The Australia Times - Antiques magazine. Volume 1, issue 6

Vol. 1 No. 6 October 2015

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

ANTIQUES

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

ANTIQUES

WHAT’S INSIDE?

Top Five

Reasons

to Buy an

Antique Sewing

Machine!

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

Leaving them in Stitches

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

Prices and Affordability

We offer both veteran and undiscovered writers the opportunity to get published.

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COMMUNICATE, or an OPINION to state, we are your voice!

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join a like-minded community in a great project?

EDITORS NOTE

Top Five Reasons to

Buy an Antique Sewing Machine!. . . . . . . . 8

A Brief History of the Sewing Machine. . .12

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

Names and Badges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

The Sum of its Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Buying Your Sewing Machine: Leaving

them in Stitches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

Needles, Shuttles and Bobbins . . . . . . . . .28

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

The Power to Sew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

Where the Wild Things Are . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

Prices and Affordability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Servicing Your Sewing Machine:

Preparing it for Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Using Your Sewing Machine:

Getting it Started! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

TAT Antiques - Featured Antique . . . . . . . 46

Special Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

__________________________________

COVER: Photograph Taken by the

TAT Antiques Editor

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

ANTIQUES

WHAT’S INSIDE?

admit to having a rather personal

connection to sewing machines.





   

dressmaker. From about 1950 to



       

        











have learned to appreciate their engineering and beauty.





it; I have my own antique sewing machine which I use





Doubtless it will also appear in this issue. I wonder why?



Shahan Cheong

EDITOR

TAT Antiques



Welcome to the October issue of TAT Antiques,

for 2015. In this issue, we’ll be looking at one of

the most collectible types of antiques out there,

actively sought by men and women alike, for

everything from quilting to bag-manufacture,

clothing-repairs to clothing-production!

I am of course, talking about the sewing machine, one

of the greatest marvels of 19th century invention.

In this issue, we’ll be looking at the history of the

sewing machine, the various manufacturers and

models, and the components which make up an

antique sewing machine. On top of that, I’ll also

cover what you’ll need to know about buying your

very own, antique, or vintage sewing machine

for your personal use – what to look for, what to

keep an eye out for, what to ﬁx, clean, or avoid,

and most importantly – how to use your machine!

So if you’ve ever wanted an antique or vintage

sewing machine, this is the issue for you!

Shahan Cheong

EDITOR

The Australia Times - ANTIQUES

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

Top Five Reasons

to Buy an Antique

Sewing Machine!







Surely modern ones a better? Modern ones

can do more things? Modern ones last longer and



        

would want to buy a mechanical wristwatch made





        



have a look.

Antique Sewing Machines

are Made Better.

         

       

        

      

what we have today. Their bodies are solid cast



       









      









    

       

      

     







       













Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES

Just how tough are old sewing machines?







      

This is because they knew that these machines





        



They were so well-built and so tough that they

      



        

     





up with sledgehammers and thrown repeatedly to

        



Antique Sewing Machines

are More Aesthetically Pleasing.





that appeared on the market in the 1840s and 50s

        

      

    

       







       





These days you can have a sewing machine in any



        







      

       

        



      



up their machines. They gave them handsome cases

       

      

      

     

      

      

        



with decorative borders. Faceplates were polished

      

and polished until they shone. This was all to make



late 1800s.

Sewing machine decals and patterns remained an

       

       

and with the locations where these machines were

made. Machines being sold to India had Indian

       



       

       

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

    

      

     

      



Name me one machine made today with that level



Antique Sewing Machines

are More Elegant

       



      

anything made today. A modern sewing machine is





       

more appealing when uncovered.

      

         

      





     

           











        

  

       

       

proclaimed to all who saw it that here was a person

        



Antique Sewing Machines

will Last Longer



      



      

last much longer than anything built today. Once









edge technology.

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES

Older machines may not be able to do as many

      





      

      

able to sew through anything which a modern

machine can also accomplish.





 



      

they would be able to sew through anything which

most people are ever likely to use their machines



There’s Nothing to Learn!









        

 





  



     

and whistles means that you can concentrate more

on quality than quirks.

An 1885 Singer

Model 12 with

‘Acanthus’ decals.

Independent Media Inspiring Minds



THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

A Brief

History of the

Sewing Machine



he impact that the sewing machine has

       

    

real shame.



  



each and every last stitch holding it together.

      

   















public.







