Sunday, May 12, 2013

Exciting Acquisitions

The last few days have seen a couple of exciting acquisitions for me! On Friday I brought home something in this little box. Can you guess what it is?


Yep! It's a featherweight!

 
 
It is even has the manual and a few attachments.
 
 
 
This machine runs nicely and I can't wait to use it for a whole project! The carrying case stinks a bit and so we're airing it out to try to see if that helps. After some research, that the drip pan pad on the base of the machine may be the culprit and by replacing it and letting the case air out in the sun may solve the problem. Now, if we just had some sun.  :-)
 
I've been feeling the desire for a featherweight and treadle for quite a while, but have not actively searched for either of them. I think it's funny and pretty darn cool that this machine just "showed up" and presented itself to me and now I own it!  
 
So, yesterday Lynn called me and asked if I knew anything about a sewing machine named "Damascus Grand" because her sister-in-law had one she was putting in the community garage sale. They knew nothing about it except that it was in a wooden stand, it was old and looked pretty cool. Lynn wondered if I was interested in buying it. After a quick internet search, I found out a little bit about it and told Lynn that if it was in decent shape, the parts moved and there was a bobbin case I'd be interested in it. We discussed a price (really low) and told Jess that if someone offered her more, take it.
 
Look what Lynn and Ty brought over today!
 
 
 
I now have a Damascus Grand treadle sewing machine!!!
 

 
We had to play with the chain to get the machine to open up properly and once that was fixed we were able to examine the machine a little more closely. As you can see, the stand needs some work and the whole things needs a good cleaning. We know it needs a new belt and I'm sure a couple of other things but I'm excited.
 
This has a lot of attachments and it even has a manual for using them.
 

 
Isn't it really neat that both of these machines appeared within a matter of days? I'm sure I'll be spending a lot of time reading about these machines and learning a lot. I've found a number of websites that should help and I think I'm going to check the library and Amazon.
 
Did I tell you that I'm excited about these machines?

12 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Well Happy Mother's Day to you!!

3Dogbones said...

Hooray! I love my treadle machine but have not used it in YEARS! One day....

Lou said...

Wow what a great weekend!
I have a featherweight I found on Craig's list. I also have a treadle that was on Freecycle....yup free:) The cabinet has been restored but the machine is junk... am looking for a machine now:)
Such fun!!!!

Judy B said...

Oh you will love your Featherweight! There is a great Yahoo group for these little beauties.
featherweight-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Sarah said...

I was just commenting to mom a couple of weeks ago that I want her to teach me how to use her treadle machine. We'll have to video chat and treadle together soon.

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Kit Lang said...

so lucky!!! I love your featherweight and would like to own one, one day too. And my mom had a treadle. I loved using it when I was kid - I would sit under the machine and push the treadle up and down while she worked. :)

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Anonymous said...

We just found a Damascus Grand cabinet and the top leaf (where the machine sits) does not come up all the way. The front skirt lever is disconnected and we are having a heck of a time figuring out how it goes. Could you, would you, terribly mind taking a photograph of how the front skirt lever is connected inside of the cabinet? Thank you.

Gerri said...

From the manual were you able to determine the age of your Damascus Grand. We were just given a machine that is very similar to yours, but have been unable to determine the age. Also if your manual has a number would you please share it so that I can maybe locate one on the web?
Thank you.