Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Western Electric Sewing Machine????

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-27-2009, 03:56 PM:

Walking through an antique store in Billings the other day I encountered a Western Electric Sweing Machine with Western Electric drive motor... Never knew they made them. Is this a rare thing and should I grab it when I go back through there? No, I don't know how to sew!

Mark

Posted by Todd McCracken (Member # 4718) on 07-27-2009, 04:19 PM:

They dont look too rare but if the price is right and you need to get some serious sewing done why not?

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 08-01-2009, 10:01 AM:

Mark- Western Electric company manufactured home appliances
for a short time somewhere in the early 1920's I beleive.

Almost everybody has seen an old Western Electric fan, with the
big brass blades. I have one from 1925 that's still going strong.

When I worked for the phone company (Pacific Bell) they had one
of the sewing machines, a fan, an electric iron and even a
washing machine ( ! ) all manufactured by Western Electric
on display in the company museum.

In my collection of "stuff" I have a 1915 WE Telco Supply Catalog
in which they list these nifty old Indian Motorcycles for travelling telco techs!

(actual catalog page)

I found this online:

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 08-01-2009, 06:13 PM:

Yes Mark. Western Electric was into electric motors and many other things before they ever entered the motion picture field. The sewing maching is a classic. It could rise in price.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 08-01-2009, 06:52 PM:

If the quality is anywhere near that of their telephones, that sewing machine will probably outlast all of us.

I have a metal Western Electric 302 desk set from 1940 that still works great.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-01-2009, 09:10 PM:

I didn't go back and buy it but it'll probbly still be there on my next trip through later this year. It was there on my last trip... The pinstriping all over this thing was worth the price alone... definately artwork... no decal here! I snapped a pic with the i-Phone....

Mark

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 08-03-2009, 06:25 AM:

One small step from a sewing maching with a repetitive needle "pull-down" type of movement to a Singer 16mm projector with a repetitive claw pull-down movement.

Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 08-03-2009, 07:10 AM:

When the Robert Bosch Company decided to close their Bauer cinema plant in the 1980s, they still needed to fulfill contracts for 16mm school equipment.

All tools, casts and parts were shipped to Pfaff AG, the major German manufacturer of sewing machines where Bauer P8 projectors were built for a few more years.

Posted by Adam Fraser (Member # 1074) on 08-10-2009, 01:21 PM:

We used to sell estate furniture at our furniture store. Now we only sell new furniture.

I have sold at least half a dozen of those, among other brands, for prices ranging from $88-$188 depending on condition. Not rare, but neat little pieces.