Of course NO house I own and spend a lot of time in can be without a sewing machine! I thought about bringing my Bernina 1010 up there and started looking for a cabinet. I thought a good solid mechanical would be just the machine for there. Also we have very little furniture so this would be a good start.
I couldn't believe it when I saw a nearly perfect Singer 42 Art Deco cabinet on EBay, pickup only, right in the path of our Thanksgiving trip! I put in my bid and wound up winning it for a very good price complete with matching stool. This neat little cabinet has a little drawer on the left with a pencil tray and ink well and the upper drawer on the right has a thread holder and a place for the oil can. When I saw it I knew there was no way I could retrofit it for the Bernina without pretty much messing it up.
So what to put in it? I really did want a machine with zig zag capability and this cabinet was specifically made for a Singer 201-2. 15-90, 15-91 or 301 - all straight stitch. But I discovered on my Vintage Singer Yahoo group this could fit a 400 or 500 series. I've alway wanted a 503, otherwise known as a Rocketeer so I thought why not! I'm going for it! I found one that was fully refurbished on Ebay for a very acceptable price. It is a total work of art and came with all the accessories, cams, feet, an original manual and even an oil can!
So now how to make this 1961 machine fit this 1940's cabinet. We took the front lip down 1/8", removed the black spring mechanism meant for the other machines, removed the block in the back right that stops the black mechanism from going too far and dropped the back of the oil pan a tiny bit. It fits perfectly and stores the way it's supposed to! The top closes very easily. This what it looks like stored:
So, here we are, drum roll please.....
Isn't the the coolest looking combination ever?! We think that machine is the 57 Chevy of sewing machines and it would be something Jane Jetson would sew on.
9 comments:
Such gorgeousness! I had heard of these cabinets but never seen one. It's beautiful!
It all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle didn't it? The machine, the snazzy cabinet and you were all meant to be together. It really is quite beautiful.
I look forward to seeing what gets sewn on it all...use it in good health!
Hi, I have this cabinet too and would like to put my Rocketeer in it as well. Do you have more thorough or more detailed descriptions of the steps I need to follow so I can have the same success you did too? Help! Thanks!
elaine 818-438-4266
Hi I am also going to get this cabinet for my 403A and would love more detail on how you retrofitted this to accommodate your rocketeer.
steeleye1@gmail.com
Wow! I've never seen a cabinet like that. It's beautiful!
Such a beautiful cabinet. I am wondering if you have the inkwell in yours with a lid. If you do not have need for it, I would be happy to buy the inkwell with lid, or swap you my inkwell without the lid. Many people are using it to store pins etc. Since I use fountain pens I'd need one with the lid.
No, this one doesn't have a lid which is fine. I like it just the way it is!
Hi, I have one of these cabinets also. Was my grandmother's. My mother gave me a Singer Model 237 machine for high school graduation (1970) and it slipped right into this cabinet like it was made to fit. LOVE, this cabinet.
I love the style and color. I hope to find one!
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