The Blue Bird Fly of Unhappiness

Here is a gorgeous,brand new, shiny, Chinese clone of the a Singer model 15 sewing machine.

It's a piece of Junk.
It's a pretty piece of junk though
There are so many things wrong with it, that even I can't fix it without resorting to machine shop time.
But, it's very pretty....
I ordered this machine as a sample, as I was considering reselling them here in NA. That ain't gonna happen.....
Still, it's very pretty, isn't it?
It's a very badly assembled, poorly machined, non sewing, sewing machine.
Still, it's a very pretty, non sewing, sewing machine.
Sigh.........

Why do I keep on buying these Japanese sewing machines?

There's no money in old Japanese sewing machines. None what so ever. As lovely, sturdy and reliable this green Planet from the 60's or 70's is, it will never be worth more the $39.99 that I paid for it.

I was pondering this very question while standing in the check out at the dollar store this morning, gazing idly at all the junky plastic stuff they have, when the lady standing next to me with a package of hot dog buns shook her head and said "So much stuff!"

It came to me then, in a flash! Green Planet! I have a used green Planet sewing machine. I have environmental street cred! I am saving the world, one old sewing machine at at a time....

Well, it will do, as a  rationalization......But it remains to be seen which one I run out first, rationalizations or room....lol

The Babylock BL097 Serger/overlocker

So, I was standing in the checkout line in Value Village holding up this heavy little Babylock serger, an item that I know absolutely nothing about. Well not  quite, I did know 2 things. First thing I knew is that these little suckers are expensive machines. The second thing I know is that the price tag says say $24.99. Knowing stuff is not always a good thing, sometimes it can lead to conclusions being drawn. Conclusions as in : I can get this thing going, no problem,.... I think.
So, like I said, I'm just waiting there in line, and the lady behind me says to her husband, '' If that was me, I would just take that machine to the sewing machine store and say Helpppp!"  I looked  at her, and asked"Really?" She said "yes, those are real, real hard machines to use! You have to take a course for them".  I told her  "I was just going to find the manual online and get it going". She gave me a pitying look and shook her head sadly, at my foolishness....At which point the line moved on and we parted company.
So, I went home, found the manual, downloaded and read it. I threaded it up as per instructions in the book, shoved some fabric under the presser and hit the pedal. About one and a half seconds later, it spit the fabric perfectly sewn out the other side of the machine.
I've seen this before. Complicated looking things intimidating people, when all they have to do is read the instructions.I've seen it on sewing machines and I've seen it on half a million dollar production machines. I've seen those same machines sit and never get used. I always wonder why?

The Lada 232

For those of old enough or unfortunate enough to have first hand experience with one, the word Lada, (as in the Russian import from the 1970's), is enough to cause a shudder to run through our very souls. Well it turns out that there is a company in Czechoslovakia called Lada that makes quite good sewing machines and has been doing so for decades now.
This one came home with me yesterday, from Value Village, simply because I had no idea what it was. It turned out to be a vintage Lada 232 zigzag. and it appears to be quite a good sewing machine, but we shall see, once I try it out. I quite like it so far, it's built like tank  and has labels on all oiling holes. It look looks like serious heavy duty sewing machine.
Since it only cost $15 and a weighs well over 30 Lbs, I'd say it's a lada machine for the money!

The Ford Deluxe

This blog started out with, among other things, the quest for a hot pink sewing machine. This hot rod pink and cream, Ford Deluxe fits the bill perfectly. I suspect that it's from the 1950's, but I'm not at all sure that it is. It is definitely a Japanese machine, but there is no JA number stamped on it, so there is no way of knowing who built it.
It's a straight stitcher, with a complicated looking stitch length adjustment regulating mechanism, consisting of a knob and window to show the preset length. With the tensioner on the end of the machine and the oscillating hook, it is plainly a dressed up Singer  15 clone.  As such, with out even turning it on and sewing with it, I know that it will be a real work horse of a machine, and able to sew just about anything that I can cram under the pressure foot.
This is also, the only machine that I have seen that has a built in storage compartment under the top cover. And it's pink!
This machine came to me, courtesy of Aleda Johnston, up in Lilloeet.  She knew about my quest for a pink sewing and has a friend Greg, who owned this one. She introduced him to my and blog and convinced him, that should he ever decide to part with it, I should be first on the list.
They brought it down to Surrey, and we spent a pleasant afternoon, talking about sewing machines, motorcycles, quilting and like all transplants to this province, how much better the weather is here than in our home towns.....lol.
Thanks Greg,you can be sure that your machine has found a good a home!
Not for sale!