     

impact that the sewing machine has had on

modern society.



sped up everything. From taking hours or days to

         

        

     

      





brought down the prices to the level that people

        



Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES





      





   

     

       





   

        

 

        

     

       











and practical sewing machines were developed.

    





      

to developing a machine that could be put to



    

     



      

Isaac Merritt Singer stole all their ideas and built

      

    







Singer realised that the sewing machine was



could make a good one could stand to become a

       

       

      



an organisation called the Sewing Machine



     

these men controlling all these patents and

        



And it also gave them a huge monopoly on the





       

and nobody had bothered to renew them. This

led to more companies springing up producing





out there today.

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

Names and

Badges



       

        



        

       

        

people looking to buy an antique or vintage sewing

machine.

Other good vintage brands include Frister &

      

        

      





          





machines had automatic-stop bobbin-winders and









    



       

   





      

          

vintage sewing machine?

        

         

      









Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES

      















      





that they ran as smooth as a sewing machine.



      





         



and learn about without hassle. Nothing could be

more annoying than buying an antique sewing





Re-Badged Machines,

For When All is not as it Seems

     



onto their pillars. A bit like the hood-ornament

      







a sewing machine with a badge on it which is not



Frister & Rossmann sewing machines were typical

of the kind made in Germany at the turn of the last

century, featuring a transverse shuttle mechanism

and porcelain handle on the crank.

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES





     



      

      





      

      



    

       







        

       

       





     

decal on the machine-bed and the thoroughly

Australian-sounding surname. All machines with





machine company).

        





        

Australian-made sewing machines particularly



world.

An A.N.A. or “All Native Australian” sewing

machine. Despite the name, this was actually

made in the United States by the Davis

Sewing Machine Company.

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

The Sum of

its Parts

BY 



       



      



   





The machine is attached to the base with

     



storage underneath. Some machines had



 

      





       

hen you buy a sewing machine second-

       



       





Unless it's exceptionally old, most

antique sewing machines will have a

regular, rectangular bed

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES







   

damage. Depending on the age and make







  

     

sew. Most domestic sewing machines are

    



















     



         







   

although some models have two) sticking



      



The Singer 'Featherweight' came with a 'free-arm'

arrangement where the bed could be slid off to

allow for greater access to the needle for a wider

variety of sewing tasks

Some machines have two spool pins,

instead of one, like this 1940s Singer. One

pin is for the sewing thread, the other pin is

to hold thread used to ﬁll the bobbin

This 19th century Singer

12 with mother-of-pearl

inlay has a curving

'ﬁddlebase' bed

Independent Media Inspiring Minds



THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

 

       

usually with a nickel-plated or chromed

rim. An electric machine will have a solid

    

will have a spoked handwheel. An electric

machine with a spoked handwheel is almost

     

       

previously it had been hand-powered.

     

     

nickel-plated) inside the balance wheel.



because turning this releases the clutch on



      

      

winding up bobbins). Not all machines have

clutch-wheels. Some machines have clutch-

pins or needles which engage and disengage



 The Driving Mechanism comes next. This will be



will be directly or indirectly connected to the

    

this is accomplished by a short drive-belt.

   



      

arm that sticks in through the spokes on

the balance wheel. In some antique sewing

    





          

     





     



on most Singer sewing machines were



       



         

         

     

        









        

     

      

      



The balance

wheel (with

spokes) and

clutch-wheel

(chrome-

plated) at

the end of

a sewing

machine

Independent Media Inspiring Minds



ANTIQUES



spring mentioned above.

         

     







 The Take-up Bar comes last. This bar has the

take-up lever or take-up arm attached to it.

        





the take-up lever is connected via a cam to

   

take-up lever) unnecessary.

        

underneath the three bars. These plates are



     



mechanism). Slide-plates slide back and

   



bobbin.

      



          

   

     

buy them on eBay.

       

    

   







     

     

    





      



 

      

       



 

      



that go into the machine-bed underneath the





The bobbin-

winder on a

Singer 15

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        

near the bobbin-winder. Turning the knob

      



  

     

      



     



 

      

     

      

      

and also its neatness. Not all machines have

    

      





by a spring.

The bobbin-

winder on

an older-

style, long

bobbin

machine

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Buying Your Sewing Machine:

Leaving them

in Stitches

The Transverse Shuttle

      

transverse-shuttle sewing machine creates a two-







stitch.







