Yep.
Now back to the old machines...
I inherited my aunt's old featherweight 222k from 1954. She was not a sewer, so it was only used a handful of times. I've had it oiled up recently and now use it from time to time. Gorgeous little thing. I'm not a huge fan of the old singer foot pedal though. It's a bit on the sticky side but honestly other than that one tiny thing, it is just beautiful to sew with and I love it.
It still has the original everything including the various feet etc. etc., the instruction book and the cards from my two grandparents wrote and put inside it (who I never met), with their wedding wishes to my aunt (with whom I was very close). They were wishing her well on her wedding day. The machine was her wedding present. She and I were always very close and I bought her house after she died a few years ago. I found it, still in its box, in the back of a cupboard while I was clearing it all out. Always loved it and only later discovered it was a collector's item as well.
It is one of my very favourite things in this world. It has massive sentimental value to me, and also I've never seen a featherweight in such perfect condition. I will hand it on to one of my girls when the time comes.
But I use it anyway. Because what's the point having something beautiful if you never take it out to enjoy it. I just use it carefully.
My absolute favourite (and it will need to go back to the repairer tomorrow), is my lovely old Pinnock Super DeLuxe. It's bright green, shiny and incredibly smooth to sew with. The foot pedal is nicer (bakelite hinged type), but of course that machine weighs a tonne so it stays out in my lounge room (with a small quilted cover over it that doubles as a table protector when I move it to the dining room table for use) and only ever moves 1 m (from the shelf to the table, then back to the shelf).
I also (stupidly) adopted a not-working Husqvarna from the 1940s/50s?? Still sitting in its box in my lounge room. Pretty thing, but I have no idea what to do with it. That was the day my sewing machine fad got silly. It was given to me for nothing. I might end up selling it on, although the original plan was to get it sewing first. There are some broken bits in the pedal, and the motor has seized. So it's probably just going to be a display piece for someone. It is very pretty.
I use my Mum's old Pfaff for garment sewing. Because neither of my others (the featherweight or the Pinnock) does zigzag. But they're perfect for quilts and I've come to love french seams in garments as well
