The Pfaff 30

This is the first Pfaff that that I have encountered and it has been an interesting experience. I drove out to Aldergrove one rainy week day afternoon and with traffic it was long trip. There was no answer when I knocked on the door. I was about to leave when a young fellow who looked like stoner came up the side of the house and identified himself as the person I was supposed to meet. Yes he still had the machine, but, there was a problem. He needed me to give him a hand to break into the house........he said that he had locked himself out.......Ever tried breaking into some one else' house in pouring rain? Ultimately, it must have been his house, because the machine was inside and we made a deal on it. The situations that I get myself into, in the pursuit of sewing machines.....

I can't say that I'm really impressed with the model 30. It's clunky. It's slow sewing machine, the motor is only rated for 2000 RPM and if you try it with a faster motor,like I did, it vibrates it self across the table if you unless you hold it down. The motor and light assemblies on this one is overly complicated. Even the spool pin assembly  consisted of 3 pieces and 2 thumb screws. It will only fit into a Pfaff case or table. I haven't figured out that the other adjustment (probably superfluous) lever on the tension setting knob does, but it doesn't seem to interfere with anything. You have to wonder why the makers took a good and simple machine and messed it up with with complicated add-ons.

That said, It sews great! Like the Berninas, it has it's little quirks. But once it's dialed in it's rock solid and steady.

She's Lovely.....Updated...

Well, the teal colored White that I wrote about before has finally found a new home.  Her good looks have gotten her a part in a new TV program. I understand that it is a non speaking part though. She may not even have to sew anything, just sit there and look good.......

Flamingo Sewing management and organization

Like any well run organization, Flamingo Sewing has a highly organized and efficient management structure. We even have a Mission statement.....

Our mission Statement:

1. Find a hot pink sewing machine
2. Try to eat dark chocolate once a day
3. Try to keep our customers satisfied
4. Don't get fat from the chocolate

Management:
We have a Board Of Directors: A flock of proudly Canadian pink Flamingos, who guard the garden, argue about politics and and like all upper management just generally stand around doing nothing much. (but they are important!)

Quality Assurance:
We have a Quality Assurance Manager: Alice, the Cat. Alice gravely scrutinizes the servicing of every machine that Flamingo Sewing services and  sells, (when she is not chasing dropped bobbins, trying to play with the thread or napping in the case). Like all Tortoiseshells , she is highly opinionated and chatty and demanding. I figure that this makes her a perfect QC manager.



Uniform:
We have a uniform for our employees too. We have a Flamingo Sewing, sewing machine selling vest that was gifted to us by a concerned family member. It was felt that this would add a little dignity to our organization. Not sure about just how dignified we are are ever likely to become, what with the quest for hot pink sewing machines....but I like it and the board of directors has approved it, so we are in good shape on that front. There was some discussion as to whether or not the hat should be part of the uniform when it is worn indoors though.....



Service department:
We have a proper sewing machine tool box, decorated in French Art Nouveau style and there are tools in it too!
 

















 Sewing machines:
We have lots of these. Some we keep them because we are still in love with them and sometimes we sell them............

 Rest assured, that with Flamingo Sewing, you are in good hands. Quality machines, great service and easy to find here in the trailer park. Just look for the hot pink mobile home with the flamingos in the yard. That's us!

Selling sewing machines, writing ads.......

Recently, I helped a lady prepare an eBay listing for her Singer 222K........

Sewing machines have interesting lives some times, some are loved and used by a family and passed own from mother to daughter. Some are passed from one household to the next. Some lead different lonelier lives. This is one of the lonely ones. It was bought, brand new and glossy by a husband for his wife in 1960. She told him that she was pleased with his gift. But, she didn't sew, so she shoved it in the closet and forgot about it.. 

 

Paul, the husband, found it there in 1988, and, having figured out that his wife was not likely to use it after all, passed it on to a woman who loves sewing and sewing machines.

Now you would think that she would immediately start using this wonderful machine, and allow it to realize it's purpose in life. But sadly no........There were good intentions, but there were so many new and beautiful sewing machines to try out, and the 222 was forgotten, consigned to the closet again. Brought out, and turned on occasionally, oiled and polished with loving care it was centerpiece of her ever growing collection of sewing machines. But sadly, it was rarely sewn , no more than six times she tells me.

Now I am of two minds about this. First I am pleased to offer this absolutely immaculate, unused, 222K for sale to folks who love and use these machines. On the other hand, I feel a spark of hope, rising in my chest, that this time the buyer will love it enough to use it for the purpose it was made for. Please give this sewing machine a good home! Let it's lonely existence in dark closets become a thing of the past....please......

 

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The asking price for this immaculate, new old stock Singer 222?  $2000.00. She will get it too, because, these machines are scarce, they are extremely portable due to their light weight and it is in factory new condition. Quilters love these machines for taking to quilting sessions and sewing the quilt squares together. Of course, because it is a free arm, it can be used for hemming and other sewing tasks involving tubular shapes.

The Featherweights were one of Singers most successful machines. Their aluminum construction and small size was was the remedy for the the weight of the cast iron machines  previously built. When your sewing machine weighs well over 15Kg, it's not really very portable any more. Singer made over 2 million of the 221's and about 100,000 for the 222 free arm version.  They are relatively scarce in the US, there seem to be more of them in Canada  and they seem to be plentiful in the UK. Prices vary by location.

The Bernina 707

Berninas are relatively rare here in BC. But the people who like them, seem to like them a lot. This one exited stage right about 48 hours after I picked it up at the thrift store, in the arms of a lady who clutched it to her bosom, like a lost child. Maybe it was, she said that she had had one just like it for years, before it died completely on her.

I found it to be a fussy machine. It didn't want to do a consistent satin stitch for me until I figured out the satin stitch control and cleaned the hook area meticulously and adjusted the bobbin tension a bit. It also has a tendency to become quite noisy for no apparent reason. But if you can put up with it's quirks and are willing to take the time to learn the machine, it can sew up a storm.