     

      



Compact

'Saxonia'-

style sewing

machine with

transverse-

shuttle stitch-

mechanism

Independent Media Inspiring Minds



ANTIQUES

The transverse shuttle mechanism has existed since











     

      

them is almost impossible. A popular model is the



       



    

companies held onto the transverse-

     

longer than other makers. They were

still producing these right up until

    

   

be like a computer-company still

     



     

   

are that it was modernised to take













The Vibrating Shuttle



       



shaped shuttle) to create a lockstitch. A popular



machine is characterised by the two rectangular







My 1936

Singer 128,

one of the

most common

vibrating-

shuttle sewing

machines ever

made

Independent Media Inspiring Minds



THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

Vibrating shuttle machines were extremely



      

       

      

        

      

     

shop or supermarket.

Round Bobbin Machines

Round Bobbin machines came out in the late 1800s











or vibrating shuttle sewing machine. A popular

model is the Singer 15.



in bobbin machine was invented. It used a round



machine up was much improved. All you did was













     

machine can be used today. They should all take

modern needles. They are easily recognised by

       



ready to sew).

A Wheeler

& Wilson

No. 8 round

bobbin sewing

machine

Independent Media Inspiring Minds



THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

Needles,

Shuttles

and Bobbins





         



great.

Needles



     

       

    

       

       





The trouble comes when you have really old

       

chapter – not all sewing machines are created

     

you MUST take this into account. There are loads



       

     



       



skirt around patents and come up with something







       

      

Independent Media Inspiring Minds



ANTIQUES



     

     

       

       

       

purposes only.

Shuttles and Bobbins

Remember how I said that nothing was standardised?

     



and their own shuttles which would only work in

their own machines.

        

    



      

machines could take American machine parts. The



         

       

only things worth changing were the small details



        

       



      

your machines.

Standard vibrating shuttle,

with bobbin inside

The shuttle

carrier

inside the

bobbin race

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

Buying Your Sewing Machine

The Power

to Sew



Hand Machines



     



       

      

turning the crank once turned the balance wheel





      

         



















     

make is how the machine operates. Antique and

vintage sewing machines typically operate in three

ways.

Treadle-

powered

Singer

sewing

machine.

An easily-

replaced

leather

belt runs

around the

balance-

wheel and

the ﬂywheel

on the

treadle to

operate the

machine

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES

     



     



the handle and wheel would result in

    





     

   

      

     

    

     

with a sewing machine – novice or

  



     

anywhere to sew with it – in the







          

manual speed control means that you can go as



        

        

electric machines.

Treadle Power

     





in pretty decent condition. Treadle machines



however.

       

Traditional treadle machines were made with







         

      



      

around 30lbs.









My 1936 Singer 128 (left) and 1945 Singer 15 (right) are

both examples of hand-powered machines. No extra treadle-

weight to grumble over, no worn-out electrics to worry about

Independent Media Inspiring Minds



THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES











treadle sewing machine will have more than enough

       



and all your machine accessories. Although they



        





Qualities like speed and extra storage make treadle

      



upholstery or quilting. Treadle machines are popular





as a decorative side-table.



      





      





      

       





you simply dropped the machine back into the

       

 



very high prices.

Electric Machines

    

       

     

      



The motor bolted onto the machine in the same way

      



      



    

     



same power-source as the motor.

    

previously hand-powered machines became

available. These machines did away with traditional

      

       

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES









      

operation is as simple as unscrewing the motor and





Vintage electric machines come with their own

      

course is that they need electrical power to operate

        

where you can take it. The second thing you need

to consider is that the electric components on a lot



          





to a hand-crank machine.

An electric sewing

machine of the kind that

was common from the

1920s/30s, up to the

1960s and 70s. The same

basic design as Victorian-

era machines, but with

electrics thrown in

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

Where the Wild

Things Are



       

        

        

       







decorative.



the assumption that you will want a machine which





come across is the make. This is not always as easy





        

         





ow that you know all about old sewing

     





      

      

       







        



    

shops.

    









Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES

Crank-Handle Styles

      











hand-driven machine.

      





  

       



       

      

     

believed to last longer and be more hygienic. They

were easier to clean than wooden handles.

The Bobbin Winder

       

     

little mechanism used to load an empty bobbin





American and British sewing machines all had





      

       

Britain almost always had a simple bobbin winder.











