2668]

This last machine is a 70 s machine. I still have my moms 😊😊Athena 2000 the first electronic machine ever made I bought it for her when it first came out Singer still today has the picture of the Athena on their box giving the year (70s) and the fact that it was the worlds first totally electronic machine. It still sews and it was my moms every day machine. She sewed every day. This little machine came in just after the Athena.

[@NeverTooMany2023]

All great info. Thanks for sharing!

[@lindadalton2668]

It would be great if could give us an idea of what you pay for these machines. I know it would be different in every area but it would be exciting to know what’s out there and maybe inspire others to get out and thrift

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Great advice. Thank you. For your info...we generally pick up thrift store machines anywhere from 20 to 90 dollars.

[@jennaforesti]

The three step switch is for slow and fast sewing settings.

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Thank you so much!

[@alexlopez8922]

Hey I have the same motor as your antique sewing machine, those connectors are called Chicago connectors and Believe it or not that pedal is a singer, mine came with a singer 66 “red eye” in a bentwood case and as far as I know that was a heavy duty pedal and the connectors were so if you would like to upgrade to a home one the transition would be posible and you could switch form one pedal to the other according to your likes

[@NeverTooMany2023]

That's great. Thanks for the info! Ya, never seen that type of connector or pedal before. Good to know they are actually made for a sewing machine :) Thanks again and thanks for watching!

[@carolineroy9026]

Those connectors look like they are for a knee bar control Bentwood case...

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Thanks for the info! You could be right for sure :) Crazy looking connectors right? Thanks for watching!

[@jackiehornick-bk2fq]

I just bought a Kenmore 58 series 117.580 in a cabinet that looks like a dresser when all closed up. When I got it I looked all over for a foot pedal lol please help

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Lol. Congrats on the new machine. I am sure you will love it :) Not sure about your fool pedal. Hope it all works out for you. Thanks for watching!

[@sewingintrifocals-alisonde7778]

“La vencedora” means “the conqueror” in Spanish. 😇

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Awesome thanks!

[@nmjerry]

Yes and the case to the 401A is actually a bent wood case; it's just the bend is in the opposite direction compared to the older bentwood cases, Also the wood is covered. As a kid back in the 60s, I noticed singer tried to give the interior of the case a plasticized look by have white speckling uniformly applied to the wood. The case design while novel and interesting actually sucked, unlike the rest of the machine.

[@NeverTooMany2023]

All good info. Thanks for sharing!

[@grammadovey5706]

I wanted to compare the aftermarket hand crank to the original Simanco hand crank for my Singers. The differences are immediately obvious. The Simanco is much heavier and everything works smoothly. The aftermarket was lightweight and the moving parts didn't move as they should and the holes to lock down the crank were not in line. The aftermarket handcrank was a total waste of money.

[@NeverTooMany2023]

All great information. Thanks for sharing! I think that we will hold out for an original as well :)

[@rfinnie1]

Could that pedal be a knee pedal ?

[@NeverTooMany2023]

That is a great question! I suppose it could have been fashioned as a knee pedal at some point. Although, it has rubber feet on the base on it like it was used as a floor unit.

[@robinr6399]

I think you're right. And are those plugs called Chicago connectors?

[@suno8911]

You pronunciation is pretty close. “La vencedora” means something like “the victorious one”, or as Singer translates it “the Victrix.” It sounds a lot more empowered and inspiring in Spanish, I assure you!. 😂 The 128 was the first machine made for home use, so it was a befitting name, no doubt.

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Lol. Well however you say it, we love it and are super lucky to have found it. Thanks for sharing and thank you for watching!

[@maryannshupe8127]

Love the 401, but my favorite machine is the 500 a. My mom had both the 500a and the Futura. She gave me the 500a and used the Futura. She hated the Futura and would come to my house to sew on the Singer 500a. The feed dog is rubber and I had it replaced because it was ruined. Easy fix, but why would anyone want to use rubber feed dogs?

[@NeverTooMany2023]

Lol, that is cool. We have been looking for a 500a but haven't had any luck yet. (I called it a 501 in the video :) ) Ya, the rubber feed dogs are a little weird. We will have to see how well they work once we get it up and running. Thanks for sharing!