Are our possessions worth nothing?

thriftwizard

Ooh, kboss2010, lucky you! A treadled sewing machine is a real treasure, if you have the room for it. Both hands free & total control of the speed, invaluable when you're stitching leather, vinyl or several thicknesses of canvas... I have a 1909 Jones Medium that I love to pieces & do most of my straight-stitch sewing on, though I do admit to having a computerised machine for fancy stitchwork as well. But if I had to choose just one of them, it'd be the treadle; there's nothing to go wrong.

And trunks are so wonderfully useful & versatile. Storage, occasional table, small cupboard (placed on end) seating... I even use a small one (bought new, alas, couldn't find an old one) as part of the bed arrangement in my "camper" van! I carry my bedding in it in transit & store it in the roof during the day, and it forms the leg end of my bed at night.

kboss2010

thriftwizard wrote: »

Ooh, kboss2010, lucky you! A treadled sewing machine is a real treasure, if you have the room for it. Both hands free & total control of the speed, invaluable when you're stitching leather, vinyl or several thicknesses of canvas... I have a 1909 Jones Medium that I love to pieces & do most of my straight-stitch sewing on, though I do admit to having a computerised machine for fancy stitchwork as well. But if I had to choose just one of them, it'd be the treadle; there's nothing to go wrong.

And trunks are so wonderfully useful & versatile. Storage, occasional table, small cupboard (placed on end) seating... I even use a small one (bought new, alas, couldn't find an old one) as part of the bed arrangement in my "camper" van! I carry my bedding in it in transit & store it in the roof during the day, and it forms the leg end of my bed at night.

Thanks, yes we are very fortunate and grateful. And I agree, trunks are lovely (but if anyone has any tips for getting the stench of mothballs out of one I'm all ears - I'd love to use it to store my linen as its huge but it stinks inside so it's currently being used as a table!)

lessonlearned

Have you tried bicarb.

Might need several goes. Once you've got the smell out, then try lavender.

7roland8

Its all very sad. But I think we are now reaping the results of over consumerism. People have so much stuff that you cannot give it away - whether clothes or furniture. And youngsters have the money to buy new so don't want hand-me-downs like a lot of us older ones had to make do with.


Don't feel guilty - its the way things are these days. You have done your best. No way would your mother not be proud of you. She would not condemn - but want you to move on and not be burdened with bits of furniture. The stuff you got rid of was not getting rid of oyur mother. Yes they served her through her life - but not its a new phase and worrying over what goes where isn't going to help you - and she would not want you worrying over such stuff. Just think ahead to when you die - will you really care who has your wardrobe or if it goes on a bonfire? When you get down to the real meaning of life its not about holding on to bits of furniture.


I am not discounting your grief - I know I would feel the same. But our parents want the best for s and to be happy - not burdened with their belongings.


After my days I won't worry about what my sons do with my stuff - probably skip the lot. If I can remain in their hearts a little that's all anyone can ask for.

Tipsntreats

I haven't looked here for a while. I see that you all understand. I going to list the treadle sewing machine on ebay this week. The very nice man at our local sewing machine shop, tracked my model for me. I know it was made in scotland in the 1930s and is a series one, whatever that means? He said I should list it at £199! I know I wont get that on ebay! Such a shame I cannot keep it. I thought that one of our museums might take it- NO. I really must sort my own stuff out! I have an original Mrs Beaton, no photos, but engravings, passed on to me in the 1970s. Between the pages are recipes, and tips, from both WW1 and WW2. These tips are from all the previous owners, quite facinating. There is a recipe in the book for I think sparrow or blackbird pie. Now I know where the nursery rhyme comes from!
TT

kboss2010

Tipsntreats wrote: »

I haven't looked here for a while. I see that you all understand. I going to list the treadle sewing machine on ebay this week. The very nice man at our local sewing machine shop, tracked my model for me. I know it was made in scotland in the 1930s and is a series one, whatever that means? He said I should list it at £199! I know I wont get that on ebay! Such a shame I cannot keep it. I thought that one of our museums might take it- NO. I really must sort my own stuff out! I have an original Mrs Beaton, no photos, but engravings, passed on to me in the 1970s. Between the pages are recipes, and tips, from both WW1 and WW2. These tips are from all the previous owners, quite facinating. There is a recipe in the book for I think sparrow or blackbird pie. Now I know where the nursery rhyme comes from!
TT

