strawberrie's post hole

you can take it off and add a new motor, or pop it in a treadle table, or add a hand crank. I just came across a video of a 1960's Singer being temporarily put in a treadle cabinet while waiting for replacement electric components, and if I got a hand crank and spoked wheel (which can be bought new!) I could stick them on any one of my electric Singers.

And it works the opposite way too, treadles or hand cranks can be switched to electric. I even remember reading somewhere (though it was years ago and I don't remember where) that when electricity was new you could buy treadle/crank machines packaged with a motor that you could add on later once electricity reached your area!

But imagine my delight to free it from the case and see they also put the set screws in there when they made it!! This thing is attached to the lousy plastic case with one large screw at the bottom, there are no hinges on this machine, but they must have expected some people to swap them to a wooden case or table because the screws are waiting in there!

Say no more, here they all are! (I post about them more on my sewing & art blog @vincentbriggs, though I'm afraid I haven't got proper tags for each individual machine.)

c. 1885 White VS2, made in the U.S. Basic straight stitch treadle in good working order. It came to me very dirty and needed a lot of cleaning and a new drive belt & bobbin winder tire.

Singer 15-91, made in Canada sometime between 1936-48. This was my first one, which I bought refurbished when I moved out of my parents house, since it's pretty similar to the one I grew up using. It came with a knee lever but after a few years the speed control box failed and I replaced it with a foot pedal.

1945 Bernina KL 105, made in Switzerland. This is my most recent acquisition and I haven't started on the cleaning & refurbishing yet, but I'm excited to use it! It's a treadle that has backstitch and drop feed.

Gimbels department store branded Singer 15 clone, made in Japan. No idea what the date is, but the style of the logo makes me think maybe 50's? All cleaned and stitching again, though I still need to put the motor back on. The case was too rotten to save, so I've got to learn how to make a new one. Being a 15 clone, it's extremely similar to my Singer 15, but there are quite a lot of differences in the smaller external parts and it has a much better drop feed system.

1958 Singer 99k, made in Scotland. All cleaned and adjusted, and my father helped rewire it, but I still need to finish fixing up the wooden case. It wasn't so bad as the previous one, but it's in no condition to stain so I'm going to paint it. This one's something of a foster kitten, as I've promised it to a friend.

1964 Singer 185J, made in Canada. I've cleaned it up and replaced the missing bobbin plate, but I need to make a new wooden case for this one too because the plastic case it came in was all cracked and warped. It's the same basic machine as the 99k, just in a more space age style shape. The bobbin winder is more stripped down, but other than that the workings are identical.

1970 Pfaff 360, made in Germany. This was the second machine I got, and it was meant to be a backup because this was when my 15-91 speed control was acting up. The pebbled greige paint job is horrendously fugly, but it's a splendid piece of engineering. I still need to get around to taking apart and unsticking one particular area, but if I'm successful in that it'll be able to do zig zag, plus a variety of other fancy stitches controlled by that nice stack of cams on the left.

The 2 treadles were given to me, the 15-91 was bought refurbished as mentioned, and the other 4 electric machines were thrifted.

venmo LKarnstein

Help me cover my rent and bills for my birthday!!

Tuesday, June 16th: Happy Pride, everyone. I’m Gem, a bi, mentally ill, and disabled woman in desperate need of help, as I'm struggling to pay some bills, which are due before I receive my welfare!!

I'm sorry that I have to e-beg again. However, as most of you know from my previous posts, I have been struggling to make ends meet while on welfare. And due to my outstanding bills and ever-increasing debt, it has been difficult for me to make ends meet. With the rising cost of living, I have been relying on my credit cards to pay bills and simply get by on a day-to-day basis.

This has cost me a great deal, and repaying them is more than I can afford. I’ve put off making this post and tried to manage these bills on my own, but I’m really struggling because I'm overdrawn, and I can't cover them with the limited welfare I receive on the 30th.

My birthday is also this Friday, on June 19th, and I’d be very grateful for any help with my bills and getting some groceries.

Again, I know this is a lot to ask, but if anyone could spare any amount to help me, even if it’s just £1/$1/€1, it would mean a lot, and sharing helps just as much. 

Thank you ❤️

£0/£150!!

You have to actually ACTIVELY unlearn all that shit. You can actually be trans AND hold TERF and racist beliefs, it is in fact very easy.