Kenmore 158.541

I'm not sure there are rules re. collecting anything including machinery but I've learned over the last few years that down to a certain price point, I can always find the same item for less. All I have to do is wait.

Now, this machine isn't exactly the same as my 158.540 (there are some cosmetic differences) but it appears to be mechanically identical with all the great features a 1960s Kenmore includes: 

• 1.2 amps
• Double needle capable
• Built-in buttonhole drive 
• Reversible plate insert for zig-zag/straight switching
• 5mm width
• Cam assembly
• Automatic bobbin winding
• Interlock light/power 
• Incremented plunger-style pressure control
• All-metal: cast iron body, steel parts
• Aggressive dogs for heavy-duty sewing
• Feed dog drop
• Reverse feed (and timed to match Forward almost exactly)

It has a few small dings but is in great shape, especially the wiring.  Even the case (a vintage '60s Sears pressboard trapezoid) is very decent.  Pretty, isn't it?

The last picture shows an inserted cam -- an E-type cam, to be exact.  Kenmore made cam assemblies in different sizes, different width capabilities, and with different numbers and styles of following arms.  The 541 is a single-arm mechanism that follows the lowest layer of a 2-level flat disc (E) cam.  This means that the stitch design you see on the top of the cam is produced by the layer on the opposite or lower side of the disc.

The 541 and several other models of this era are essentially straight stitch machines until you add cams, including zig-zag stitch, i.e. there is no built-in zig-zag.  It may seem an odd design decision but it makes perfect sense in that so much workhorse sewing is straight.  By limiting zig-zag to a following arm instead of including an internal cam mechanism, manufacturing is somewhat simpler.

These Kenmores are some of my favorites, including the fantastic 158.1503; if you sew a lot of denim, they are an excellent choice.

Kenmore 385.1695180

Excuse my Kenmore-gasm.

This is yet another of the Janome 385 Kenmores -- an earlier one from the 1980s.  The visual cues are here, from the slab front, to the stitch selection dial, the side knobs and hand wheel, the top thread guide, the presser bar lift lever that operates to the right rather than at the back, the thread tension integrated into the body of the machine, the power/light switch, etc.  Many of these elements will be tweaked and refined in the coming years but this Janome is easy to spot.

The seller is an older woman who appeared East Indian.  She was extremely nice on the phone and when I arrived to pick up the machine, her entire family was arranged in the living room, from a very old gentleman right down to the little children.  Their home was very humble but neat as a pin and everyone was quiet, exceedingly polite, and watched me with curiosity and respect.  It's possible they don't get many visitors and those that do drop by probably don't look like me.  I was humbled by how graciously they treated me and how quietly they regarded my presence in their home.  I smiled to all of them and thanked them, looking each one of them in the eye (there were probably 10 members of the family in the room).  The purchase of the sewing machine was an event of some importance, as the woman explained that she loved it but found sewing to be difficult and she wanted an easier machine; passing the machine to me seemed to be a kind of ceremony.  It was both odd and wonderful.  I will remember this transaction for many years.

If any politicians are reading this (unlikely, I know), can we please encourage more immigrants such as these fine folks?  I love these people and want them here!

The machine itself is in good shape.  Not perfect but nice.  The length control (top dial, inner ring) is very stiff and this could be what the seller was inferring by her explanation of struggling to operate the machine.  There is likely some old varnished oil causing it to be nearly impossible to turn -- nothing a couple of drops of kerosene can't handle.

Three Kenmores in two days and I may have another scheduled for the coming weekend.  My friend Janet has noticed that I'm sweeping up the Kenmores around here.  I plead guilty to that.  




 

Kenmore 385.1584180

This morning I found a CL listing for a free sewing machine and I drew in a sharp breath as I stared at the picture.  There it was in all its UV-damaged glory: the Janome-made 385 16-stitch machine I'd been thinking about with such regret.

You see, I took a trip through some depressed lumber towns recently and in one of the several thrift stores I entered, I found several sewing machines mostly in terrible states of repair.  I found this very same model and cringed, as many of its parts had been stripped by 'customers': no spool pins, no bobbin winder post, no winder stop post, no slide plate, etc.  It was dinged and scratched, yellowed and scraped.  No, I can't save them all but I'm very into these Janome/Kenmore 385s right now and I've regretted not simply putting it under my arm and walking to the cashier.

