The Pheasant 127

As I mentioned, I bought two machines this week: the Singer 9W and also a Singer 127. The Singer 127 has the “Pheasant” decal set:

I bought this machine just because I didn’t want it to get scrapped, but I am not sure what I’ll do with it. It is what is known as a “vibrating shuttle” machine. Instead of the hook-and-bobbin assembly found in modern machines, it has a shuttle that moves horizontally back and forth:

The good news is that both the shuttle and the slide plates are intact on this machine. They tend to go missing on this model.

I don’t have any particular bias against vibrating shuttle machines; they sew nicely and some people prefer them. I just never made a habit of seeking them out. This one has been a bit beat up, too, but I think it would clean up beautifully. I love the big, heavy handwheels on these old treadle heads. I’d love to find one to fit my industrial, but they are few and far between.

The Singer serial number database indicates that this machine was one of a run of 70,000 Singer 127s produced in July, 1907.

[Five or six years ago, I bought an old Singer model 15 with that same Pheasant decal set. It was old enough that it didn’t have a motor boss on it and also had the heavy handwheel. I cleaned up that machine and paired it with an appropriate treadle base and sold it. I wish I could describe how beautifully that machine sewed when I tested it out. The closest I can come is to say that it was singing. That machine sang. It was a sound I will never forget, because it was the sound of a sewing machine happy to be sewing again.]

I contacted Still Stitching about restoration of the 9W. They currently have a waiting list of about a year. I’ve also done some more sleuthing on that machine. Finding the production date is trickier as there aren’t really any records. NeedleBar did a survey of 9W owners and—based on those responses—extrapolated production ranges for serial numbers. The serial number on my machine is 3144259, which puts the date of manufacture some time around 1910-ish.

The bobbin case and bobbins are missing. Singer had a habit of stamping the part number on its parts (you have no idea how helpful that is until you start looking for parts made over 100 years ago) and the hook in my machine is part #202063. That indicates that it takes an old Wheeler and Wilson D9 bobbin case without latch. Now I can start looking for one of those (that part may indeed be a unicorn, but we’ll see).

For now, these machines are going to sit on the shelf in my office and look pretty. I’ve got aprons to make.

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I went to the eye doctor yesterday and passed with flying colors, but I had to give in and order bifocals. I stopped wearing my bifocal contacts a few months ago because they just weren’t working for me anymore. My eye doctor has a strong bias against bifocal contacts and I didn’t feel like arguing for a new prescription for them as I only wore them a couple of times a week. The new glasses may not come in until after the holiday, but I still have my distance glasses for driving. I ordered a pair of regular glasses and a pair of sunglasses.

And when I got home, the other garage door was finished:

The color was advertised as “brown” but it’s really more of a putty/taupe color. I’ve decided that is a good thing, as I didn’t think dark brown doors, a dark brown metal roof, and dark brown siding would be a good look. That man door will be painted, too—I like the idea of a red door, but dark green might be a bit more sedate. Decisions, decisions.

The copy shop called yesterday to tell me that the “Tom’s Shed” sign is ready. I’ll pick that up next week.

The whole property looks much neater now and I know the husband appreciates having places to park equipment in out of the weather. Next up is insulating and finishing the inside. He will have plenty to keep him busy this winter when he can’t pour concrete.

I finished binding another comforter last night. Last week, I ordered fabric so we could make half a dozen comforters for the comforter-tying party we are planning to have in January at church. That will be to make comforters for Mennonite Central Committee’s 100th anniversary. I ordered 15 yards of plaid flannel, making sure to choose a plaid that will make tying knots every 5” really easy. The backing will be a poly/cotton broadcloth. Both fabrics are 60” wide. We’re going to put these together a bit differently, as we only have one frame for tying comforters. I am going to sew flannel, backing, and batting together around the outside edge, turn them inside out, and topstitch the outer edge. That way, people can sit around a table and knot them instead of working around a frame, and I won’t have to bind them when they are done.