All the machines for sale at NC TOGA

You could scroll down through the following fourteen individual posts, but hopefully this will save you time if you are interested in something specific.

Why so many?  Friends, the day has come.  The day I always knew would come.  The day when slinging around 40+ pounds of cast iron is no longer a good idea.  And another day is coming when it will no longer be possible.  I'll be 75 years old next month.   More on this at the end of this post

I've grouped them into tiers based on pricing.  Tier pricing is posted at the NC TOGA Facebook page.  I never discuss price on my blog for many, many reasons.

I will only bring the machines to TOGA that one or more people express a serious interest in.  Serious interest means that you plan to buy it based on my description.  There is ABSOLUTELY NO COMMITMENT in advance, other than that serious interest.  If you look and don't like something about it, no hard feelings.  This is how I have done it in the past and it has always worked out just fine.

Let me know on the NC TOGA Facebook page if you want dibs on one of these machines.  If more than one person is interested I'll keep a list.

Tier 1:  Take this puppy off my hands PLEASE

Davis New Vertical feed, head only

Singer 66, barn fresh but operational 

Singer 99 no motor, works but has issues

 

Tier 2:  Some portion of this has some value

Domestic High Arm Fiddlebase head with accessories

Singer 15-91, in bad shape but with black side accessories

 

Tier 3:  Middle of  the Road.  Common models

Singer 15-91 in good shape.   I actually have two 15-91s in good shape

Singer 99 in a grasscloth case

Singer 66, crinkle finish

Tier 4:  Moving on Up to the Good Ones

Necchi BU Mira with Wonder Wheel

 Necchi Supernova Julia 534, pink!

Necchi NA Nora, pink!

Tier 5:  Sought After.  With good stuff (accessories, etc.)

Singer 301 mocha longbed in trapezoid case

Necchi BU Nova in original case

 

Tier 6:  The Top Tier

Necchi Supernova Ultra with all the bells and whistles

If you were just here for the list of machines you can skip the rest of this post, in which I explain why I am downsizing the hoard.   And where the blog and I are going in the future.

I'm getting older and just like many old sewing machines I now have replacement parts.  This year the machines feel like they weigh twice as much as they did last year.

But that's not the whole story.  There were several years when I didn't get out much (family reasons) and I spent a lot of time servicing and repairing old sewing machines.  My life is much more open now.  Less time in front of machines, more time getting out, seeing friends, traveling, etc.   

I still am passionate about antique sewing machines but I have other outlets now.  Volunteering at Repair Cafe is one of them.  We have started branching out to new locations and to sewing machine specific workshops. Well, OK, only one so far but it was a hit and we plan to do more.  And that one event has opened up some tantalizing possibilities with other local organizations.  Can't talk about that until it solidifies.

I will still be buying antique sewing machines, if you consider things older than 50 years to be antiques.  Opinions differ on the terminology.  But I no longer want to collect them just to have them. 

I now want machines that other, normal, people want to buy.  And you can't beat a simple zigzagger for that.  Nothing too fancy or complicated.  Something that will not intimidate a beginning seamster.

Singer made some lovely aqua blue machines of this type.  I've got three in the workshop now waiting to be serviced and tested after TOGA.  I do plan to keep write about sewing and sewing machines. 

This blog is not going away!

Singer 66, crinkle finish. For sale at NC TOGA

 

Here's a 1936 Singer 66. 

NC TOGA is coming up in June.  If you don't know what that is I'll be describing it in a future post.  One of the things it is, is a swap meet.  I have some machines for sale.

 

This machine has a crinkle finish, aka Godzilla.   The finish is generally in decent shape but there is wear along the front edge of the bed and the bed decal is almost gone.

 

 

The lore that I have always heard is that the crinkle finish was a WWII modification, something to do with supply shortages.  The 1936 date casts doubt on this!  Please post in the comments section any lore or mythology or outright lies about the crinkle finish that you have heard.

 

The slide plate was missing and I have replaced it with one from a Singer 285.  This slide plate is very, very, very tight.  As in: almost impossible to move it.   If I were going to keep it I would attack the grooves in the slide plate with a Dremel.  Or you can just order a new slide plate.  One of the best things about antique Singers is that modern replacement parts are available, especially for common models like the 66.

 

The spool pin was also missing.  You will see in the photo that a bamboo skewer makes a dandy replacement.  This high tech upgrade is included in the price.  Unless I can find my missing box of spool pins harvested from dead machines.

