Monday, March 30, 2009

Eye Spy..... a discovery

Eye Spy is a little bit late this week, but I have an extremely good reason. I was busy discovering a new toy on the side of the road.

It's hard rubbish collection time once again in outer suburbia and I had absolutely no intentions of going anywhere to look for anything yesterday..... but then my sister came over to help me unload my car.

On the way to my house, she happened to spy a perfectly good portacot on the side of the road. I have a portacot already, but now I need another one for my house, so that the twins can be separated when they come to visit and it's time for a little baby nap.

Anyway, she wanted me to drive the car so that she could jump out and inconspicously pick it up in broad daylight. That trip took less than 5 minutes, so with the portacot in the car, we decided to scout around some of my local streets.

About three blocks from my house, out of the corner of my eye, I spyed a wooden box on the side of the road amongst a pile of rubbish. I immediately said to my sister that I thought that it might just be an old sewing machine. I reversed back, and she jumped out and picked it up and shoved it in the back of the car.


We arrived back home and opened up the case and found a 1950's Singer 201K sewing machine.

Thanks to Silly Gilly providing me with some links, I've been able to determine from the series register number (EJ653360) that it is definitely is a 201K. There were 30000 allotted from May 11, 1954, and it was manufactured in Clydebank, Scotland.

It still had the the sewing cotton and the bobbin threaded in the machine, so I plugged it in and switched it on and it sews like a dream!

There is a little opening on the right hand side of the case which opens up, and inside was the original instructions for the machine (sadly soaked in sewing machine oil which had spilled).....

It also contained all of these different feet and bobbins and even spare needles.

I can't believe that someone had actually put this out for the hard rubbish collection. Thank goodness I rescued it. I've found a copy of the original sewing instructions online so that I can have a proper play with it sometime during the week.

Thankyou so much to Megan for choosing this weeks theme... maybe that was the reason that I made the discovery before the garbage collectors. Head on over to visit Cindy to play along!

57 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a score!!! I have a 1957 Bernina, which sews like a dream too. Sounds like the Singer has found a good home. Enjoy :-)

Anonymous said...

Squeal! What a find! Oh wow Cam, well done!

PaisleyJade said...

Wow - what an amazing find!!!

Liesl said...

WOW!!!! This is definitely the best side-of-the-road discovery I have heard of. You lucky duck. That will be brilliant.

I wonder if that model still has a knee thingy instead of a foot pedal? Have fun with it!

Cathy said...

Lucky you! It's amazing what you can find on the side of the road - just never seems to be anywhere near me!

Kat said...

Wow that is amazing! I can never understand some of the stuff that people throw out. Lucky for you though!

Selina said...

I love it! I picked up a singer 99k for $10 at a trash and treasure stall a while back, but a free one takes the cake!

bubbachenille said...

Congratulations ! (anyone would think you'd won the lottery LOL!) It looks in such good condition too!
Have fun with it.

fern said...

Oh wow! What an awesome find!

Blooming Business said...

Enjoy your new toy and oh so excellent find. Congrats.

Miss Muggins said...

What an amazing thing to find. Or did it find you?

Sasparilla Sue said...

Oh my word, who throws something like that away?! You have a keen eye grasshopper! It's amazing that a) you found something that awesome and b) it has all those (probably original) extras still with it. Good job!

littlechrissy said...

Amazing! I can't believe someone would throw that away. I'm definitely going to trawl the streets when it comes to our suburb.

Nikki said...

What a great story. It's just too perfect!

Jennifer Rose said...

o.0 i can't believe that someone was going to get rid of that. Even if you don't so its a nice thing to have in the house to just look at.

Michelle said...

Holy crap, Cam! That is a find and a half!

Nikki said...

Wow! That's a fantastic find!!!

Missie Krissie said...

oh my god! I swear you're the luckiest person on earth Cam!!

Jhoanna said...

OH. MY. GOODNESS. What a find!!! I think it was just meant to find a new home with you ;-)

Anonymous said...

Oh wowsers! That is fabulous! Lucky you and lucky machine for being rescued by someone so nice.

Kate said...

Wow, what a find! Maybe the person who threw it out didnt realise what it was...

amanda said...

Why would someone throw that out? It is so beautiful! Oh what a great find. You are so lucky!