Well, this universe works things out for us and here is the same model, in much, much better condition:

I've yet to oil and run it but moving the hand wheel is extremely smooth and the machine feels as solid as its 24-stitch relative.  I really love these Janome 385 Kenmores and can't wait to get this one in tip-top shape as well as find the next one for the collection.  But I may have to sell a couple of other machines.  What a tragedy.

Kenmore 158.13413

I was up north, innocently purchasing a sewing machine of all things.  How innocuous, right?

I dropped by the local Value Village to shop for a few things and just happened to walk through the furniture aisle.  You never know what you'll find, AM I RIGHT?  Now, I love a good formica end table with one end of the handle falling off, a side strip of the laminate coming unglued, and a water stain from a houseplant.  Don't you?

OK, let's cut the crap.  I went in that store determined to find a sewing machine -- hoping and praying for a Kenmore -- and lo and behold, this 8-stitch beauty was sitting fat and sassy, ready for my greedy mitts.  Perhaps that water stain was my drool, I'm not sure.

It was filthy and still has a fair amount of dirt in the crevices and seams.  I'm going to be cleaning this one every time I run it, seeing little lines of dirt and old oil between every panel.  Ah, the price we collectors must pay for our indulgences.

It's one of the lower-end Jaguar/Maruzen Kenmores built in Taiwan in the late '70s, probably 1977 or '78.  (No wonder the transition to Janome was so uneventful.)  I'm happy to report that it is as smooth and heavy as its Japanese counterparts.

It has plenty of small dings and fine scratches but all the knobs, spool pins, thread guides, etc. are present and in good working order.  It's been sitting in the sun, as it has a light case of UV on several of the plastic panels.  No attachments or manual were included -- not even the power cord/pedal.  Fortunately, I have an extra cord/pedal that I believe will work, once I dig it out and see if it has the proper plug configuration.

The model tag states 'Simpsons-Sears, LTD. (LTEE.) - Canada.'  It's possible this machine was purchased in Canada and brought south, as I found it near the Canadian border.  I haven't seen many of these 8-stitch models; perhaps these were made primarily for non-U.S. markets.  Once I get it fully oiled and running, I'll update this post and hopefully give two thumbs up.

This is exactly the kind of machine I love to find and the $4.99 price tag makes it all the sweeter.

Kenmore 385.15512000

I was knocking around a local Goodwill recently and found another Kenmore, one of the last models that will be offered by Sears.  If you've read my blog for a while, you know that I love Kenmore machines and lately I've become fond of the 385 models (whose mostly white, mostly plastic exteriors I have hitherto shunned).  These Janome-made machines are smooth and quiet and even the lower-end models don't scream cheap; all have a quality feel to them and the stitches they produce are excellent.

I didn't want to blog about this machine until I had a chance to run it and I bought it without a power cord/foot pedal.  This is usually not a good idea; using a store's testing station is crucial in determining whether a machine is worth my time.  But this Kenmore's exterior was in pretty good shape, considering it was sitting on a shelf next to some other items with nothing protecting its tight little white hiney.

Note to self: ALWAYS make sure the power cord/pedal are present unless you're willing to pay sometimes more than the price of the machine and/or unless the machine is underpriced even w/out these necessary parts.

This time, it wasn't a bad decision.  This is a great low-end model.  As it happens, I found the appropriate cord/pedal for free and I'm happy to report the machine runs like a champ, sews beautifully, the controls all work very well, and it's got some heft and some strength.  I've seen this model on CL multiple times, so they're either very popular or hated.  I'm guessing the former.  What a great little machine:

It came with some attachments including some presser feet (buttonhole foot -- hurrah!), lint brush, 2 screwdrivers (including a tiny one for the really small screws), seam ripper, etc.  They all store neatly in the front compartment whose lid pops down.