We were speaking to a guy who restores Victorian fireplaces and other cast iron objects and he was saying that he's stopped buying singer sewing machine tables because there are so many around and there isn't much of a market for them; I think that's really sad :-( - but a really good idea for "upcycling" them is to take off the tops and use either one base + a new granite/wooden worktop as a side table or take two bases and a larger new top and make a dining table with them.

thriftwizard

... or you could always USE it!

If the sewing machine shop is either on, or just off, the Charminster Road, I'm afraid I'd take everything they said with a large pinch of salt. I sell old sewing machines (amongst other sewing & craft-related vintage things) and have two treadles lined up to go that I have had for EVER, both good fully-working machines, one of them a shiny black & gold Singer 201 from the 1930s. (If there ever was a Singer series 1, it would have been right back in the 1850s.) Although I'm not asking very much for them (£30 each) I'm beginning to think I should just set up a sewing studio instead! Very few people are willing to give up the space for a treadle although they are a superb tool which can save you LOTS of money; they see a lightweight modern machine as space-saving and more versatile, although very few of the cheaper models will handle tough fabrics nearly as easily.

If yours is on legs rather than in a cabinet, you could be lucky & get up to £75 for it, as people prefer that look although it's a tad less practical. But I'd start it at £50 maximum & see where it goes from there. I'll cross my fingers for you!

ETA: list it in two categories, Crafts→Sewing Machines & Collectables→Sewing, Fabric/Textiles→Sewing Machines. Two completely different sets of buyers! Costs a little more but it's worth it.

Tipsntreats

Oh thanx thriftwizard. .My treadle is in a cabinet. I have just today sent a message to someone who is looking for a treadle on the preloved site. I will follow your advice for ebay. There is another treadle on the preloved site, just like mine for£129!!! I will let you know how it all turns out.
TT

thriftwizard

The one in Lutterworth? It's a beauty, and just like mine too! It's a 201K, Singer's best-ever machine in many people's view, and worth every penny, but you'll see a number advertised on there for much less, too. The Jones in Rossendale is exactly like the one I use day in, day out for straight-stitch work too, but is missing it's centre drawer.

Anyway, good luck! Fingers crossed for you; they are treasures really & it's very sad that not enough people know that. Yet...

Softstuff

thriftwizard wrote: »

... or you could always USE it!

If the sewing machine shop is either on, or just off, the Charminster Road, I'm afraid I'd take everything they said with a large pinch of salt. I sell old sewing machines (amongst other sewing & craft-related vintage things) and have two treadles lined up to go that I have had for EVER, both good fully-working machines, one of them a shiny black & gold Singer 201 from the 1930s. (If there ever was a Singer series 1, it would have been right back in the 1850s.) Although I'm not asking very much for them (£30 each) I'm beginning to think I should just set up a sewing studio instead! Very few people are willing to give up the space for a treadle although they are a superb tool which can save you LOTS of money; they see a lightweight modern machine as space-saving and more versatile, although very few of the cheaper models will handle tough fabrics nearly as easily.

If yours is on legs rather than in a cabinet, you could be lucky & get up to £75 for it, as people prefer that look although it's a tad less practical. But I'd start it at £50 maximum & see where it goes from there. I'll cross my fingers for you!

ETA: list it in two categories, Crafts→Sewing Machines & Collectables→Sewing, Fabric/Textiles→Sewing Machines. Two completely different sets of buyers! Costs a little more but it's worth it.

Good grief Thriftwizard. I would love love love one of those. The shipping would be the killer though.

TandT, it seems that different places value things differently due to supply. In Australia, for that kind of furniture, someone would have bitten your hand off. It's harder to find here amd there is still a market for it. Charity shops here are still desperate for donations and will happily pick up.

None of this means that the items aren't valuable in themselves, even if they're not valuable there IYSWIM. It's just that the UK has a greater abundance of "stuff".