Ok, first of all, even I think I'm nuts. I found another Singer 500 Rocketeer on craigslist this week. The owner said to make any offer, so I did. I offered him $50 for the machine in the cabinet thinking that he would never accept it. Most are going for at least twice that amount. Lucky for me he accepted my offer. It's a 70 mile drive that I'm going to take on a Friday night to go get it. I'm taking my son with me so that I won't be visiting a stranger's home alone and he can help load it into the pick-up truck.
If you've been following my blog, you know I already have three of these lovely machines. My plan is to use them when I open my own sewing studio. It's a dream of mine that isn't possible while the economy is in the tank. However, if someone wanted to grant me the money to pay rent on a place for one year, than I'd do it now in a heartbeat!
The owner also told me that it had all of it's original attachments. Even in this terrible picture I can see that the box is in good shape and it has the manual! Now to find the room to put it in my house. I asked about condition and he said it hasn't been used in 5-10 years but didn't break, they just stopped using it. One can only hope that it isn't completely frozen up. However, I've brought one of my machines back to life in this condition so I'm sure I could do it again. I hope it won't be necessary though.
Unlike you I only have one of these babies! lol I like your idea of sewing studio. I teach kids to sew in the summer when school is out. Kids today need to learn basic stuff like sewing, cooking, cleaning and taking care of their clothes and most of all their money! You really got a nice find for 50 dollars. I also got mine off of craigslist. Also my little Jack Russell, Bitsi! KUDOS!
ReplyDeleteI love vintage machines. I have an olive green New Home machine attached to the original table from the 60's or 70's. My goal is to restore it at some point to be able to use it. Right now it is just on display though.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you're nuts! I would LOVE to sew on that machine. It looks so cool!
ReplyDeleteI think you are having entirely too much fun collecting these beauties! :) (and I'm jealious)
ReplyDeleteSherill, I noticed this blog entry where you talk about a Singer that you bought from Craigslist. I don't know where you live, but I checked the North Jersey Craigslist (where I live) and lo and behold, another Singer (I don't think quite the same model as yours) selling for $20, so I wanted to pass the information along. Here is the link: http://newjersey.craigslist.org/art/2321785829.html. Regards, Chimey
ReplyDeleteVery cool machine and cabinet. Great find! AND you've already got a use for it, which is the part I don't always get right. You never know, there might be someone out there who is so keen to learn to sew that they offer you a studio space. The tanked economy is making lots of people reassess their priorities!
ReplyDeleteI have been following your blog for sometime and your dream of opening a sewing studio is the same one I have. I love you collection of vintage sewing maachines and I've started to purchase one here and there. I just bought my first Singer 500 Rocketeer on craigslist this morning. It came with a box of attachments, the book a cabinet. It was advertised for $50.00 buy the owner only took $40.00.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, I purchased a machine like this one in the exact case for about the same price, along with all of the attachments, and book. Happy sewing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful find!
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