Cosmetically, it has some small scratches and a deeper one near the reverse lever but it looks good, particularly after a cleaning and scrubbing.  I even used some polish to shine up and reduce some of the hairline scratches in the plastic.  What do you think -- is it a nice looking little machine or what?  If you saw one of these on the shelf for $12.99 (and then an extra 20% off because it's discount day), would you sweep it off the shelf into your arms, hold it like a baby, and grab the nearest oil bottle for a quick feeding?  I did!

The list of available stitches is short, as is to be expected of a low-end machine.  It does do the left-homing straight and an integrated width control within standard zig-zag and related stretch stitches.  At least it's simple and lightweight (although it's not as light as some machines I've worked on) and would be an ideal machine to take to a class or sewing group.

If you see one of these (or a similar model -- there are several) and the price is low and the condition is high, consider this a 'BUY.'

Kenmore 385.17828490

I'm in the process of selling my condo in town and so am flexing my prodigious muscles, carrying furniture, cleaning, and doing a lot of driving around.  /sarc

To treat myself, I stopped by Goodwill in a Seattle neighborhood just to see what might be waiting for me.  I found this gem of a machine with just a few nicks in the plastic and the needle clamp/thread guide missing -- very easily replaced.  I didn't even have to clean it much more than a wipe down and scrub here and there (although in the pictures, I can see I missed a couple of spots; I'll try to do better next time). 

This particular model is a 28-stitch machine, sharing many similarities with one of its 24-stitch brethren I picked up very recently.  One difference is an indicator window for suggested settings and presser feet depending upon the stitches selected -- regular, decorative, stretch, or 4-step buttonhole.

I haven't researched this at all but I'm guessing this one is somewhat later, as the back panel is plastic rather than the enameled aluminum found on the 24 and the spool pin is transverse rather than the pull-up/push-down metal variety that I prefer.  Otherwise, the machines are very much the same, especially their smooth and quiet operation and quality feel.  Janome, you make a good machine. 

It's important to make sure these vintage machines include the power cord/pedal, as replacements can cost far more than the machines themselves.  This one has its pedal and even included a carry case (with the nifty Kenmore logo) and the original manual.

The whole shebang was $14.99 and unfortunately there was no discount.  I suppose I could have negotiated a bit due to the missing needle clamp but I'm a firm believer in not pushing one's luck, particularly my own.  Is there such a thing as Luck?  I doubt it.

Kenmore 385.1764180

Here's a bit of a departure.

Walking around a thrift store today, I swore to myself I wouldn't buy anything I don't need.  I'm house-shopping and trying to off-load a bunch of stuff, not add to it.  However, I did spy a Kenmore electronic sewing machine from the 1980s in a tall Kenmore case that fits some of the convertible machines I own for which I don't have cases.

I'm always on the lookout for sewing machine carry cases.  They're often expensive, meaning I can easily pay $25 for an old plastic hard shell case (sometimes less, sometimes more).  I usually wait to find machines + cases for about $10 and get rid of the machine, as I planned to do with this Kenmore I found today.  The case is one of the tall ones that are a little more rare than the standard flat bed cases you see everywhere (except when you need one on the shelf of a thrift store).  My 158.1913 needs this very case so I was very happy to find this one.

I considered donating the machine right back to the store.  I'm glad I didn't.  This is a Janome-made Kenmore and is incredibly smooth and quiet.  The front of the machine is plastic; the back and arm (free arm, once you remove the plastic storage compartment in front of the feed dogs) is enameled aluminum, so it's a rather strong frame.  When plugging it in at the testing station in the store, it ran like a top.  It's fast and there is very, very little vibration.  When I say this thing is quiet, it's not much more than a purr -- a very pleasant sound.  I've only sewed cotton with it thus far (light and heavier) and it's got some power, too.  Speed, power, smoothness, quietness, and excellent stitch quality -- not much more you could ask from a thrift store machine.  It's in great shape, too:

This particular series of machines was available in various stitch configurations: I've seen 8, 10, 12, 20, 22, 24, 28, 30, 36, and I believe a 100 that was an early computerized model.  The design is simple and handsome, very straightforward, and easy to operate.  A four-step buttonhole function is built-in in addition to the simple, stretch, and decorative stitches.  I had another Janome that I really liked but it sat around without much use, so I sold it and bought two industrial machines.  This one is several steps down but sews like a champ; the hook/race design of the two machines are actually nearly identical.

