UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Specific Vintage Equipment > Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items

Notices

Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 1st Jun 2014, 10:22 pm   #21
steptoesyard
No Longer a Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tavistock, Devon, UK.
Posts: 147
Default Re: Built to last, not surpassed: Your old appliances still on the go

I`ve got a 34 year Belling "FORMAT" cooker which today still looks as though it`s just come out of the show room, I`ve always been a bit ocd about looking after it and that has paid off. When it was new it was top of the range and one of the first to have halogen hotplates - all of which still work and the ceramic surface is still mint. All I`ve had to replace is the main oven door seal, and the element for the small oven.

It`s going nowhere! It`s heavy, solid, built to last, and cooks a fantastic Christmas dinner! It suits my new kitchen well, and probably good for another 34 years I should think.....
steptoesyard is offline  
Old 1st Jun 2014, 11:03 pm   #22
kirstyd
Heptode
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 899
Default Re: Built to last, not surpassed: Your old appliances still on the go

I have this Hacker radiogram in my lounge it was bought by my parents back in `1968 and it cost £200 .A couple of years ago it broke down so i had it restored [lots of new capacitors and a fiew other odds and ends it now as good as new and sounds really good .there is a CD player and a casette deck in the drop down compartment at the bottom its also a real talking point when visitors call ohh yes and its made from real wood remember that stuff?
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	027.jpg
Views:	274
Size:	81.3 KB
ID:	93693  
kirstyd is offline  
Old 2nd Jun 2014, 8:38 am   #23
yesnaby
Octode
 
yesnaby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Newport, Gwent, UK.
Posts: 1,623
Default Re: Built to last, not surpassed: Your old appliances still on the go

Hello,

Not many CD players around in 1968!

Michael
yesnaby is offline  
Old 2nd Jun 2014, 7:26 pm   #24
johnlees
Hexode
 
johnlees's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK.
Posts: 283
Smile Re: Built to last, not surpassed: Your old appliances still on the go

I'm still using a hand-held Moulinex food mixer bought in 1954. It was £5 and still works perfectly.

John.
__________________
Now that's the kind of Long Wave I like ! (Severn Bore near Gloucester)
johnlees is offline  
Old 2nd Jun 2014, 8:03 pm   #25
vidjoman
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 3,315
Default Re: Built to last, not surpassed: Your old appliances still on the go

I've got a yard broom from about 1955. It' only had 4 new heads & 2 new handles, and it still sweeps like new.
vidjoman is offline  
Old 2nd Jun 2014, 8:19 pm   #26
AC/HL
Dekatron
 
AC/HL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,637
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

Trigger's Broom doesn't quite qualify as "White Goods", please keep the thread title in mind when replying.
AC/HL is offline  
Old 2nd Jun 2014, 9:00 pm   #27
emeritus
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

Until a few years ago, my recently-deceased mother was still using her old Singer 15k sewing machine with the add-on electric motor I remember her buying for it in the mid-1950's. We are now clearing the house, and none of the charities we have approached will take it ( Health & Safety) because it has an exposed drive belt, so it's off to the recycling centre next week.
emeritus is offline  
Old 2nd Jun 2014, 11:21 pm   #28
Herald1360
Dekatron
 
Herald1360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,527
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

I wouldn't be surprised if someone here would have it. Is it a table model or cabinet one?
__________________
....__________
....|____||__|__\_____
.=.| _---\__|__|_---_|.
.........O..Chris....O
Herald1360 is offline  
Old 3rd Jun 2014, 12:25 am   #29
emeritus
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

It's a cabinet model, mounted in a wooden cabinet that still has its foot treadle. It used to be able to sew 1/4" leather with the right needle and thread. Transport would be the problem. It's in Dagenham, near Chadwell Heath station. I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to post this this sort of item on this forum, but if anyone wants it (or even just the motor) , please let me know. , FOC if you can arrange collection in the next week.
emeritus is offline  
Old 3rd Jun 2014, 12:31 am   #30
paulsherwin
Moderator
 
paulsherwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

Quote:
Originally Posted by emeritus View Post
Until a few years ago, my recently-deceased mother was still using her old Singer 15k sewing machine with the add-on electric motor I remember her buying for it in the mid-1950's. We are now clearing the house, and none of the charities we have approached will take it ( Health & Safety) because it has an exposed drive belt, so it's off to the recycling centre next week.
These fetch reasonable sums (£10-£30) on eBay, even collection only, so it's certainly worth selling. A bit of googling will reveal lots of info. The external motor and belt is completely normal for any machine made before the mid 60s and is perfectly safe, though these machines are generally not earthed and often give a slight tingle.

