This old gal has experienced a resurrection!
She's a treadle Singer Sewing Machine, "Red Eye," model 66, housed in a Victorian Parlor Cabinet, built in 1919. Yep.. she's 99 years old!
I first met this beauty in Grandma Audrey's attic (rural Illinois) about 50 years ago. It looked much like it does right now. Grandma Audrey had it up and running so she could go up to the attic to patch heavy coveralls or blue jeans rather than use her brand new fancy Bernia downstairs. ( We think it originally belonged to Great Grandma Braner, the original owner of that country farmhouse. The Singer was moved to the attic when a new ELECTRIC machine arrived one Christmas. Honeybuns says it was hauled up there when the house was remodeled in the 60's.)
Grandma Audrey was really proud of this machine. She'd rigged it so it would no longer drop down into the cabinet, for some unknown reason. It worked great in that musty attic, no need for electricity. Did I say it is a TREADLE? The seamstress uses her feet to rock a small iron platform at the bottom of the cabinet which in turn causes a wheel to turn which causes the needle to go up and down making a straight line of stitches. Genius!
It sat in the attic for a long time. Great Grandma Braner died as did her son and his wife and the Singer survived the massive house cleaning after the last funeral.
Dusty, rusty, and locked up from lack of oil and lac of use for 15 more years.
A couple of years ago I met a gal in the Frisco, TX quilt guild that loves and repairs antique sewing machines....and I remembered the "Red Eye" still in the attic of the old home place. Wouldn't it be something if my new friend could bring it back to life?
I contacted the relatives and it took a small army of men to haul that thing down the tiny staircase to the SUV that would bring it to me. It was a mess and looked pretty hopeless, destined for the land fill.
Was I out of my mind for even bothering with that piece of junk?
After being in the shop over a year and a half it was delivered back to me and installed in that same old cabinet. It was cleaner, brighter and the rust was gone.
AND it WORKS. Wow! The ingenuity of that brilliant design survived the test of time and it just need to be cleaned, oiled, a few new parts added..... and loved.
Unbelievable!
It's true! They just don't make them like they used to. This old gal is strong, stable and has a backbone of iron. I think it's funny that she'll outlive all the new computerized, plastic models by years!
SO....if the power goes out I can still sew, if the Chinese hack our electrical grid I can still sew, if I want to relive the "olden" days I can still sew. It's a new old toy. I love it.
A BEAUTY at 99! Maybe there's hope for me too.