 

Folks, I acquired this machine 10 years ago and have not touched it since.  NO servicing was done on it when I bought it--it didn't even make it into my sewing machine spreadsheet.  The motor and light work.  When I threaded it and made some stitches it sewed beautifully.  The stitch length lever works.  It sewed through up to 16 layers of quilting cotton without a fuss.  I  DO recommend that the buyer oil it up however!  (I'm in a rush right now to get ready for TOGA in case you are wondering why the heck I haven't bothered--I've listed 14 machines for sale this week including all the photo-taking and photo-editing as well as the blog-writing.)

 

If you are seriously interested we can certainly oil it together when you check it out at TOGA.  Another reason I haven't done this is that I am enormously impressed by its performance after a minimum of ten years without oiling.   And I want you to see that too!

 

It's reasonably clean inside, which in this case means it is not gunked up inside with dried up sewing machine oil.  There is some, yes, but as mentioned all the parts are turning freely.

 

The nose plate has a pretty design.  It is not corroded which means it should polish up nicely.

 

The motor and motor controller, aka foot pedal, are obviously old but are functioning.

I have a partial paper copy of the manual.  The cover is missing and possibly the first and last few pages.  I can also email a PDF to the buyer.

 

I have some blackside presser feet to go with it. 

I usually fall in love with machines as I service them but I've fallen in love with this one while taking its pictures.  Here's why:  the tensioner and the bobbin winder.

BELOW ARE MY OPINIONS.  BASED ON EXPERIENCE BUT JUST OPINIONS

The rule of thumb with tensioners is this:  the simpler the better.  The very best ones, hands down, were the leaf tensioners on the 1880's machines.  Google them, or better yet catch me, Linda, or Missie at TOGA and we will tell you.  We are charter members (and so far the only members) of the Leaf Tensioners Fan Club.  We have t-shirts to prove it.  You can join us simply by claiming membership but we only made three t-shirts!

 

This machine does not have a leaf tensioner but the one it does have is very simple.  The newest newbie at sewing machine restoration could successfully take it apart to clean it and get it back together again.  And there will be people at TOGA happy to metaphorically hold your hand while you do it.

Metaphorically because actually you'll be using your hands, won't you?

 

 

Same rule goes for bobbin winders.  This one is extremely simple.  Push it up against the hand wheel to wind a bobbin.  Push it down again afterwards.  No latches.  No springs.  Pretty much nothing to go wrong.

 

 

There is no reverse stitch but nobody really needs one.  I do hear of people who walk away from machines with no reverse.  But how hard is it to simply hold the fabric in place (not letting the feed dogs advance the fabric) for the first and last two stitches.  That's all it takes to lock your seam.  Honestly.

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * *

Here's how this works:  I  create a blog post for each machine and describe what I know about it in detail, pros and cons.  Once I have all the machines up on this blog I will post a price list at the NC TOGA Facebook page.  If you are attending the TOGA and are seriously interested let me know and I will bring it.  "Seriously interested" means that you plan to buy it IF you like what you see in person.  Absolutely NO obligation in advance and I won't take any money in advance.  

Cash or PayPal.  I don't use any other payment apps.  Hey, I'm an old lady.  Can't be learning new apps all the time.

Once the price list is up you can call dibs on any machine and I will make sure you get to see it and decide if you want it before anyone else can buy it.

This approach has worked very well in the past.  Just please don't ask me to haul 40+ pounds of cast iron across North Carolina if all you want to do is ogle it.  Serious interest only please.

Some of these machines will have been serviced and some will not so read the descriptions carefully.  It is not my usual practice to sell machines that I have not serviced first.  But I really need to downsize the herd and TOGA is almost here.  Many TOGAteers are experienced antique sewing machine mechanics themselves.  They will also be glad to provide advice to others about whether a machine is a good choice for a newbie. 

 

Singer 99K with no case. For sale at NC TOGA

 

NC TOGA is coming up in June.  If you don't know what that is I'll be describing it in a future post.  One of the things it is, is a swap meet.  I have some machines for sale, including two Singer 99s.

 

This is a 1954 3/4 size Singer 99K with no motor.  It would be relatively easy to add a spoked wheel and hand crank to this machine.  Yes it really is easy and I have written a tutorial for it. 

 

 

The notes I made indicate that although operational, it could use more servicing.  It is priced appropriately and I will share that information with the buyer.

