Friday, May 17, 2013

What is WRONG with us?

Wednesday night, long after I should have been in bed, I checked Craigs List.  Nothing new in the Albany list but OH MY OH MY what a surprise when I checked Oneonta.
Photo by Ken, the Seller
I could not believe it.   A 201-2 in MY BACK YARD.  (almost, closer than any other 201 I have found).  It was too late to call and the seller refused to honor emails.

Mid morning on Thursday I found time to call.  Something was very familiar about that number.  Turns out, I had responded to a CL ad last week from the same seller.  He was selling a porch glider.  Steven and I went to look at it and rejected it.  Well, Steven rejected it.  I would have bought it.  But it was a VGT (Very Good Thing) that Steven was with me.  He has a much more discerning eye.

I called anyway.  I figured the guy did not take it personally that we did not buy the glider.  I was right.

Today, after Steven and I got a load of manure for the garden we drove to fetch it.

"I'll just stay in the car."

"Good,  I told the guy I was going to buy it and I don't want you nixing the deal."

"Right."

I hopped out of the car and found Ken and the machine.  The cabinet is trash.  I was going to leave it with him but it had some "bits" in the drawers.  I wanted it all.

"Could I look at the Kenmore?"

"Sure."

It was in rough shape but I saw a fairly new motor on the back of the machine so I handed Mr. Lincoln over and removed the machine from the cabinet.  Now I rather wish I had brought the cabinet along too.  It had those nifty invisible hinges.  I just have NO MORE ROOM.

As we were driving to fetch the 201, my pocket buzzed.  When we arrived at Ken's I looked at my phone.  Two photos via Text message from Betsy.
The text message from Betsy "Good Husband Award"

Turns out, there was a yard sale locally and since Betsy had to work all day, she sent Jack.

"Yes, he does get the good husband award."  I told her when I called her tonight to report on my two new acquisitions.  (The Kenmore 84 I got is clearly a parts machine.)

"I am leaving EARLY tomorrow morning, but there is a Rotary Rummage sale tomorrow on RR avenue and there are two machines there."

"What are they?"  I asked.

"I don't know." 

"I could just decide not to go, Betsy.  But what if there is a 201 there?"

"Or what if there is a little black box?"  she added.

"You know, with the two machine I picked up on Wednesday and the four we got today, we have added SIX machines to our inventory."

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH US?"

UPDATE

No 201 nor a little black box.  There were, as promised, two machines.  Both Singers: a Touch and Sew and a Singer Fashion Mate 438 or something.  I did not pay attention.  I am well known in town as a SMF (Sewing Machine Fanatic).

"Did you see the Sewing Machines?"

"I did."

"Make an offer."

"OK. I will take both of them if YOU pay me 50 dollars."

Needless to say I am holding fast at four machines this week.  

16 comments:

  1. As part of my recovery, today I deleted the bookmark for Craig's List and eBay. DD pointed out I will need these if I ever try to SELL any machines.
    No, I deleted the ones with the search terms I use.
    Next step the phone apps...

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    1. Ah, but IIRC, you show much more discretion and restraint than I EVER have.

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    2. It is fractional, based solely on space not desire. :0

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    3. I don't know. There is always room for one more.

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  2. I forgot to tell you, I 'm off to heather's in Conyhgham, Pa. To pick her and grandson Bert up. Oh did I mention it is Conyingham Days! Town wide yard sales?

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  3. There is NOTHING wrong with you. You are an ART COLLECTOR and sewing machines are your genre (I think they call it Steam Punk)

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    1. OOOHH Steam Punk. I wish my shop looked like an art gallery. I would have a better time finding things!

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    2. In the concept of entropy, nature tends from order to disorder, randomness or CHAOS in isolated systems (our shops). Is it "unnatural" to organize?

      I too love to use sewing machine cabinet drawers from crappy stands to defy nature.

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    3. Yes, it is unnatural to organize. I admit. But I have limited time and when there is so much CHAOS as there is in the shop, I need to become a communist (ORGANIZE ORGANIZE ORGANIZE)

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  4. I just picked up a 201-2 at an antique store less than 2 weeks ago. My cabinet is in wonderful shape, but, I haven't a clue how to work on the motor (light works, but, nothing from the motor, I may have reconnected the wires wrong, not sure). I've never worked on motors before. I'll be checking out your info when I get a chance to work on this machine. Maybe I just need to pass this machine on. Motors/wiring repair scare me.

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    1. Oh Cheryl, you can do it yourself. This is a wonderful machine. Check out http://vssmb.blogspot.com/2012/01/complete-how-to-re-wire-potted-motor.html and you will not be afraid to do it.

      The motor goes to #2 and #3. If you have it hooked up that way, try switching one lead for the other and see what happens. Of course, check the wires that they are good, first.

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  5. Nothing wrong with you. You are recovering good equipment and educating people about the value of these machines. For the first time ever in my life, I pulled out the hook and race on my machine and brushed out the (20 years-worth) of lint and put in that one drop of oil. Now she's so (sew?) happy and purrs, and even has that nice machine smell. You inspired me to do that! -- Julie Gathman, Fairfax, VA

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    1. I am so glad that I inspired you, Julia. Isn't it FUN?

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  6. That looks like a very nice 201. And the cabinet drawers are very cute.Betty

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    1. The drawers are now on the work bench helping me get organized. I am harvesting the knee controller for a friend. The rest of the hardware will be removed and the wood BURNED. It is a shame, really. Those school cabinets are very nice. I have two.

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  7. I wish I had the talent and the skills!! I agree with Peg, there is nothing wrong at all, and where else could the machines go to get a new lease on life??!

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