Well, actually I drove 80 miles to New Orleans and paid $50 for the machine and table. She is somewhat damaged as you can see here.
She's missing the decal showing the stitches on the lid, a spool pin, and probably some other minor things I'm overlooking. I haven't even threaded her. She is just sitting there looking all happy to be out of that cabinet!
She came with the clothes on her back and nothing more. After all, she is a Katrina survivor! One foot, one foot control (up inside the cabinet run by a rusty knee lever) and one bobbin. The cams and feet I already have from my 403A. She isn't showing any rust, and the best part is she runs! She belonged to the seller's Grandma and she was happy to have her go to a good home.
Here she is in her cabinet, and a more close up:
Before I found this one, I called a vintage collector with ads on Craigslist who needs to get rid of some machines. I didn't buy from him because most of his were in rough cosmetic condition. We had a lively conversation though, and he told me about an 86 year old man here in town who will refurbish these vintage machines for very inexpensive. I know, I know, I could do this myself. But when you can't even find sewing machine grease in this town.....
So I called him and told DH about it, and it turns out he is my mother in law's cousin! They didn't even realize he still goes to his shop every day. Now, his shop isn't in the best part of town as the city has grown, and I don't think he does new machine sales any longer. But, according to this fella I spoke with, he is THE MAN in this area to vintage machine owners. He said people he knows with vintage machines cringe at the thought of having to go to Allbrands one day with their prized possessions.
I told him as soon as we figure out how to get the foot controller and machine out of it's table, I'll be bringing her in. He told me he has a Rocketeer in his shop that is a beauty and is selling for $150. Depending on how beautiful she is, I might offer him a trade. Take this one for parts, and give me a nice discount on that one! We will see. It probably won't happen any time soon. I have to have DH's help to free this machine, and he is so tied up with a football camp right now it's crazy.
The really crazy part is, I don't really have room for her and the cabinet. The cabinet's top when the machine is folded down needs to be redone, but I might put it in a spot in my kitchen which needs a little table, and cover the bad spot. Then I'll try to find a case for the machine. Something tells me she'll be very used. Now I have to bug the carpenter to come back and make a surround for her to use in my new sewing table.
But, the really, really really crazy part is what is on it's way: A Pfaff 130! More on that later!
6 comments:
What a great looking machine!
Mary, my cabinet isn't the same as yours. I think your cabinet is pretty and worth saving if you can, though. I wound up with a Rocketeer that didn't run and was going to be a lot of work fixing up and then wound up with another one that works like a dream. I don't think having a parts machine is a bad idea at all.
I've always thought the rocketeer is one of the coolest looking machines. You'll have to keep us posted on the status of it.
Congrats on the machine!
What a "blast from the past!" I learned to sew on an identical machine. If I remember correctly, a screw driver was involved to release the machine from the cabinet.
www.creationsbymichie.blogspot.com
Congrats on the machine! It's a good investment.
Nice Mary, and a Katrina survivor to
boot.
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