OVERSOLD! Can Vintage Sewing Machines Sew Anything? Are They Industrial? No, Not Even Close!
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- Опубліковано 26 січ 2024
- Vintage sewing machines are tough. They are strong and can out perform many modern domestic sewing machines when it comes to heavy materials. But.......BUT, they are not industrial and like any machine, they have limits. Here, I discuss why even these tough, all metal vintage machines do have their limits. Staying within those limits will keep you and your beloved old machine working and ready for years of future service.
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Thank you for covering this. Not everyone appreciates the limits of non-industrial machines, despite how well built these were.
Many years ago, 1962 to be exact, I bought my mom a new Singer 503a. I remember the sales lady sewing through a yardstick! I wonder how often that machine needed service?
Interesting video, thanks for sharing.
For some people any flat bed machine that weighs more than 10 kilos and sits in a table is an "industrial" -
for others not even a Bernina 217 or 317 (factory labeled "industrial") is an industrial.
For me, the difference from an industrial to a domestic or "professional" machine is mainly the circular lubricant (with oil tank and -pump) and built-in 2-way or even 3-way transport (walking foot and -needle). Imo that makes the main difference. Undertable-motors are standard in this class anyway, earlyer industrial standard was clutch motor, domestics had a starter motor. But meanwhile servo motors are more or less common in all classes of sewing machines, except the cheapest plastic machines still have cheap "toy motors".
But back to the oldies: they can not sew anything, but they can sew a lot more than today's plastic machines can. And when carefully done, they can even be used beyond their "comfort zone" where modern machines just quit or even break.
When I mind back to all the projects I've sewn with my 80+yo Bernina KL117, (which is a powerhouse of a sewing machine, the first Bernina with Zig-Zag and a knee lever / presser foot lifter) that's just incredible. Most of my bushcraft / outdoor gear (tarp, hammock, stool, countless bags and pouches,...) is self sewn.
I love those steel ladies. They are tough. They are fast. Most sewing is straight stitch. You can go a long way with these machines.
Very interesting,, thankyou for making me understand that these machines aren't " unkillable " i knew they weren't industrial but I did think they could manage most anything, especially thickness.
Love the Marshall amp peeking in the background :) Thanks for all your great content, it's very interesting and helpful.
My old Podolsk 2M, Singer 15-91 clone esentially, got almost unusable after it bent and broken a needle inside the bobbin case mechanism that also threw its timing a bit off while sewing 4 layers of this modern elastic denim.
It took a lot of time and fiddling to make it usable again.
The only hints that the material was iffy were the occasional "jumps" in the stitching before that and it could manage to sew 5 layers of regular denim like they were nothing! However, the elastic material eventually broke the machine.
Thanks....really enjoyed this.
Also: within the category of actual full industrial machines, plenty are likewise unsuitable for heavier fabric/leather. Some are exclusively designed for lighter fabrics.
The 16k33 for instance is nearly identical to the basic 15k, just much bigger. Even has the same low shank foot as most home machines.
Many homemakers sewed light to medium weight leather gloves.
I have a treadle-powered White sewing machine from 1914. At some point in its history someone added a motor to it -- I took that off (the cord was a fire hazard), reattached the treadle, and have never regretted it. I find that when I'm using my feet or my hand to power the machine, I get a much better feel for how it's handling the material. I've snapped some needles on my modern electric machine, but never on the treadle machine.
(On a side note, that's how I found this channel -- after I bought this machine I went looking for information on how to properly clean it. Your advice probably stopped me from damaging the decals!)
Like anything? You can only use that to its weakest point and these sewing machines. Very likely. Those weakest point is the needle that's what's going to break or the motor depending on how strong the motor is. Not how powerful but where it's at in its life. I've seen people put big powerful motors on these things and they were able to sew quite well, but industrial machines also use industrial needles
I have a 15-91. I love it sews wonderful. I quilt on it all the time. I am redoing a cabinet to put it in.
These machines are incredible.
Well stated. I recently picked up a 15-90 and converted to hand crank. I really love the needle control. I find with the hand crank though in making several canvas bags you do have to get a little momentum to get through some of the multi-layered folded over stuff on edges and hems or handles but it does fine with the jeans needle. The hand crank is so enjoyable to use for a portable especially in natural light. It's funny, on ebay most of the vintage handcranks come out of England as I guess they were more popular over there. Great videos as always!
Thank you for the tip, just got a same model 66, but the finis is is actually, mate, hammered paint?? seems interesting, no decals or decorative things, according with serial model AF849425, she's a 84 mature one in really bad shape, oxidation, missing parts and such, my plan is to bring her back to life and put her in action, that's excites me, no because I want her put it to work, (most likely with ticker materials, that's I was thinking...😁) but the process to meet her, to discover, to learn, and with help of your videos and advices, I will like to THANK YOU.
Oh silly man! Of course that machine will sew through steel! But, for how long, is the question to ask. Andy Dyer?, I think did sew wood. Have you ever used an industrial?
Sage advice. I know people get caught up with expecting what these machines can not do. One piece of advice I offer to people when they are thinking about getting a vintage machine is get a vintage sewing how to sew book to see what projects are made in the realm of vintage machines. I also think people under buy a sewing machine as you pointed out. They get a vintage machine when what they really need is an industrial one and even then I’ve seen them under buy.
Do I need a Tumblr account to communicate with you? Someone is offering me a White 782 and after watching your videos I am very excited about the machine. When I plugged it in and it ran after 50+ years of no use, I was hooked. I do have further questions though. Thank you.
The same I have.
Where do you consider the singer 16-188 to fall under?
I was sewing a 5 layer of reusable cloth pad, i was using a 18 needle and tex 30 thread on my singer 201-2 but it was giving me trouble so I switched to my singer 15K with the same set up and while i had to sew slow and steady it gave me the quality stitch I wanted but I think I won’t be making cloth pads with that many layers. Maybe a treadle?
Hi! I, too, sew cloth pads. I have a question: I don't have access to Zorb fabric or bamboo fleece/terry. However, I do have access to cotton French terry. Is it still effective as an absorbent core fabric or not?
Don’t call this a tractor! You just messed with my Facebook group explanation of how these don’t sew leather belts, “don’t ask a Camry to do a tractors work”.
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