 

 

I don't have a paper manual for this machine but I can email  a PDF to the buyer.

 

 

* * * * * * * * * *

Here's how this works:  I  create a blog post for each machine and describe what I know about it in detail, pros and cons.  Once I have all the machines up on this blog I will post a price list at the NC TOGA Facebook page.  If you are attending the TOGA and are seriously interested let me know and I will bring it.  "Seriously interested" means that you plan to buy it IF you like what you see in person.  Absolutely NO obligation in advance and I won't take any money in advance.  

Cash or PayPal.  I don't use any other payment apps.  Hey, I'm an old lady.  Can't be learning new apps all the time.

Once the price list is up you can call dibs on any machine and I will make sure you get to see it and decide if you want it before anyone else can buy it.

This approach has worked very well in the past.  Just please don't ask me to haul 40+ pounds of cast iron across North Carolina if all you want to do is ogle it.  Serious interest only please.

Some of these machines will have been serviced and some will not so read the descriptions carefully.  It is not my usual practice to sell machines that I have not serviced first.  But I really need to downsize the herd and TOGA is almost here.  Many TOGAteers are experienced antique sewing machine mechanics themselves.  They will also be glad to provide advice to others about whether a machine is a good choice for a newbie. 

 

Singer 99K in grasscloth case. For sale at NC TOGA

 

 

NC TOGA is coming up in June.  If you don't know what that is I'll be describing it in a future post.  One of the things it is, is a swap meet.  I have some machines for sale, including two Singer 99s.

Here's a 1956 3/4 size Singer 99K straight stitch machine.  It has a working motor and light and makes a nice stitch. 

 

The case not nearly as pretty as the machine but it is sturdy.

While going through the hoard I "repaired" (not really repaired) another grasscloth case by using tacky glue to glue the loose grasscloth down.  I decided not to do that to this one because:

What we have here is a case that would be easy to upgrade by simply removing the old grasscloth and glueing on a prettier fabric.  After all, the grasscloth is doing its best to leave the case now.  It would tear off fairly easily.

 

 

The paint does have some chips.

 

I plugged this in and took a few stitches.  My notes indicate that I didn't service it when I bought it.  It moves smoothly and makes nice stitches.

 

I don't know the "real" name for this style of motor controller but I call it "gas pedal".  

 

 

 There is electrical tape on the cord near the controller. 

 

It  has an original Singer motor.  I don't have a paper copy of the manual but I can email the buyer a PDF.

 

This machine is easy to convert to hand crank by removing the motor and hand wheel, replacing the hand wheel with a spoked wheel and adding a hand crank.  Yes it really is easy and I have written a tutorial for it.  

* * * * * * * * * *

Here's how this works:  I  create a blog post for each machine and describe what I know about it in detail, pros and cons.  Once I have all the machines up on this blog I will post a price list at the NC TOGA Facebook page.  If you are attending the TOGA and are seriously interested let me know and I will bring it.  "Seriously interested" means that you plan to buy it IF you like what you see in person.  Absolutely NO obligation in advance and I won't take any money in advance.  

Cash or PayPal.  I don't use any other payment apps.  Hey, I'm an old lady.  Can't be learning new apps all the time.

Once the price list is up you can call dibs on any machine and I will make sure you get to see it and decide if you want it before anyone else can buy it.

This approach has worked very well in the past.  Just please don't ask me to haul 40+ pounds of cast iron across North Carolina if all you want to do is ogle it.  Serious interest only please.

Some of these machines will have been serviced and some will not so read the descriptions carefully.  It is not my usual practice to sell machines that I have not serviced first.  But I really need to downsize the herd and TOGA is almost here.  Many TOGAteers are experienced antique sewing machine mechanics themselves.  They will also be glad to provide advice to others about whether a machine is a good choice for a newbie. 

 

Necchi Nora. For sale at NC TOGA

 

 

Here's a Necchi Nora in a lovely shade of mid-century pink.  It has a glossy finish with a few chips in the paint.  The position of the handwheel indicates that it is treadle-able but it has a working motor on it now.

 NC TOGA is coming up in June.  If you don't know what that is I'll be describing it in a future post.  One of the things it is, is a swap meet.  I have some machines for sale, including several Italian-made Necchis.

I don't have a paper manual but I can email the buyer a PDF copy.
 

 

 

It has a built in zigzag stitch and comes with 12 cams to make additional stitches.  It takes standard class 15 bobbins.

