Happy New Year, friends!
I'd like to spend the first day of 2011 sharing my new vintage Pfaff 30 with you. On this short video you'll hear the Pfaff -- and me -- in action, and see how she stitches.
I love this powerful German beauty and can't wait to sew my next project on her. I have more detailed photos of the machine here.
Enjoy!
Any questions? Just let me know.
Have a great day, everybody!
Spectacular machine!
ReplyDeleteThat cleaned up nicely! Thanks for taking the time to make the video and extra photos --I enjoyed both. The machine sounds great. Do you like it flush in the cabinet? (I do).
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a Pfaff in a thrift store! That probably says a lot about them.
Whenever you post a video of a "new" vintage sewing machine up and running, I get a little closer to searching Craig's List for my own. It would definitely look nicer in my living room than my current one, and you've sold me on the fact that they are hearty, high-quality machines.
ReplyDeleteAny vintage straight stitch machine is likely to be stronger and more durable than a new machine. Just make sure it works before you bring it home. Plus, they're pretty!
ReplyDeleteI bet it's make a fantastic quilting machine!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Peter,
ReplyDeleteI loved this video on your Pfaff 30. She sewed threw the leather layers perfectly. I concur with Bratling your Pfaff would make a most excellent quilting machine.
Happy new year Peter! Enjoy your machine. :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how even a machine will blossom with love? I'm thrilled you found her and the table is exactly the style/size I want for my Rocketeer...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great machine! You're making me miss my vintage machines that are packed away.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new Pfaff! My very first Pfaff my mother bought for me used for $100. I sewed like a thunderstorm on that little machine and lugged it around from class to class and house to house. I still have it. Someday I would like to pass it on to a new sewer who will appreciate it. It is so nice to see the old machines being used and cared for. Thanks for the video. Happy New Year! And, Happy Sewing!
ReplyDeleteYou were talking about your reluctance to use kerosene to clean the machine - how did you resolve that? I think the Pfaff has a sexy shape.
ReplyDeleteShe is a powerful German beauty. Emjoy and Happy New Year.
Robin, I decided not to use kerosene -- ever. It's just too stinky. So far sewing machine oil has worked well. I could probably clean her more and I think just using her and oiling her regularly will do the trick. I hope!
ReplyDeleteOh, I should say... if you're not careful, she will develop a taste for expensive thread ;) Mine now does a "Say what?" if I dare thread her with Coates and Clark thread--she wants Guttermann. I'm convinced that it's German snobbery! ;)
ReplyDeleteGretchen? Helga? Mable? Heidi? What will you name her? Only a traditional German name will do. She is absolutely stunning, what a beauty.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the video, always a treat!
Happy New Year!
Ohh, Heidi would be perfect, I'm thinking Peter substituted sewing machine oil for the goats' milk though.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see you do a basic sewing machine maintenance video. I don't even know where to put the oil!
ReplyDeleteCheck your manual. It's generally all the places where metal touches metal (i.e., gears) and there's usually a hole on the top of the machine at the places where the machine needs to oiled.
ReplyDeleteMy beloved Pfaff 1229, Irena, says to say hello! I was very impressed with how your new sweetie stopped right when you wanted her to. (Always a good thing with sweeties.) Congratulations to you both.
ReplyDeleteFab machine! I have a vintage 130 that I took the motor off and set up as a treadle. They are built like tanks so I think this one will end up being a keeper for you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful machine! I have my mom's Singer (1950), which sounds likes your Pfaff. I believe my mom made a canvas boat cover for my dad 's boat, so it really is a workhorse. Good luck, and enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet!
ReplyDeleteHi was looking for a workhorse machine and read your blog and watched your video for the pfaff 30. I found the same machine for $50.00 on north Philly's craiglist. It ran but not too well, it was stiff and needle didn't always go up & down.
ReplyDeleteBrought it to my local repair shop and for an add'l $50.00 its cleaned and running beautiful. It's in the same exact cabinet that's in your video cept a canine enjoyed one of the legs. Love the knee peddle! reminds me of an old necchi my mom had and we learned to sew on!
Thanks so much for posting about your Pfaff #30. I have one also. I got it last fall at an estate sale for $50. It came with the cutest desk. I have been putting off cleaning it as it is just covered with very tightly bonded gritty dust.
ReplyDeleteMay I ask what you used to clean it? Did you just use sewing machine oil?
Here is link showing my cabinet at the bottom of the post.
http://2knitwits.blogspot.com/2011/09/getting-ready-for-toga-block-exchange.html
I am now inspired to get back to work on mine.
Nancy
Hi, Nancy. Sewing machine oil is all I used. It wasn't terribly dirty, more dusty than anything as it hadn't been used in many years. Enjoy yours!
ReplyDeletei got one of these for 8 bucks wow!
ReplyDeleteHello Peter, I have just become the owner of a Pfaff 30 and she is beautiful but I after cleaning and oiling she will not feed the fabric, checked the feed dogs they are engaged and up, stitch length med setting, but when I tried to stitch the fabric wont move and the stitch knob comes down slowly weird? any ideas. The motor purrs beautifully.
ReplyDeleteMaria, are you sure the inner wheel on the balance wheel that you turn to disengage the needle (to wind bobbins) is tightened (clockwise)? If it's not tight enough it's possible the feed dogs and needle are not fully engaged when the motor runs. That's all I can come up with.
DeleteYes the balance wheel is fine and tighten the needle goes up and down just fine.
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