Final count

We finally got the sewing machines unloaded.  The final count was 45 machines and 25 cabinets.   Plus parts for at least 3 more cabinets.

We hauled these home using my folks' camper.  Thank Heavens for this monster of a trailer with its 'toy hauler' garage in the back.

 

 

My dear husband....so sweet to go along with this adventure.   He was the muscles behind the whole thing....not to mention, he's had to work around these in his garage and had to put up a shelving unit in his storage room in the basement.   All of the machine heads will reside there until we have fully serviced all of them.

 

Now, we begin the process of restoring all these machines until they are completely operational.   Vintage and antique sewing machines are such wonderful works of engineering....they last forever.  The modern machines have all the bells and whistles but if anything goes wrong with the electronics or computer, they are finished.   The old ones have been here for years and years and with some tender loving care will be here long past my life.   That is my goal....to provide the loving care and preserve them for the future and pass some of them on to others who will enjoy their durability and beauty.

 

With this many machines added to my collection, its time to start selling some of my duplicates.   First up:   A Mercury Dial-O-Matic.

 

Well, our adventure to Two Harbors to pick up the sewing machine collection went well.   We even made it through the tunnels in Duluth without tearing the roof off the trailer.  No where could we find a listing telling us the height of the tunnels.

It took 13 hours and 4 people to bring them home.  Six hours of driving, 6 hours of wrapping and loading and 1 hour for resting and meals.   It wasn't until we got home that I realized I had brought my camera with and didn't take a single picture of the process.   I plan on taking pictures of the camper when we open up the ramp door but that hasn't happened yet!

What are we waiting for??? :)

Well, by the time we got home on Wednesday, we were completely exhausted!   And last night, we finished cleaning up our garage so that we have more room to sort and organize the machines when they come out of the trailer.

So, until then....here are more pictures of the treasures.

Cute vintage Pfaff:

 

 

A Singer Redeye in a beautiful cabinet:

 

 

This treadle is so pretty and unique it will be going in my bedroom.

 

Another Pfaff

 

Adventure into Insanity!

Tomorrow, our adventure begins.   We will be driving 4 hours north to pick up my latest acquisition:   Another sewing machine collector's COMPLETE collection.   He advertised it as 30 machines....but in the pictures sent to us we have counted at least 39.  Half of these are treadles and the rest vintage electrics.  Needless to say.....we are bringing a BIG trailer.   Thanks Mom & Dad!

This is one of the treasures in the collection.  This one is going in my livingroom!  I collect peacocks and have them in my livingroom....what a way to combine my collections.

I am so excited.   I'm sure I will have a hard time sleeping tonight.    So many gems to bring home and love.   I can't wait to start playing with them and researching their ages.   I'm looking forward to cleaning, oiling and polishing them.   And after all that.....sewing with them!!   Some of these will be re-homed eventually, after I'm sure I have loved them back to life, but most of them are coming home to stay!