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Post by anxiousmom on Feb 6, 2016 16:54:18 GMT
My mom picked up a White brand sewing machine for me a garage sale. It has every single solitary bit and bob that you can imagine. It is not, obviously, new-in fact I would suggest that it is probably from the 50's but I don't know for sure because I don't actually have it in my possession yet to get a model number. I tried to google and find by images, but googling 'white brand sewing machine' gets me every single white sewing machine out there regardless of brand.  So anyway, they say it works, and has all it's bells and whistles (she actually is friends with the woman who was selling it) and it has only had one owner. If nothing else, it definitely falls under the category of vintage. Has anyone every heard of this brand? good opinions? bad opinions? I am not an adventurous seamstress, and really only need straight lines, maybe a tuck here and hem there. |
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 11:28:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2016 17:00:20 GMT
My dad bought my mom a white back in 1959, while she was waiting on my arrival. She sewed all of her clothes, my and my sister's clothing up until I was in high school. Even then she sewed most of my clothes. I inherited it in the 1990s and used it until my divorce and it was too heavy to ship from Hawaii back to Oklahoma. It was still going strong. All the gears and working parts are metal. It doesn't wear out! A yearly cleaning, and oiling periodically with machine oil (buy it in the sewing dept) and it will run forever. It is one of the things I lost in my divorce I am still angry about.
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Post by malibou on Feb 6, 2016 17:01:50 GMT
I know of a dressmakers sewing machine made by White. Growing up a friend's mom had one.she used to make fancy party dresses for people.
Try putting in sewing machine by White and see if that helps.
J
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Post by anxiousmom on Feb 6, 2016 17:04:39 GMT
My mom sent me a text photo of it. It is spotless and she said that the only reason her friend was getting rid of it was because she is in her 80's and doesn't use it anymore-and no one in her family wanted it. You can tell there isn't a true 'electronic' part to it at all. There are a few dials to change stitches, but that is about it. voltagain thank you for your opinion! I haven't ever used a machine, so I don't know much about brands.  |
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Post by malibou on Feb 6, 2016 17:04:59 GMT
I also sew on a sewing machine that was bought for my mom while pregnant with me. Bought on my birthday, her birthday is 9 days later. Mine is a Pfaff and goes like crazy. It definitely weighs a shit ton, but I wouldn't trade it.
J
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Post by anonrefugee on Feb 6, 2016 17:11:50 GMT
My mom had a White she got in the late 50s. She wasn't much of a seamstress, but I was, and learned on it. It stayed around until 1980 when she bought a Bernina for quilting.
I would love to have that old machine, it was heavy and a wonderful green color.
Your mother found a gem!
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 11:28:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2016 17:11:46 GMT
Yes and it is a very very good machine.
White made the good kenmores back in the day. I need to google but i think that it was a division of Westinghouse.
If you take it to be cleaned, don't let them mess with the tension.
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Post by compwalla on Feb 6, 2016 17:13:37 GMT
The old ones are very nice machines. Lucky duck!
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Feb 6, 2016 17:22:59 GMT
It should be an excellent machine for you! I'd say you owe your mom a nice lunch out.  For a beginner, those old, simple machines can't be beat. With your mom knowing the original owner, that's an even better coup! Once you get the model number, you should be able to google and find manuals and instruction videos. Can't wait to see what you whip up with your new treasure! |
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Post by chaosisapony on Feb 6, 2016 17:23:01 GMT
My mom inherited my grandma's White machine. It's really cool looking, I don't know what year it was made by going by looks it has to be from the 40s or earlier I would bet. She still uses it and it works great.
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 11:28:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2016 17:23:57 GMT
My mom sent me a text photo of it. It is spotless and she said that the only reason her friend was getting rid of it was because she is in her 80's and doesn't use it anymore-and no one in her family wanted it. You can tell there isn't a true 'electronic' part to it at all. There are a few dials to change stitches, but that is about it. voltagain thank you for your opinion! I haven't ever used a machine, so I don't know much about brands. You will love it! They are heavy! So know where you want to have it put before it arrives because it will take some muscle to get it placed. Mine was about 75 pounds; machine and cabinet. While sewing it does not bounce around like some of the new machines do. With the right sized needle it can handle denim and some of the lighter weight upholstery fabrics. All I've ever realy needed was straight stitch, zigzag and button hole (if it has all the bits/bobs there should be a button hole attachment that makes creating button holes super duper easy) I'm excited for you! |
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Post by rst on Feb 6, 2016 17:27:51 GMT
White is a good machine. Once you find your model number, you can probably google to find a user's manual and a lot of online supports for how to use your wealth of attachments. If you find you have documentation, you can consider scanning and uploading yours to add to the online resources. There may even be a user's enthusiasts group on yahoo or facebook. Vintage sewing machines attract groupies who have strong allegiances and a wealth of knowledge about their favorite brands and makes. A lot of the tune-up fixes on a machine that is mostly mechanical, as yours is, can be done on your own with a youtube video and some online friends to talk you through it. It will probably need a good cleaning ( you can do this-- not hard) and then just jump in and start trying things out.
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gramma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,907 
Location: Sacramento, Ca
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Post by gramma on Feb 6, 2016 18:16:46 GMT
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 6, 2016 19:32:40 GMT
I had a White growing up, it was a nice machine. My mom got it for me when I was maybe 7-8 years old, once I graduated from the ancient treadle Singer she taught me to sew on. I used it a lot to sew all kinds of things for years until I was upgraded to a year old Bernina that my aunt wasn't using anymore.
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Mary Kay Lady
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PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Feb 6, 2016 20:37:37 GMT
I had a White brand sewing machine. It was very old, probably made in the 1940s or 1950s. The only reason I don't have it anymore is because it was destroyed in a house fire we had. It was built into a solid wood cabinet and solid metal. It was very heavy but sewed like a champ. In order to make button holes there was an attachment that had to be used. It only did straight stitching, no zig zag, so sewing knits on it was troublesome. One of the things that I liked about it was that it was very heavy-duty. When I would hem a pair of jeans it had no trouble going through all the thicknesses of the fabric. I even sewed my prom dress on that machine. pictures 3 & 4 on this page are what my old White sewing machine looked like. Even the cabinet is similar to mine. |
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Post by rst on Feb 6, 2016 21:56:34 GMT
Sewing machines of that vintage often have a variety of binder feed, a ruffler, sometimes a couching foot or a piping foot, a darning or free motion foot, and some variation on a zipper foot. In my experience, the ways in which to use these feet are not exactly self-evident and intuitive, so the online tutorials are a real gift.
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Post by beaglemom on Feb 6, 2016 23:13:31 GMT
Fabulous machine! The older ones with very little plastic are incredible! Great workhorses.
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eastcoastpea
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Post by eastcoastpea on Feb 6, 2016 23:47:25 GMT
They've been around for a long time. Lucky you to get all of the accessories with it. Have fun creating.
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Post by txdancermom on Feb 7, 2016 1:19:12 GMT
Yes, they a good brand, and if it is an older machine it is very well made and can be maintained. You might get someone to do a good cleaning and lubricating and you will be good to go.
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AmeliaBloomer
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Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Feb 7, 2016 12:22:50 GMT
Check out these reviews of different White machines on Patternreviews.com. Maybe you'll find yours or one of a similar vintage. (I already see the green one somebody mentioned.) You have to register to read reviews more than six months old. They also have a forum about all things sewing. Search for "vintage white"...or just lose yourself in the forum topics. (No, what?!) |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 15:26:17 GMT
My mother has one that is I'm sure over 60 years old and it works great.
Ann
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