fave "DD" sewing machine
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Expensive Sewing Machines
Have just pulled out the 1979 !Which Consumer Report" for expensive sewing machines, The Singer Futura is the dearest, almost £200 more than the rest, I do think Styling comes into it as well, when you see it next to the others, non compare...(IMHO)
Have just pulled out the 1979 !Which Consumer Report" for expensive sewing machines, The Singer Futura is the dearest, almost £200 more than the rest, I do think Styling comes into it as well, when you see it next to the others, non compare...(IMHO)
Which 1979 Sewing Machines Report
Which 1979 Sewing Machines Report
Page 3
Page 3
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Very Interesting!
I've tried to research the value of the pound in 1979, and I find that it was around four dollars, meaning that the Futura was priced much higher in Britain than the Athena was in America - around $2200 for the Futura vs. $1500 introductory price for the Athena (quickly reduced to $1200, and later reduced again to $800). This was right around the time James Callaghan was replaced by Mrs. Thatcher as PM, so the change from Labour to Conservative was an interesting time for Britain - particularly economically, I should think.
The mention of a "free cabinet" for the Futura is intriguing - I don't know if that means a piece of furniture as the term means in America, or if it was what is called a "carrying case" in the States. You know the old joke about America and Britain - two great nations separated by a common language! ;-)
Thanks so much for posting this - it's information American readers could not get in any other way.
P.S.: Greg - that was a screaming deal; it's already gone and the page deleted. Grrh! I really needed a photo of that cabinet for the Singer Athena discussion group - it's the rare armoire cabinet.
I've tried to research the value of the pound in 1979, and I find that it was around four dollars, meaning that the Futura was priced much higher in Britain than the Athena was in America - around $2200 for the Futura vs. $1500 introductory price for the Athena (quickly reduced to $1200, and later reduced again to $800). This was right around the time James Callaghan was replaced by Mrs. Thatcher as PM, so the change from Labour to Conservative was an interesting time for Britain - particularly economically, I should think.
The mention of a "free cabinet" for the Futura is intriguing - I don't know if that means a piece of furniture as the term means in America, or if it was what is called a "carrying case" in the States. You know the old joke about America and Britain - two great nations separated by a common language! ;-)
Thanks so much for posting this - it's information American readers could not get in any other way.
P.S.: Greg - that was a screaming deal; it's already gone and the page deleted. Grrh! I really needed a photo of that cabinet for the Singer Athena discussion group - it's the rare armoire cabinet.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Thanks, Doug!
I really appreciate the time and effort you put into posting these! That is a very rare cabinet, about which not much is known. Even with photos, it's still not possible to tell if it's really all wood or if it's vinyl over a substrate. The striping in the finish is not a clue, because Singer did that with its real wood cabinets. And it's still not known if this was offered for the Athena, or if it was a later development offered when the Touch-Tronic was introduced.
The lower pulls on it are the same ones that are on my No. 266-1 Swing-Away.
Again, thanks.
I really appreciate the time and effort you put into posting these! That is a very rare cabinet, about which not much is known. Even with photos, it's still not possible to tell if it's really all wood or if it's vinyl over a substrate. The striping in the finish is not a clue, because Singer did that with its real wood cabinets. And it's still not known if this was offered for the Athena, or if it was a later development offered when the Touch-Tronic was introduced.
The lower pulls on it are the same ones that are on my No. 266-1 Swing-Away.
Again, thanks.
The Singer 301
... was introduced in 1952, so @danemodsandy is very close. I have a 301 and never really warmed up to it. I added a 201 to the herd a few years ago, cleaned it up really well, but still haven't sat down to sew seriously on it. The reason: I luuurrrrrve to sew on my computerized Berninas.
... was introduced in 1952, so @danemodsandy is very close. I have a 301 and never really warmed up to it. I added a 201 to the herd a few years ago, cleaned it up really well, but still haven't sat down to sew seriously on it. The reason: I luuurrrrrve to sew on my computerized Berninas.
texasflute
New member
I had the same Singer Athena sewing machine in the same cabinet! My dad bought it for my mom in 1975. I used it until the computer board fried itself in 1991. I still have the cabinet, though. That is a fantastic piece os furniture for a sewing machine. My favorite machine to use in my Viking Rose machine. It is close to 20 years old, but it is a fantastic machine for basic sewing, quilting and embroidery. I have a nice, new Viking Designer Topaz for big embroidery projects, but I prefer the Swedish made Rose machine!
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Texasflute:
Get yourself another Athena or a Touch-Tronic and pop it into that cabinet - they're cheap now. And you'll have fun with it. If you'd rather not fool with an electronic machine of that vintage, the Singer 1425 is a high-end all-mechanical cam-stack machine that used the same housing as Athenas; it fits the cabinet perfectly.
If you can locate the correct head bolt (the "L"-shaped bolt that holds the machine in place on its mounting board; different machines use different head bolts), you can also put some (not all) other free-arm machines into this cabinet. I've seen a Sears Lady Kenmore 1914 mounted in one. [this post was last edited: 11/7/2012-12:17]
Get yourself another Athena or a Touch-Tronic and pop it into that cabinet - they're cheap now. And you'll have fun with it. If you'd rather not fool with an electronic machine of that vintage, the Singer 1425 is a high-end all-mechanical cam-stack machine that used the same housing as Athenas; it fits the cabinet perfectly.
If you can locate the correct head bolt (the "L"-shaped bolt that holds the machine in place on its mounting board; different machines use different head bolts), you can also put some (not all) other free-arm machines into this cabinet. I've seen a Sears Lady Kenmore 1914 mounted in one. [this post was last edited: 11/7/2012-12:17]