Christie said...

oh cam, what a find!

so glad this little baby found such a loving home :-)

Selina said...

You are such a lucky chicky! What a find!!

Bek said...

Why would someone throw this away?? But I am glad you found it!

Cass said...

Cam that is an absolutely awesome find, well done

Cathy {tinniegirl} said...

I'm with Christie. It's gone to the perfect home.

Cath @ chunkychooky said...

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY for you! you have struck gold! glad it was found by someone who appreciates it so much!

Cate Lawrence said...

that's amazing! wow!

Hana said...

That has to be the best hard rubbish discovery to date! It makes you wonder what people are thinking when they throw away such treasures. I'm glad it found a new home where it will be much appreciated. Lucky you!!

flickettysplits said...

Talk about a goldmine ... the only things that get left out for hard rubbish in my area are old stained sofas and broken chairs!! You are blessed.

Beck said...

Lovely to see your stall at the weekend..should have had more of a chat but was busy with the girls. By the way I have given you an award to have a look at my blog when you get a sec. x

avid crafter said...

Wow, that is incredible!!! How lucky are you?!?!?

JustJess said...

SENSATIONAL. Just the cover itself is beautiful, let alone the gorgeous black machine. Worth getting it serviced and tuned and then enjoying it! Also SO glad that the market went well. Your stall looks like it was bright and sunny and the stock looks great. Well done!

Megan.K. said...

ok. That beats any roadside score i've heard of for a very very long time. Congrats - and it couldn't be going o a better home!!!

Corrie said...

that is very cool! one of the ladies in my quilting group brings hers along to our meeting as you don't need to plug it in! works a treat

I'm lucky I have my..now be warned you'll be wanting one of these next...singer sewing table so the machine pops up out of it! it has everything in the drawers including all the name labels she put on all the kids clothes going back decades!

enjoy!

I dusted mine down recently and the dust was coming off like felt!!!

Corrie:)

Sherrin said...

Oh my god. It's BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Running Thread said...

Total gold !!!
That's the best hard rubbish discovery I've heard of. Can anyone top Curly Pops' treasure??

Christina Lowry said...

WOW! Lucky sewing machine. I bet it was feeling pretty miserable sitting out on that street until you and your sister came along. Now it is looking forward to a loving home.

:)

Anonymous said...

WOW Cam this is unbelievable!!! Lucky girl!!!! it is fantastic! What a housewarming present !! Thanks so much too for your wishes for mum :)

Louise said...

WOW! Extraordinary that someone would chuck that out. I do think it was meant to be yours though!!

Jenny said...

It is amazing what some people just chuck out! Thabk goodness it found a lovely home:)

Swirlyarts said...

Wow!!!! That is an amazing discovery!! Lucky you :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, wow, wow -what can I say that hasn't already been said? That is AMAZING! Lucky you!

Anonymous said...

How Exciting!!!! It looks beautiful. I have an EL Singer which is about the same vintage but is missing bits but looks pretty :). I can't believe that someone would leave a beautiful sewing machine by the side of the road. Good for you though. It was meant to be.

JuliaB said...

Wow that's amazing!! You lucky lucky lucky devil!! xx

Stacey said...

No way!

That is such an amazing find. Unbelievable!

Drewzel said...

Yay! Yay! Yay!

Karin said...

WOW!! That is stunning! I cannot believe it!!

How lucky are you!!

Kirsty said...

Brillian pick up Cam.

Bird Bath said...

You hit the jackpot with that one!!!

Renae said...

Wow! You must have been so very excited!!

Jacinta said...

What an incredible find and by someone who will appreciate it too. So beautiful... AND it works! wow.

Lexi:: PottyMouthMama said...

What an awesome find!!! I am so glad you found it!! I can't wait to see what she sews for you. WOWOWOW!

handmaiden said...

hope u have hours of fab sewing and I have discovered I am no 55 comment. Wow!

Jenaveve said...

56 comments later... and I am not surprised. I cannot believe this! Luck of the Irish ... you're not Irish by any chance? Wowie!!! That is just such an incredible find - well deserved too after so much creation has been coming out of the Curly Pops world.

Well done you!!

Tania said...

This is the bees bloody knees (am I allowed to say that?). Can't believe you managed to find an exquisite, priceless beauty like that, without the aid of a metal detector!