White, porcelain

enamel handles

were often found

on old German

sewing machines,

like this Frister &

Rossmann from

the early 1900s

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

     

    

     

        

        

       









Although American and British machines did have





      

their long bobbin machines. So a more complicated

long bobbin winder on an antique machine is most





Where to Find Antique Sewing Machines



     



       





required to get the machine working again.



         









      

         

prevalent makes.

       









The United States will have among the largest

     





in mind that the average antique sewing machine

       







        

the item throughout my luggage to bring it back.

So knowing how to assemble and disassemble your



Points of Interest on

Old Sewing Machines

       

        

machine which you should examine closely. In no



• The Bobbin Winder. Does it work? Does it

     

wheel smoothly? Is the rubber tire on the



buy replacements).

• The needle bar. Does the machine have a needle





     



supermarket.

 

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES



and locks onto the base. Make sure that the

       

locks and catches are securely embedded







is sometimes enough to pick the lock. This

works especially well with antique Singers.

• The Tension Discs. 

tensioning system) on an old sewing

       









• The Clutch Wheel.

wheel is essential to switch the machine

   

mode. Make sure that it tightens and

loosens as expected. It may be necessary

to disassemble this and clean it to ensure

proper clutch and release.

• The Drive Belt. On old electric and treadle

    



They are easily replaced with anything



      

online about how to re-belt your old sewing



• Bobbins and Shuttles. 

     

sure that it has enough compatible bobbins









      



     

examples are also easily obtained. A sewing

machine without it bobbins and/or shuttles





  









• Attachments. Every antique sewing machine





     

when it was new. Attachments allowed

   

   





     





• Feed Dogs.       

any antique machine that you buy. Feed-

     

the needle which operate in a circular





    









• The Serial Number.

       



        

    

         



Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

Buying Your Sewing Machine:

Prices and

Affordability











       

       

 





have the skills to resurrect dead machines.

     

machine cost?





vintage sewing machine with enough attachments

     

        

      



The Singer 'Parlour Cabinet' model, closed up.

The machine would also fold inwards, leaving

you with a completely tucked-away sewing

machine disguised as a lovely side-table

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES

weight and hassle involved in moving one around.









       







        

        













       

premium prices.

       



       



        















open up another outlet.



   

       

     



AllSaints Spitalﬁelds, near the Portobello

Road Antiques Market in north London. A

photograph I took back in 2010

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

Servicing Your Sewing Machine:

Preparing it

for Use













tinkering with it.

        



     





at the last minute.

      





       

      

          













Cleaning Your Machine



         





        

them going again.



 Flathead Screwdriver. Most sewing-machine

components are held on with simple slot-

     





purpose.

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES

 





       

stubborn bolts and to pick out grime and lint



 



      



 

        



things to their proper shine.



the TAT Antiques issue about antiques repairs and



Servicing a sewing machine is quite easy. Remove

        



      









Once the machine has been thoroughly





          



Remember how

    

 



   

  

A dry sewing

machine can be

so impossible to



   







    

extremely easy to lubricate. They come complete

       

around the machine. These are oiling-holes. Stick

        





   

distribute the oil around the interior. Do not be

   







        

cleaning did not dislodge.

     

       

mechanical parts. There should be no squeaking or







stitches.

Antique domestic sewing machines came with oiling

holes where lubricant could be poured or sprayed to

keep the internal mechanism moving

Some machine

models will come with

removable metal plates

which allow greater

access to the mechanism

for cleaning and

lubrication

Independent Media Inspiring Minds



THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

Using Your Sewing Machine:

Getting it

Started!





  

and then load an empty bobbin into the winder.



         

       

bobbin-winder. Feed it through the thread-guides



times to anchor it properly. Then simply turn the

        

treadle mechanism to turn the balance wheel and



with thread.

        

load the bobbin into the race. Depending on your



Loading a Sewing Machine Shuttle

      



      



       

        

       







Every lockstitch sewing machine that has ever



         







the sewing machine.

          





the machine by either pulling out the connecting

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES

      

 



       

         

      





action creates stitches.















thread will catch in the hook and then you simply

trail it under the tension-spring in the shuttle. Once

        

  



    

has something to work with.

       



      

thread being pulled by the machine will simply

        

    



Loading a Round Bobbin

         





       















Feed the thread through the thread-slots in the

bobbin-case and through the necessary tension-

plates. Then load the bobbin and the case into the



         

slide-plate.





