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When I was ten year old, my mom sat me down at her sewing machine, a Singer treadle. I learned to sew on that machine sewing the seams of shorts and shirts for my sister and myself. Since then, I have had a soft spot for Singer sewing machines. The machine I use today is a Singer I bought twenty five years ago.
When I was asked if I would be interested in purchasing this Singer, I couldn't resist. It is a Singer Touch and Sew Zig Zag Model 758. The cabinet is in excellent condition as is its matching bench.
Here she is a little closer.
Look what is under her "hood! Cams! She does more than just straight stitch and zig zag.
Look at all of those cams! There are nine fashion discs, the black ones. Place one of these on the disc holder to produce such stitches as an arrowhead, diamond, crescent, ball, domino and pyramid stitch. The white discs are "flexi-stitch" discs and include a feather stitch, duck stitch (It looks like little ducks swimming in a row.), Turkish hemstitch, star stitch, sunburst stitch and an overedge stretch stitch.
The seat comes off of the bench to reveal storage space.
Inside the bench I found the instruction manual in pristine condition.
And I found this! The sales receipt. It is dated May 17, 1950. At that time this entire set up cost $212. That was a lot of money back then. No wonder my mom was still using a treadle machine in the late 60's.
I know you are dying to know if she still works. Yes! I have given her a good cleaning and some oil. I am still trying to figure out the discs and have only managed to get a crescent stitch from her but have not had time to play with her much since.
Why don't you head over to Suzanne's and see what other vintage, retro and antique things others are sharing? Click here to take you there...
32 comments:
This is really a clean looking vintage machine. I learned to sew on my mom's old singer also.
Have you seen how complicated the new machines are? Harder than my computer, I think. xo Joan
How cool that you have the manual and receipt!
When I was learning to sew in Home Ec, my parents bought a new Singer in a nice big desk. My mother never even learned to use it. She went to the free sewing lessons that came with it and tried to sew a blouse with handstitching! My first sewing machine was a reconditioned Singer that only lasted through one project before it jammed up. That cured me of buying used machines.
I just got a sewing machine that's about 10 years old, and it's so complicated! EEK! I learned on a simple one from the 1930s. You've got a great find here!
Oh Bea, I am so jealous of all you ladies and your machines- how wonderful!
How I wish I still had my treadle Singer that I learned to sew on..it was wonderful. The Singer I have now would be considered vintage I suppose..it has the black discs for the "fancy" stitching, lol..I love it dearly,but not as much as the treadle I let get away. Happy VTT...
What a wonderful find!!!
I have a feeling that the two of 'you' will have a wonderful time together!!
I love your Singer! I have a real soft spot for sewing machines. I've got a couple of Singers, a couple of Kenmore's and my dream machine Bernina that my dear sweet hubby gave me 6 years ago.
Jocelyn
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com
I LOVED reading about your machine! Wow, it's in such great shape! I am still using my mother's Singer Touch & Sew from the '60s, I think it's a 603E model, so it looks slightly different, but same cams, etc. Enjoy!
Isn't it funny that things we grew up with are not considered vintage? lol I bet I have underware that could be considered vintage.
Love the sewing machine.
What a neat sewing machine! When I was a little girl my grandmother had a sewing machine table with the built in pedal, I loved it. By the way, your home is beautiful, the porch....ahhh... :-)
Great Singer Sewing Machine. Vintage sewing machines are so cool. It is most excellent that you have the manual and the original bill of sale.
What an awesome find! And having all the accesories and the receipt is so cool!
Beautiful machine! have a blessed week. Cherie
Now if I only LIKED to sew - - -
I admire all you gals who do, but PAS MOI!!!
Those will last for ever! Thanks for sharing!
What a treasure! I have an old treadle Singer and I just love it!
Blessings!
Gail
I love your Singer machine! I have a very old Singer sewing antique piece that has lots of vintage charm. I don't have the machine set up though...it's one of those that fold down and looks just like a table otherwise. I use it for another flat surface to decorate!
Good luck!
-Gail
Bea! That is an awesome buy! Reading this one can tell you are completely happy with your "new" machine!
Happy VTT!
This looks like a wonderful machine, love the bench too. I have a spot in my heart for machines too, Mine is a necchi...my grandma had one of these....Happy VTT!
Finding a treasure like this is what keeps us going to vintage shops, flea markets and garage sales. Great find.
Ann
Tin and sparkle
Amazing! I just love my sewing machine...a "vintage" I suppose, Bernina. I couldn't live without it! Yours is a real beauty though!
Blessings, Grace
This looks like a wonderful machine-and the best part is you have the manual...you'll work everything out with that!This looks like the Wonder machine of 1950!
Check out my crazy quilt pillow on the post before this VTT-I used alot of machine stitches on the seams and it sounds like you have some of the same stitches.
Oh, we do have sew much in common. This is a wonderful old Singer. I have a Kenmore I received from my parents for graduation from HS in 1965 that has 'Cams' and is all metal and weighs a ton. I sewed on for many years and used every one of the cams. The ziz zag cam is nearly worn out. It is retired now as I have a Janome Embroidery DoItAll HiTech machine. I, too have all the accessories and booklets and it is one of my most cherished possessions. Thanks for visiting my VTT Vintage Quilt post today....Sue
I love sewing machines! This one is a beauty. My mother still has a pea green Singer from the 1950's and it still runs smooth. Thanks for sharing :)
My mom used a treadle sewing machine too. However, when I learned to sew at a young age, we had a singer sewing machine much like that one. I sewed hems on dish towels while I learned to sew straight. You sure brought back some memories. I love the detail of your post. It made me smile as I could feel the love you have for your Singer sewing machine. I am happy for you to have such a treasure.
Huga, Jeanne
You are right $200 was BIG bucks in those days! This is a sentimental useable treasure!
I soooooo wish I had learned to sew. I have half a mind to take a class somewhere and learn. My grandmother sewed but never taught us
The machine is beautiful. They were so beautiful back then. I am glad she found a home where she will be loved and appreciated.
Thank you for coming by my blog too - brightest blessings.
-Karina
When I was reading your post today it sounded so much like my life story with sewing. When I ended up taking Home Ec. in Jr. High the teacher had me teaching some of my peers. The treadle machine was so hard to move and we moved a lot, that my dad put a motor on it and put it in a case. It's still heavy, but not like it was. I still have the manual and attachments for that machine, but no receipt... I think Mom got it from her grandmother.
I now have 4 machines and my fav is the one my daughters got for me one Christmas... they went together on it. It is similar to the machine you have, only much newer and probably not quite as rugged.
Thank you for sharing.
Love your blog!
Mrs. D
I love your machine. There is a Singer machine in our thrift store at the moment, so my husband and I will head over there on Saturday so he can see what the condition is. I so wanted it, but not if it doesn't work.
Hopefully my find will be as good as yours!
What a neat treasure! And to think, it will probably still be working long after newer achines have bitten the dust.
They just don't make machines like that any more.
What a great find. Happy stitching.
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