HOW TO PACK SEWING MACHINES FOR SHIPMENT

Why do sewing machines get damaged in transit?
Mostly it happens because the the box gets dropped, and the head shifts in the case, which damages the base. Alternatively, impacts stove in the side of the box and the case. This is how I pack machines for shipment via the post office.This 66 in a bentwood case has a long way to go and I want to make sure that it gets there undamaged.

First the accessories are boxed and tucked into the storage slot

Next the cord and the foot controller are wrapped up with a rubber band and stuff into an old (but washed) sock

 Ditto for the case handle.

Next, strips of fabric are wound  tightly around the base and secured with layers of packing tape. The fabric protects the machine from the tape and the tape adds strength. What this does, is, in effect, lock the base and the machine together into one unit. preventing movement of the head.
More importantly, the band holds the sides of the case tight together. The joints of the case can't split because the bands hold them in compression.

With all the fabric bands in place, the socks containing the foot controller and handles are placed on the bed of the machine and lightly secured by some low tack painters tape. This tape is sticky enough to stick, but not so sticky it will take off paint or shellac when lifted off.

Next, the cover of the case is installed and secured with fabric and tape. Now the base, the head and the cover are one solid unit and they can't separate in transit. The cover key is wrapped in  painters tape and secured to the top of the case.

Now to protect the machine from impacts: First a piece of Styrofoam insulation is cut to size and scored so that it will conform to the shape of the case.

Styrofoam is compressible and will rebound to it's original shape. In the process, it absorbs the shock of impact, protecting the wood underneath.

Now a Styrofoam base and end pieces are added. More tape is wrapped around to hold it all together.

Now for the cardboard. I scrounge big pieces or sheets from the waste bin at work for mine, but basically any size and shape used boxes can be adapted. I prefer to wrap the machines so that the final result will conform to the shape of the case inside. Most sewing machine cases are wider and heavier at the bottom and this means that the machine is much more likely to travel right side up or on it's side than it is to travel upside down

The cardboard is wrapped tightly around the Styrofoam and lots of tape is used to hold it all together.




No amount of packing can guarantee,that a machine will arrive undamaged every time. However, they would pretty much have to drop the machine on it's corner, from a height of a few feet, do do any real damage, when the machine is packed like this.

Costs: generally, one roll of packing tape and 1/4 of a sheet of Styrofoam. (about$3.50)
How to do it better? Get a bigger box and peanuts and put the cardboard wrapped machine inside that. However, that can result in higher postage costs and, ironically, increase the probability the box will dropped in transit, as it could be too big to handled comfortably by posties, who aren't, (as my petite postal worker niece tells me) all big strong guys. The shipping weight of this full size was about 19.5Kg or just over 40 Lbs.........

Will sex sell vintage Necchi sewing machines?

I came across this Necchi sewing machine ad a while back. It's quite striking, but I am not sure if it is aimed at the lady of the house, or, her husband, who in the tradition of the times was the bread winner and decision maker.....(At least that's what they claimed........)
But back to that in a bit......
In the mean time, here for your consideration is a gorgeous Necchi model BC vintage sewing machine. I would almost call it a sexy machine, cause it has great lines and it's very stylish. Sews like dream too. The harp is quite large which will make it a great machine for quilters and others who need to sew bulky items. Just serviced with a new needle. Feed dogs can be lowered for embroidery, has reverse and comes with an instruction manual as well as some bobbins and needles.

Back to sexy bit now.....So, does Nechhi's sexy advertising,which at times, included pictures of Sophia Loren, sell vintage sewing machines? Let me know.......