       

          

      

       

          







Threading Your Machine



bobbin case and loaded the bobbin case into the

    



      

     

engaged.

    







        

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES



      







needle.



   

        

       







machine to play with.



Adjusting your Thread Tension

        





       

your sewing machine parts with the thread which

  

      

      



be a relatively easy tweak.

     



          



       



         

       





the tension assembly. Loosening or tightening this

       

the tension discs. A well-tensioned machine is one

      

identical on both sides. This means that the upper

and lower threads are being released with the same

         



loosening the tension-nut on the tension discs.











The tension-discs, spring and screw-nut on a Singer

sewing machine. Adjusting thread-tension is vital

for good sewing. If tension is too tight or slack, the

machine won't sew properly - or at all

Seen here are the presser-foot, the needle and

needle-clamp, and the feed-dogs (the serrated

teeth underneath the presser-foot)

      







       



which it appears.





       

      



TAT ANTIQUES Featured Antique – Submission

Form







    





       



        

    





Images).

      

       

         

       





     

     

     

to provide readers with a better understanding and



in each issue.

TAT Antiques

- Featured

Antique

- Reader

Information!



TAT Antiques – Featured Antique

Name of Owner: Shahan Cheong

Featured Antique: Sterling Silver Georgian

Vinaigrette

Date or Period of Manufacture: Georgian

England. 1823.

Place of Manufacture: England.

Name of Manufacturer: Thomas Spicer

ow here’s something you don’t see every day!

And it’s denitely my pleasure and privilege

to share this with my readers. Here it is.

Backstory:

I bought this little trinket from a man who

misidentied this as a vesta or silver match-safe,

and who, luckily for me, priced it accordingly. If

he’d known what it really was, I probably couldn’t

afford it! But I got lucky, and I can’t believe how

old it actually is. It’s denitely one of the more

interesting and unusual items that I’ve added to my

personal collection, which is why I’m so thrilled to

own it. It’s also one of the oldest!

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

TAT Antiques

- Featured

Antique

BY SHAHAN CHEONG

Vinaigrettes are typically very small. Here it is next

to a 50c coin, to show scale. The ﬂat panel on the

lid was for engraving initials, a date or monogram











this.

The item I have here is a little vinaigrette – a true







Item Profile: Vinaigrettes









the 18

and 19









and pungent agents designed to bring about



an extremely pungent substance which can be





The 18

and 19

centuries were not the sweetest-



















soaked sponge held behind a pierced screen.

















you. It was basically your personal



in your pocket.







become very common. They were









Independent Media Inspiring Minds

ANTIQUES

All vinaigrettes came with a sponge with which to contain the

mix of perfume or oil, and vinegar, which would help to ward off

unpleasant smells which threatened to ruin your day















Vinaigrettes held miniature sponges which were







the vinaigrette and the little pierced screen was







prevent the acid damaging the silver which most



This particular vinaigrette is hallmarked as being

















another time and another place.

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

The hallmarks inside reveal the town of assay, date

of assay, the maker's name, and the fact that the

silver tax (abolished in April of 1890) has been

paid on this item

The gilt pierced grille allowed the scent contained

in the sponge to waft outwards, but prevented the

sponge from falling out accidentally

…TO WAYNE AND JUDI

MCKAIL

, of “Sew What –

Maryborough”, for their assistance

with this issue of TAT Antiques,

and for letting me photograph so

many of their gorgeous antique

and vintage sewing machines.

Thank you so much for your

invaluable assistance, and patience

in answering my questions and

helping me to ll in the gaps in

my research for this issue. It was

much appreciated and helped to

correct one or two small errors

which I would not have found out

otherwise! Anyone reading this

who lives in Victoria can visit Sew

What – Maryborough, located at

51 Laidman Street, Maryborough,

and admire their fantastic collection

of antique and vintage sewing

machines, dating all the way back

to the 1860s and 70s, up to postwar

models of the 50s, 60s and 70s,

and a few select modern ones.

Special

Acknowledgements

BY SHAHAN CHEONG

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

THE

AUSTRALIA

TIMES

Judi McKail

hard at

work on her

industrial-

grade Singer

treadle

machine!

Special

Acknowledgements



























Shahan Cheong

EDITOR TAT – Antiques.

Conclusion

Independent Media Inspiring Minds

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