A sewing machine will often be the oldest appliance in a house, having been passed down through the generations. I still have my great grandmother's Jones Family CS, bought on HP in 1898 and still sewing well, though quite worn. My main machine is a 1934 Singer 201K, one of the first of these models made and still an excellent performer. Sewing machines made between about 1895 and 1960 will last almost indefinitely if lubricated properly and stored in dry conditions.
paulsherwin is offline  
Old 3rd Jun 2014, 12:40 am   #31
emeritus
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

Indeed, my mother had been trained as a machinist on this type of machine before the war, (making handbags), and always carefully cleaned and lubricated the mechanism before putting it away. It has got to go, as she lived in a rented house, and an extra week's rent awaiting a potential buyer would cost considerably more than the machine is worth.
emeritus is offline  
Old 3rd Jun 2014, 12:51 am   #32
paulsherwin
Moderator
 
paulsherwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

If you really do scrap it, remove the motor and pedal first. These can obviously be used on other sewing machines (my 1898 Jones will take one, for example, and my Singer uses a near identical one), but they are also useful for anyone building workshop equipment such as lightweight lathes or grinders.

I do appreciate your position though, as I'm also clearing my deceased mother's house at present.

If your mother was a keen machinist she may have owned lots of attachments such as buttonholers and zigzaggers. These will fit any low shank machine and are all saleable, or charity shops will accept them. It's certainly a pity to chuck them in the recycling bin.
paulsherwin is offline  
Old 3rd Jun 2014, 10:41 am   #33
mike_newcomb
Rest in Peace
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: West London, UK.
Posts: 665
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

Hi Emeritus and Paul,

I for one, and no doubt others, would much like to view some pictures of your sewing machines.

Any possibility of this please?

Emeritus - a machine such as yours should not be scrapped.
Suggest placing on the 'Items Offered' forum here as foc - collect soonest.

Regards - Mike
mike_newcomb is offline  
Old 3rd Jun 2014, 12:23 pm   #34
Peter.N.
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 3,601
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

I still have my mothers Wolf Cub drill that she bought in the '50s to make cupboards for the kitchen when timber came off licence after the war. Very good they were too.

Peter
Peter.N. is offline  
Old 3rd Jun 2014, 9:58 pm   #35
emeritus
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

I have now put it on the "Items offered" section, with photos.
emeritus is offline  
Old 5th Jun 2014, 12:06 pm   #36
paulsherwin
Moderator
 
paulsherwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

Quote:
Originally Posted by mike_newcomb View Post
I for one, and no doubt others, would much like to view some pictures of your sewing machines.
Here are quick phone camera pics of the 201K and Jones. I don't actually collect sewing machines as I have enough trouble storing all the radios - the 201K is a working machine and the Jones is a family heirloom.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	DSC00151.jpg
Views:	157
Size:	67.3 KB
ID:	93829   Click image for larger version

Name:	DSC00153.jpg
Views:	145
Size:	82.9 KB
ID:	93830  
paulsherwin is offline  
Old 5th Jun 2014, 3:03 pm   #37
threeseven
Octode
 
threeseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 1,880
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

Still using a Black & Decker jigsaw inherited from my father. It's one of the gold painted ones and must be at least 50 years old, looks good for 50 more at least! The only plastic parts I can find on it are the screw in plugs that allow the brushes to be inspected and changed.
__________________
BVWS member
threeseven is offline  
Old 7th Jun 2014, 5:02 pm   #38
dseymo1
Retired Dormant Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Shropshire, UK.
Posts: 3,051
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

Just as with radios, certain sewing machines, which to this layman appear much like the rest, are very collectable, and command high prices. Well worth checking first!
dseymo1 is offline  
Old 7th Jun 2014, 5:31 pm   #39
paulsherwin
Moderator
 
paulsherwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

There are two markets for old sewing machines, the collectors and the serious users.

Some of the Singer models are viewed as classics of unsurpassed quality and usability - the 221/222 Featherweight models are very popular with American quilting enthusiasts, while the 201 is still used by professional tailors and dressmakers today, though not usually as their primary machine. I don't think I'd have a 201 if I had to buy it on the open market

The cheaper 66 and 99 models remain very usable for the domestic user, despite being simple straight stitch machines. Straight stitching is 99.9% of domestic sewing, even when a fancy computer controlled machine is available.
paulsherwin is offline  
Old 7th Jun 2014, 6:17 pm   #40
steptoesyard
No Longer a Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tavistock, Devon, UK.
Posts: 147
Default Re: Built to Last, not Surpassed: Your old ELECTRICAL Appliances still on the go

I`ve got, and still use regularly a little bright orange black and decker mower from the early 70`s. It`s lightweight but robust, and only has a low wattage motor so struggles a bit if the grass gets long so I have to give the "ol girl" a bit of help, otherwise it cuts beautifully, and has always been totally reliable, I`ve never even had to replace the motor brushes in all that time.

I have lapsed and bought new mowers before, but they have been utter cr*p in comparison, and I usually give them away and go back to old faithful
steptoesyard is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 2:53 am.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.