Whilst perusing said Goodwill, I found a number of things I wanted but just couldn't justify including a Janome-made Kenmore w/out a cord/pedal. I've vowed not to collect non-collectible machines and get rid of the ones I have and so I passed. In the furniture section, I nearly gave up my VSM search and happened to see a small desk with a tell-tale seam in its top. Curious, I pulled away the dirty Barney the Dinosaur play set and lifted the lid, taking some of the peeling veneer off as I did so.
Why do these 130s keep finding me? I'm honestly not looking for them but with a silver tag sale (50% off) and thus at $12.49, how can I not drag it to the car?
Cosmetically, it's in great shape except the lamp arm plate (needs a re-paint) and the motor housing (needs a scrubbing). Mechanically, it's frozen solid. I mean this baby isn't moving a centimeter and I've doused it repeatedly with kerosene. Hopefully with time the brown oil solids will start to loosen and dissolve and I'll gradually change to sewing machine oil. In the meantime, re-wiring (the wires aren't too bad but will eventually start crumble away), more cleaning, and getting a case.
This machine was sold in 1950 to a Frank Jarroz for his wife Thelma and it's clear that Thelma didn't sew much or treated it with utmost care. They lived in Michigan and how the machine made it to the Puget Sound area is probably as simple as a moving van, though I always wonder about machine anthropology and patterns of immigration. The Great Pfaff Diaspora -- I feel a Master's thesis coming on.
Anyway, I wish all of you a very happy Easter. Hunt for those golden eggs. They're out there!
I keep hunting but I don't find anything but non-collectables, and those overpriced. I think it will take me a while to get over envy for that Bernina 117 you posted about. I keep browsing craigslist and thrift stores, not so much E bay.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I can tell, a lot depends upon the community. You might try estate sales. Or pawn shops. Or flea markets. I've been very fortunate with thrift stores but I visited an estate liquidator recently and some of the stuff I found was pretty amazing. Lots of junk, though. And once in a while, eBay really comes through for me. I found a Necchi RZI for $50 and it's actually in very good condition. (It needs work but not much.) Finding the good stuff also requires constant searching and it's tiring. And life gets in the way, too!
DeleteYou kill me!!! May be frozen for now, but still beautiful to look at. Like Barbara above, all the collectibles in CA are overpriced. Look at CL Los Angeles & you will see. Hope u had a nice Easter
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Michael -- I hope you enjoyed your Easter as well. Mine was quiet and peaceful, with family. A nice time!
DeleteIn looking at the Los Angeles CL, I see an Elna Supermatic with the original metal case for $40. That's a steal. It only needs cleaning and the knee bar. I also see a Pfaff 130 in a desk for $75 in Van Nuys. A beautiful fiddle base hand crank for $85 in West LA -- I'd be all over that one as the decals are in great shape.
Keep looking, the deals are there. I think estate sales are where the really great deals are because liquidators are just trying to get rid of the stuff -- they have new inventory coming in all the time because people continue to die.
I actually saw the Elna and was piqued, but I don't know that much about them. The others I must have glossed over. I have read some great things about the Pfaff 130. I do look to your blog for knowledge and have bought a great machine you posted about. (kenmore 1914). Waiting for your book buying guide!!!! :)
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