 

 

When I serviced it a few years ago I made the note "presser foot lifter does not open tension discs".  It does stitch well.  The workaround for this is just to make sure your thread is seated into the tension discs.  And there might be someone at TOGA willing to take a further look at this.  I know of one experienced repair person who will be bringing her kit and be happy to help folks.

 

 

The original Necchi bobbin case was not working properly and has been replaced with a generic class 15 bobbin case.

The motor has two speed settings.  I'm sure the manual will explain what that is all about.

It has the original Necchi case in worn but not beat-up condition.  The hinges built into the case (that allow you to tip the machine back) are broken.

 

It's fairly clean inside and out.

 

* * * * * * * * * * 

Here's how this works:  I  create a blog post for each machine and describe what I know about it in detail, pros and cons.  Once I have all the machines up on this blog I will post a price list at the NC TOGA Facebook page.  If you are attending the TOGA and are seriously interested let me know and I will bring it.  "Seriously interested" means that you plan to buy it IF you like what you see in person.  Absolutely NO obligation in advance and I won't take any money in advance.  

Cash or PayPal.  I don't use any other payment apps.  Hey, I'm an old lady.  Can't be learning new apps all the time.

Once the price list is up you can call dibs on any machine and I will make sure you get to see it and decide if you want it before anyone else can buy it.

This approach has worked very well in the past.  Just please don't ask me to haul 40+ pounds of cast iron across North Carolina if all you want to do is ogle it.  Serious interest only please.

Some of these machines will have been serviced and some will not so read the descriptions carefully.  It is not my usual practice to sell machines that I have not serviced first.  But I really need to downsize the herd and TOGA is almost here.  Many TOGAteers are experienced antique sewing machine mechanics themselves.  They will also be glad to provide advice to others about whether a machine is a good choice for a newbie.

Domestic High Arm Fiddlebase. For sale at NC TOGA

 

 

This is the stripped down carcase of a Domestic High Arm Fiddlebase.  The rest of the parts are in photos below.  I had planned to restore this but I no longer want to do that.

NC TOGA is coming up in June.  If you don't know what that is I'll be describing it in a future post.  One of the things it is, is a swap meet.  I have some machines for sale.

 

It is my sincere belief that all of the parts are present and I believe you can see them in these photos.  

 

 

I restored and painted a Domestic High Arm fiddlebase years ago.  It was a lovely machine to sew on which is why I had planned to restore another one.  The painted one went to my sister-in-law Camilla. 

There are lots of extras with this machine head.  Sadly they are in similar condition.  But how often do you see Domestic High Arm Fiddlebase stuff? 

There are presser feet, needle plates, screwdrivers, two shuttles, and three bobbins.

There are attachments.  All untested.

There are the tattered remnants of a manual.  Amazingly I was able to find a PDF of the manual, and I can email this to the buyer.

 

 

It takes a  Boye No. 8 notched needle.  The sale will include a couple of size 30-80 and a couple of 40-100 in original Boye tubes.  And 10 new Grosz Beckert needles which someone on the TreadleOn bulletin board claimed would work with this machine.

 

And I have more of these needles for sale separately.

 

Looking for a good project?  Or just parts for your own Domestic High Arm Fiddlebase?

* * * * * * * * * * 

Here's how this works:  I  create a blog post for each machine and describe what I know about it in detail, pros and cons.  Once I have all the machines up on this blog I will post a price list at the NC TOGA Facebook page.  If you are attending the TOGA and are seriously interested let me know and I will bring it.  "Seriously interested" means that you plan to buy it IF you like what you see in person.  Absolutely NO obligation in advance and I won't take any money in advance.  

Cash or PayPal.  I don't use any other payment apps.  Hey, I'm an old lady.  Can't be learning new apps all the time.

Once the price list is up you can call dibs on any machine and I will make sure you get to see it and decide if you want it before anyone else can buy it.

This approach has worked very well in the past.  Just please don't ask me to haul 40+ pounds of cast iron across North Carolina if all you want to do is ogle it.  Serious interest only please.

Some of these machines will have been serviced and some will not so read the descriptions carefully.  It is not my usual practice to sell machines that I have not serviced first.  But I really need to downsize the herd and TOGA is almost here.  Many TOGAteers are experienced antique sewing machine mechanics themselves.  They will also be glad to provide advice to others about whether a machine is a good choice for a newbie.