I'm a fan of powerful vintage machines, preferably all-metal, preferably industrial.  However, there is so much to like about this basic machine that I'm really glad I have it and I plan to make use of it.  If you see one, consider this an enthusiastic recommendation, especially if the price is similar to what I paid: $9.99.

Correction: It appears these machines (with the orange stitch number on the face plate) were built in the early to mid-'90s, not the '80s.
     

Kenmore 158.540

Model 54, where are you?

Bellingham, apparently.  My mom needed to visit with a sick aunt and wanted a chauffeur.  My price?  Take a side trip to purchase a machine, one I've wanted for a couple of years but twice wasn't able to buy, first due to condition and second due to price.

Here it is, paint dings and all:

It was only $35 and I've had some success with touch-up paint on another machine (a Necchi -- stay tuned) so I think I'll try to match the cream paint (oil-based white and bone, mixed with spirits) and see if I can hide some of the spots you see here.  The machine is in great mechanical condition and it came with a full set of E-cams and the buttonholer with the geared plate that fits the buttonhole drive lever in the bobbin area.

These pictures were taken after a long day and right after I cleaned up this machine.  (It was the usual filthy garage machine with a dust bunny the size of Rhode Island.)  I'll take better pictures once I do the touch-ups and get some better lighting. 

Kenmore 158.1914

Ask and you shall receive.  At least that's how it all went down today.

I found a CL ad for a Kenmore sewing machine stating that it is an 'old machine' but in working condition, including the foot pedal, all for $10.  That could mean a lot of different things and there were no pictures in the ad.  The price being right for just about any of those different things, I wrote to the seller asking whether they could post a picture or send one to me and she very promptly did so.

Every major brand of vintage sewing machine has one or more models that are considered holy grails within the line.  For Kenmore, the Gritzner-Kayser machines, the 1802, and this one -- the 1914 -- are several such machines.  Not necessarily expensive, they are recognized by collectors as particularly good examples of the best types of machines produced for the Kenmore name.  The 1914 is considered by some as the best sewing machine ever built for Kenmore.  I wouldn't go that far but it's certainly a nice one with some interesting features and a design that is a bit different from many of its predecessors: modern for the late '70s while retaining the classic durability for which Kenmore was known.

At first glance, the 1914 has a sleeker, simpler look than, say, the 1913 or the 1625.  The integrated extension bed is identical to the 1913 but there is no obvious cam assembly and the reverse lever is body-colored, the length dial is smaller and flatter, and the top is a uniform slant all across the machine save for the cleverly designed slot in which the take-up lever can barely be seen.  Where are the controls and features?

That sleek top is a hinged cover revealing most of the machine's controls including (left to right) the width dial, the cam assembly ('C' or top hat cams), cam release lever, bobbin winding tension disc post, stitch selection for cam stack stitches (including both stretch and forward-only stitches), and the bobbin winder. Reminiscent of the Singer 401A, the inside of the lid itself is a stitch chart.  Very, very cool and very conveniently located.

The spool pins (or pin, in this case) are located at the back of this lid at an angle, part of the cast aluminum lid itself -- no screwed-on plastic parts here.

The free arm is revealed at the press of a button near the back, allowing the user to pull off the extension bed.

The front top plate of this extension bed can be removed by pressing yet another button on the side of the bed, thus revealing the bobbin area and feed dog lever, great for when you don't want to take off the entire extension.

The presser foot pressure control is a dial rather than the more traditional knob with twist collar and it's located behind the hinged nose:

So how does it sew?  Well, it's an all-metal Kenmore with a 1.2 amp motor, a convertible, and has just about every feature a 1970s mass-produced sewing machine would have.  It sews extremely well and I've owned it for just a few hours, cleaned up the exterior, and given it an oiling and de-dusting inside.  It's smooth, it's powerful, and the stitches are excellent -- even straight stitches are great for a zig-zag machine, a true test of quality.

I've been looking for a 1914 for 2 years and finally found one after simply asking a seller what she had.  Go get yours.