Amazing Sewing Machines As Store Fixtures

[Evo160K]

While visiting Los Angeles, Ca., over the holidays, my sister took me to a clothing store that was using antique sewing machines in their windows and about their store as fixtures. The store is one belonging to Allsaints Co., Ltd., of London. The window has 340 sewing machines in it ---- 34 columns wide, 10 machines per column, plus there are approx. 45-50 elsewhere. I thought it was clever as well as unusual. Is that huge long arm thing in image 3143 a sewing machine?

Edited January 10, 2015 by Evo160K

[Singermania]

Great photos, thanks for posting

[Itch]

Very cool and well done.. Love Vintage machinery ..

[ramrod]

well, you can look at this in two ways....all of those machines are either going to waste, or you can thank the owners for saving those old machines.

i think it's really cool and unique. that is a LOT of old iron.

[Wishful]

They are beautiful, aren't they... I have seen that done on a much smaller scale at a local clothing store. Very neat.

[CowboyBob]

Nice pics,thanks for posting them,I like seeing that old stuff.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

I have identical pictures from the Las Vegas store in the Cosmopolitan. They have 1,800 in total. The sad part is that the huge Adler , and the like are made to look old through rusting patinas, and they have been tack welded to prevent the stupid people from accidentally hurting themselves.

Edited January 10, 2015 by BIGGUNDOCTOR

[Singermania]

I understand what you mean about being a shame that machines that are within reach are welded tight... I have around 80 old leather machines and it can be quite stressful when children and people come and start turning them over, the weight of the handwheels and the gearing can mean damage to fingers in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some children in particular ignore requests not to touch or turn the machines. Spoked hand wheels also pose a problem with no safety guards, sadly Australia is becoming more like the US with lawyers openly advertising civil cases on a charge if they win basis.

[thesergeant]

I'm actually in the process of building a small version of their display in our cutting room. Going to have a Singer 101, 201, 301, 115, 15-88 and a wilcox and gibbs on it.

By the way, if you're unfamiliar with the Singer 101, check it out: http://youtu.be/iyS1SEdjs50 It's easily one of the coolest vintage Singer straight stitchers I've restored. You can fast forward to the 14:30 mark to see the bed removed and to see the spider wicking system.

Here's a smaller version of the All Saints display:

I haven't decided how I want to build the bases yet thouhg. I'm going to build walnut bases with hinges for all the machines but I want to make the machines removable without having to unscrew 4 screws every time.

We're going to do a matching pair, one with the machines and then another matching one with just flat walnut boards that will be a bookshelf.

[Evo160K]

You're very welcome good people. Thanks for the kind comments.

Does anyone recognize that machine in image 3143? Whatever it is it's big.. I'll ask my sister to get a better picture.

[makitmama]

I have 20 machines on a rack in my dining room, two treadles and two heads on the front porch, 4 other treadles and cabinet machines in the bedrooms, my sewing room with two gigantic modern machines, and a shed out back with the consews and various parts machines.

I have a vintage sewing machine addiction.

[Constabulary]

I have a vintage sewing machine addiction.

So do I - but fortunately I´m "healthy" enough to sell what I don´t need. But I have a feeling that sooner or later I will have a few more than I need.

I´m fortunately not interested in domestic machines (I had a few but thats not my part). I like the vintage industrial medium + heavy machines.