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… by the side of the road…
No idea how it got there, but it does seem to be in working order, at least as far as I can tell. The light turns on when I plug it into the wall, and the needle goes up and down when I press on the pedal. That’s as far as my knowledge of sewing machines goes.
So those of you who do sew, do you think I should hold on to it?
There’s a plaque in the front that says:
Viking
Delta Sewing Machine Co
Sales & Service
70 McKay Ave
London, Ont. Phone 432-4675And there’s one in the back that says:
Zigzag Sticher
White Sewing Machine Co
Cleveland 11, Ohio
Toronto 16, Canada
AC and DC up to 75 Cycles
115V – 130W – 1.3AMPSDepends on if you sew. :p
It looks like an older model (70s maybe?) and Viking tends to be one of the better brands in my experience. I have a machine from the 40s or 50s that is super simple (goes forward and backward) but its the best cause it is durable goes through darn near anything (6 layers of fabric when doing a corset was awesome!) Most of the ones you buy today can’t do that.
You should grab a piece of scrap fabric and see if it actually sews, it’s not worth much if it doesn’t actually work :D. You can check online, maybe the viking site? and see if they can help you identify it. The other thing is that you may want to check with a sewing machine shop and see if they can give the parts a cleaning and tune up.
If you sew, I would probably keep it (or pass it on to someone who does sew), especially if you just do basic stuff. From the pictures it has every stitch you would need for most normal things.
If it doesn’t actually sew, it might be a matter of readjusting the timing. That being said, it’s not an easy fix so you couldn’t probably do it yourself and you might have to find a repair shop. Try it out!
Actually, I don’t sew at all, but I have been meaning to learn. I’m very short so every pair of pants that I buy has to be taken in, and it’s getting more and more expensive. And I’d love to be able to make basic repairs and not have to take everything to a shop!
I’ll probably take it to my stepmother and have her try it. She does a lot of sewing.
As for trying it out myself, it currently seems to be missing the thread that should be coming up through the part below the needle and I have no idea how to set it up.
Sounds like it just needs a bobbin in there. 🙂 A little plastic or metal spool that fits down there, with the same color thread on it as what the top thread will be. That’s easy-peasy, not a big issue.
You should keep it and learn how to do your own pant hemming! That’s pretty simple once you have a hang of the machine. And you’re already ahead on cost because you got the machine for free!
I inherited my mom’s OLD machine from the ’60s and still use it fairly regularly for easy little projects. If this machine works well or only needs a simple repair, go for it! Sewing is pretty fun. 🙂
I agree with what has been said so far. Recently, on yahoo, I saw a video of “When vintage is better than new” and it listed things that were better old than their newer counterparts-like cast iron skillets verses teflon, old metal fans with metal blades verses plastic blades (metal produces more air) and sewing machines was one of them. My mom got me a sewing machine last year for Christmas. Its light weight and has a cute sticker interface I can add on. My mother has an old one from the 70s or 80’s, possibly older. It is move-able but it weighs a LOT. I can still hear her saying “Dont drop that thing on your foot!!” And I like it better than my newer one. Yours has a lot of varying stitch options-more than my new “Brother” brand one. 😉 Its a keeper for sure! Maybe its The Universe’s way of telling you its time to take up sewing 😉
Actually, I don’t sew at all, but I have been meaning to learn. I’m very short so every pair of pants that I buy has to be taken in, and it’s getting more and more expensive. And I’d love to be able to make basic repairs and not have to take everything to a shop!
I’ll probably take it to my stepmother and have her try it. She does a lot of sewing.
As for trying it out myself, it currently seems to be missing the thread that should be coming up through the part below the needle and I have no idea how to set it up.
In that case if it works and all it would be a very good first machine.
Sounds like it either missing a bobbin or needs to have the bobbin threaded. You should be able to pull the metal plate under the needle aside and see if there is actually a bobbin in there. You can find bobbins at any sewing shop, take your machine in and they should be able to help you. 🙂I think basic sewing like putting up hems and replacing buttons is something everyone should know how to do! and it saves you money :p
I think basic sewing like putting up hems and replacing buttons is something everyone should know how to do! and it saves you money :p
I agree!
In fact, my mother used to make all my clothing as I was growing up, and my dolls’ clothing too, but she never showed me.
I did ask many times, but it was always, “some other day”, “next week”, “I’m too busy”, “not right now”…
Eventually I stopped asking.There was a bobbin in place (operative word “was”), however, the thread was all pulled in, so I had to take it appart to pull the thread out. But I did’t think to take a picture of how it was put together and now I don’t know how to put it back… *sigh*
I can’t seem to fit those last 2 pieces together, they won’t interlock as they did before!
And then it’s supposed to fit vertically into that round socket.
I definitely need to take it to someone who understands how this works! NOELLA!!!! (my stepmom) LOL!
Update: I found the model online, it’s an Eaton 669 Viking, and I just ordered an instruction manual (PDF download). We’ll see where that gets me…
My grandma had a Viking machine that looks very similar to that one. She made wedding dresses, pants, dresses, shirts pretty much everything. She liked it better than other newer machines, and it needed very little matinence. It was a great machine. If you want to sew that is a good machine.
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Sun Dragon Koi #3I have sewn in the past…Viking is a good brand…I myself own a cheapy brother, but its sturdy and gets the job done. Grats! Maybe this is fates way of saying you should learn to sew! lol 🙂 Very odd thing to find by the road by the way…
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