Sewing Baskets... I'm Clueless and researching...

Okay... so I don't know much about baskets, but grabbed a few up to get the stuff inside of them at an auction. So this post is dedicated to the baskets that I got and hope that with some help from Google and others that I can figure out what they are called and maybe who made them.  When I find a website or two while researching I'll post the links to the blog for fast research later in a similar manner to my Vintage or Antique Sewing Machine blog posts. :-)

 

This basket is a nice size. It is sitting on top of the Wards Brunswick sewing machine cabinet. It has all sorts of notions in it. The lid comes completely off and the handle is stationary. It is oval shaped.

The second basket is more squared and the lid is easily removed. The two handles will move out of the way to each side for easier access to the basket.

It had some needlework things in it and some patterns hiding in it. Nice sized as well on top of the same cabinet as the basket above.

This next basket is rather interesting. It's a nested basket with 2 baskets and one lid. The handle is stationary. 

The top picture shows it in the two separate baskets and the bottom picture is of it put together. Pretty neat basket.

The last basket I had gotten was this pretty blue one. I've left all the goodies I got in it instead of taking the picture of it empty.

So that is the baskets I have that I need help with identification. Like how to name them mainly. :-)

1895 Singer Model 27 with Sphinx Decals - Rusty Rescue

Nothing is as sad as seeing an OLD antique machine in this condition found at a hoarder's junk shop in Marshall, Missouri. In the freaking parking lot out in the weather.

Looks pretty rough doesn't it? Well... with a little bit of work for the last couple of days I have gotten her to this point: 

In the next few days I'll be working on getting the locked up mechanism to moving again so she can possibly stitch when I get the shuttle slides unrusted to the machine. Just wanted to show folks that you can take a super nasty looking machine and make them look a little better with Sewing Machine Oil, some metal polish, and a super fine grit sandpaper.

1923 Singer Model 66 Redeye Decal Treadle

I drove to Kansas City a few weeks back and got a couple of treadle cabinets and 4 other treadle machine heads of various makers and model types. Today's post will be of the Redeye that I'm hopefully going to put to good use.

The 'before pic' is here:

I had to put her in a different cabinet that had a foot pedal on it as this one does not have it. :-( I'm currently on a search for the pedal from a local person so I don't have to chase one down off of eBay.

Here are other pictures of this machine now: 

I had to add a spool holder, the felt, and a new belt. I'm still trying to get that belt tight enough to work. Now to get the presser foot unstuck so I can use the machine to sew a few things as a test. I'll also come back and use something on the wheel for the rust. So excited to see something locked up and not moving to get to this point. YAY!

My biggest help for getting me more active in this adventure of rehabbing old machines lays with this wonderful Facebook Group of Enablers: 

Vintage Sewing Machines

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VintageSewingMachines

Buyer Beware -- Craigslist Stoopid People and Sewing Machines

Okay, so today's been one of those weird days where some of us Vintage Sewing Machine Addicts dig through Craigslist ads in our area.  So we find an ad where some person proclaims a RARE sewing machine that really isn't all that rare. So as a crazy test to see if the moron... um... poster is really on the ball, we sent an email to ask a few questions.

Here is the ad BEFORE it is edited:

Then the emails and questions abound and we get this: 

So needless to say this machine was NOT made in 1874. It is actually from 1924 and 35,000 of them were made. If you pay some nutcake $150 for this, then you are paying way too much and are being ripped off. It is missing parts, it is NOT reconditioned, it is NOT original. It is a treadle and one of many that Singer made MILLIONS of. It is NOT handpainted. So no matter what some people tell you in order to get money from you, please do research and ask for Serial numbers, a front view of the machine, an open bobbin cover, and cabinet/case that they might come in for storage. For all you know the irons on this treadle may be broken, missing parts, cabinet may be damaged beyond repair, or whatever. DO NOT pay more than these machines are worth. Please use common sense as you try to add a much loved machine into your home when you are starting in using sewing machines as decorations or as a needed appliance into the household.

Minnesota Treadle Machine Without Cabinet

I picked up several machines and a couple of treadle cabinets about a month ago. My goal was to learn a little more about how to clean and repair machines properly. The hardest thing with any sewing machine so far on dating has been with non-Singer varieties of machines. So all we can do is find the history of a Sewing Company or the catalog companies that sold these machines to get a guestimate on when they may have been created.

Minnesota - Front before cleaning

Minnesota - Back before cleaning

So after reading how to use sewing machine oil to clean so that I wouldn't wipe away the decals, this is how they turned out:

It's just the first part of the cleaning stage. This machine is super smooth and quiet. I can't wait to find a cabinet to put it in and see how it works. :-) So more to come at another time.

Davis Vertical Feed Treadle Sewing Machine NVF

WOW! It's been a month since I typed up and published a page on here. I'm still here and busy as heck with several sewing machines that I am servicing, parting out, or working on purchasing. So for the next few posts I will do separate posts for each machine. I am the owner of way too many sewing machines now, BUT the good thing is that I am also working on learning how to properly care for neglected machines so they can possibly be used again. So on with the blog and this new to me OLD machine. Please note that these are the 'before' pictures. I haven't started cleaning and preserving the machine or cabinet yet. If anyone has any hint on the year of this machine by the serial number, please post a comment.

Front cabinet

Cabinet back 

Cabinet opened and head in table

New Vertical Feed by Davis - Front

New Vertical Feed by Davis - Back

Serial number 3740054

Look! No Feed dogs!

Left side cabinet

As with any of my machines, they are always for sale. If you see something on my blog and want to purchase it before I dive in too deep, just post a comment or message me.

My research links for this Machine:
ISMACS link to Davis VF Manual