Another great find at the tip this weekend!
As I was offloading some soggy chipboard into the "Wood" skip, I spotted the dome of a delaminated Singer case. So off I trotted to the "Metals" skip, and lo! and behold, there was a folorn handle poking up from behind some rusty corrugated iron. One of the kind gentlemen in charge duly fished her out for me; a handcranked 201K from 1937. Seized solid, and a little rusty, but with pristine decals, showing that she hasn't had a lot of use. I have her turning now, but can't seem to undo the screws to polish up the rusty bobbin assembly - yet! Pass the WD40...
This one is destined for http://www.tfsr.org/. When my little collection suddenly started to expand and outgrow its allotted corner of the loft, I set myself some "rules" as if I were playing a game. Firstly, I will only "rescue" machines. Nice though it would be to own some truly historic machines, I am not in a position to pay lots of money for ornaments, or give them houseroom either. If they turn up, lovely, but if they are being offered for sale at anything more than £5, or are never likely to do useful work again, they're for someone else. Secondly, if they can go on to help someone somewhere earn a living and support their family, than that's what's right & proper to do with them. Thirdly, I will rehome the machines that aren't suitable for TFSR wherever possible; some are going to other families to assist in "Textile" projects, at home or at school, and one has gone to help someone with a biggish family start up a business at home, which delights both me and the retired couple I got her from. I also intend to start up a regular textile afternoon for any home-ed teens around here that are interested, which can neatly encompass "socialisation", textiles, history, maths - all sorts of things, really!
And we're really looking forward to some better weather, so that we can go out & about on our patchwork project!
posted by thriftwizard at 3:31 AM
2 Comments:
Interesting to see that the machine will end up at TFSR. BUT they only want Singer round bobbin WORKING machines, as they too have no room for 'ornaments'and not enough volunteers to repair all the machines that they already have. So please if your machine isn't going to work without hours of effort please don't send it there! Also do be careful with rescuing electric machines. They may seem Ok but a friend of mine who refurbishes them says often they can have lethal faults, and you don't get a second chance to fix them if you electrocute yourself.
Luckily, I'm not allowed to take electrical machines from the tip, as I don't have electrician's papers. So I only take the ones with pillar-mounted motors, that can be removed there & then, & I can then attach a handcrank. With the Alfa, there happened to be a qualified guy at the tip who helped out; the reicpients were duly warned to get it checked, and have friends who are well-qualified to do so.
I wouldn't dream of sending her off to TFSR in a less-than-useful state - why should they have all the fun?! I will be glad to put in the hours of effort; I'm learning a lot from this. This one, apart from originally being "seized," is actually in very good condition. But they can also use suitable machines for spares - ring them & check if in doubt. When my time is more predictably my own, I would like to volunteer to refurbish machines for them; I can't afford to give them money, but this, and getting together a "haberdashery bag" with friends, I can do.
Post a Comment
<< Home