Why Are Modern Sewing Machines So Ugly?

[amuckart]

Wiz linked to Puritan's site in another thread and I got to looking at their various NS and OS models. I'm guessing that NS = New Style and OS = Old Style. I've also been reassembling my 1919 Singer 45k25, which I had soda blasted and got to see as bare iron. The casting on that is the most flawless piece of cast iron I've ever set eyes on.

Looking at things like the CB2500/Ga5-1 modern versions of the 45k, and the "New Style" Puritans compared to the old 45ks and "Old Style" Puritans got me wondering where have the aesthetics in these machines gone?

The old style Puritans are beautiful and to my eye no less functional than the horrible chunky "New" style castings. The pattern makers who made the patterns for machines like the old Puritans and 45ks had probably forgotten more about efficient and functional patternmaking for iron casting than most people know these days. The GA5 head looks like a 6 year old's play-doh version of a sewing machine compared to a 45k.

What's driven the loss of aesthetic in modern machines? Have we just lost the generation of people who could make something functional that also looked good?

[Rayban]

I guess I've been too per-occupied trying to stay on my stitch line to notice......

[ChimeraKennels]

Old ones were made in America and new ones are made in China?

[oldtimer]

Never thought of my sewing machine in those terms, but I guess it is the same as with cars. These days all cars look the same, and can´t compare with a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am from the seventies in beauty.

Anyway, I love my old warhorse Adler 205-374, she ( it is a she) may be ugly but she is faithful!

/ Knut

[Rayban]

Reminds me a an old song...."she may be ugly, but she sure can cook"

[Luke Hatley]

Reminds me a an old song...."she may be ugly, but she sure can cook"

Good one.........

[oldtimer]

Reminds me a an old song...."she may be ugly, but she sure can cook"

Hahahaha, got me o good laugh!

/ Knut

[Techsew Ron]

Reminds me a an old song...."she may be ugly, but she sure can cook"

this about sums it up for me !

[KAYAK45]

Ugly is as.... ugly does.

[CowboyBob]

And that's what they call progress,alot of them went to a more square looking casting,Puritan,Pfaff,Adler,Singer (look @ the 31-15 vs 331K1)

Bob

[TwinOaks]

I suspect it has as much to do with production methods as anything else. Casting is simpler/easier when it's a less complex form. Likewise, as companies experienced more demand, they looked at ways to increase production. Even with the advent of CAD/CAM, simpler=faster=more production=more money. As sewing machine design progressed to include the rotary hook and bobbin, there was little call for the cam driven needle and awl designs like the Champions. I agree completely that there is a beauty in the old styles - Seeing the 3 cam wheels that are machined on 3 faces each on my old Champion lends an appreciation to the skill of the metal workers who made things like that in the old days. Now......push the button on the automated mill, wait for the machine to finish, and do it to the next part.

hmmm.....maybe it can be summed up with "Pride in Craftsmanship".