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Author Topic: Western Electric Sewing Machine???? Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 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  |  IP: Logged Todd McCracken Master Film Handler Posts: 263 From: Northridge, CA, USA Registered: Mar 2008 posted 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?  |  IP: Logged Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 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:  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 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.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 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.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 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  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 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.  |  IP: Logged Christian Appelt Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 505 From: Frankfurt, Germany Registered: Dec 2001 posted 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.  |  IP: Logged Adam Fraser Master Film Handler Posts: 499 From: Houghton Lake, MI, USA Registered: Dec 2001 posted 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.  |  IP: Logged

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