Nelson Maynard Sewing Machine Service & Repair

08/07/2023

Also, for your edification, here’s a photo found on Facebook of a store display window circa 1904.

Sounds like a pretty good deal on those patterns!

08/07/2023

Hallo, y’all…

Wanting to give a bit of a signal boost for this; made the acquaintance of a sewista in the old hometown who’s looking to sell her 1964 Kilbowie Featherweight. She’s located in Pikeville, Kentucky, and I wanted to let my central and eastern Kentucky folks know it was available. (And WV, and SWVA, and southern Ohio, as well.)

If you’re interested, she’s okay to contact her via FB messenger. She’s asking $630.00, local pickup, or will ship at buyer’s expense.

https://www.facebook.com/ronda.fouts

05/08/2023

The fundraiser featuring my restored Singer 99K is sold out, but you can still donate to the cause!

Thank you all for your wonderful support! Our upcoming BLACK MOON event on May 19th has now *SOLD OUT!* we are continuing to raise funds through the end of the month for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to help patients and their families right here in Kentucky. You can purchase raffle tickets online or donate by following the link in our profile. THANK YOU !!

05/06/2023

Been a while since I’ve made a new post, ‘deed it has, but I am emerging from beneath my enormous pile of service calls, stragglers, and works in progress, but I wanted to share this recent project that I’m pretty proud of, and give a little bit of a boost to the fundraiser it’s supporting.

My brother and sister-in-law over at Maynard Studios are hosting a dinner, with silent auction and raffle, to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on behalf of Sondra Stallings, whose husband “Moonshine Mike” Stallings succumbed to leukemia last autumn.

I’ve donated this refurbished vintage sewing machine and buttonhole attachment to the auction.

The auction is an in-person event, and you must be present to win, but I’ll include a donation link in the comments if you’d like to support the cause.

The machine is a Singer 99K, serial number EK946883, allocated November 23, 1955, as part of a production run of 50,000 units at Singer’s famous Kilbowie plant in Clydebank, Scotland. I acquired it from a customer in Jessamine County, Kentucky, who bought it new in 1956, along with the buttonholer. It has been well-maintained, with good decals, and some minor degradation of the clear coat and blemishes on the cabinet, but is in excellent working condition. It’s mounted in the relatively uncommon #72 Cadet cabinet, with the opening sized specifically for the 3/4 size Model 99.

All the electrical cords have been replaced with new 18-gauge lamp cord, including the lead for the Bakelite spotlight fixture. The light fixture still has its heavy glass lens, and has a new LED bulb mounted. I inspected the motor brushes, and found them to be clean, with plenty of wear left in them.

The machine was originally fitted with Singer’s stamped metal foot control; I swapped that out with a vintage original rectangular Bakelite foot control. The foot control is in excellent condition, with precise response across its range, and the motor is winding up to full speed, with good torque.

The machine has been fully cleaned, lubed, adjusted, and sewn out, with a new bobbin winder tire mounted and adjusted. I sewed it out satisfactorily on stabilized muslin and 10-oz. denim, up to six layers of each. It’s a gorgeous collectible, but also a practical sewing machine, and I very much hope that it will go to someone who will use it for its intended purpose!

02/25/2021

I am very much in favor of young people learning to sew.

In addition to helping them appreciate the history and culture of needle arts in Appalachia (these kids are in Harlan County, Kentucky) it builds confidence, enhances mechanical aptitude and problem solving skills, and, possibly most of all, gives kids real-world applications for mathematics.

Not to mention, there are plenty of practical applications for sewing skills either as a side hustle or a career. It may be a function of my job, but I know plenty of folks who use their sewing skills to earn their livings, as seamstress/tailors, costumers, upholsterers, and textile artists, to name just a few possibilities.

And, of course, there’s sewing machine techs, too.

I also see this as a sort of generational job security for me...

Students are able to learn to sew while both in small classroom settings and at a home.

12/05/2020

Client in Lexington, KY is looking to move this Singer 66 Redeye treadle; drop me a message for contact info!

I haven’t inspected this one in person, but the treadle stand shows only moderate wear, and the head looks clean, with nice decals.

If you’re in central Kentucky, and looking to acquire a treadle machine, you could do worse, I think!

And when you’ve acquired it, let me know, and I’ll come and get it tuned up for you!

04/09/2020

Louisville-area sewing professionals putting their skills to good use!

Local costume designers from some of the city’s biggest arts organizations are cranking out handmade face masks for essential workers.

12/25/2019

Hope your Yuletide dreams come true!

09/12/2019

‪Today’s Vintage Ad With Unexpected Cats.‬

‪Everyone in this one looks confused.‬

09/05/2019

The confluence of quilting and cosplay.

Thank you Dragon Con! Remember there is no this week. To hold you over I give you my favorite of the entire weekend. See you next year and see everyone else Thursday night 6-9 for our recap and stream!

Go follow her! ‪https://www.facebook.com/ShannonsCosplays.

Inspiration from Artist: https://www.facebook.com/anna.lakisova.art/