Battle of the Machines - is a modern sewing machine better than an antique?

Am I a little biased? Maybe. What can I say, I love my machines!

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[EngineeringKnits]

Do you agree with which machine won? Did I miss anything? Let me know!

[MHS-usqv]

I would honestly negate the last category because the amount of work you put into refinishing the machine, putting together the table, setting up the treadle, etc. Ultimately makes the antique machine a really beautiful piece of furniture. I'd say it's more subjective based on if you get a lot of joy from the process and are satisfied with the end product, because that can really shape how much value you put into an object. You feel more acquainted and loving towards a machine you practically built yourself for weeks/months rather than one you just bought off Amazon and received in two days. My own antique machine was a gift from a dear friend and I spent weeks figuring it out, restoring it and getting it to work. I can say with confidence that I love it far more than the modern machine I bought.

[nesha]

In Australia, at least where I live, new and modern machines are actually a whole a heck of a lot more expensive than antique and vintage machines. Even antiques in perfect order are cheaper than a lot of modern ones. I find price differences between Aus and US so interesting sometimes.

[TheGabygael]

that antique machine is the most adorable, goregeous and elegant piece of machinery I have ever seen

[ruthhorstman]

I have 3 Wilcox and Gibbs machines. Both glass and automatic tensions. I love them all.
Hands down I would pick my antique machine over my modern computerized one.
Another bonus, you can do free hand embroidery on a W&G.

[sekaihatsu]

Here's a tip to seam ripping a modern stitched seam that I learned: turn the seam ripper with the ball point down, going into the seam space not the pointy bit--that should be on top--and you can pretty much glide through the seam (if the stitches weren't set to the tiniest stitch). And always cut away from yourself.

[GwensShenanigans]

Oh my god, that pintuck tool/extention is SO BRILLIANT!!! You did such a frickin' amazing job building your machine❤

[WaterNai]

If people like some more bells and whistles for antique machines, you can also get an antique zig-zag attachment (useful for stretchy fabrics) and an antique buttonhole attachment. The beautiful and well-made antique machines really have a lot to offer. They’re the winners for me! 😃

[valstarkgraf]

I second "buttonholes" as a category, but would also have a categories for:

ease of finding repair and replacement parts (just because they once existed does not mean antique parts will be easy to find); a discussion of thread type versatility (S vs Z) for how easy it is to walk into a store and get a spool of thread that works (most modern machines are S, many antique machines are Z, so if you have to special order thread it's not as simple); the ability to use the machine to place hardware/fasteners (most modern machines are better at this because they have more stitch types to allow you to pick something for strength and stability or else have stitch capability a single stitch machine does not); SETTING SLEEVES and if one is fussier than the other; how they rate with sewing massive amounts of thick gathered fabric easily (jam or not?); the ease of finishing raw edges (most modern machines win this hands down); weight and ease of moving/cleaning (antique machines, especially treadle machines are at a major disadvantage here, because if you need to take the machine somewhere to help with a group project or for travel, antique machine is staying home; also so many more places to pick up dust and pet hair in a more complicated cabinet assembly); maintenance fussiness (how often does it need to be cleaned and timed? your machine might not be an even comparison because single vs double thread)

[martha-anastasia]

I have my great grandmother's treadle. It's called a National Two Spool.. the bobbin case takes a regular small spool of thread. It's fantastic for quilting piecework because you can sew for hours and hours without stopping to reload. Love it. I've made two quilts with it.

[arielhansen]

There's a few things my semi-modern (1980s) machine does that I would not want to live without: it has a needle threader so threading the needle takes 2 seconds at most, the button hole programs, and having overlock stitch options for things I can't easily use my serger for like armholes after the sleeves are attached.

[levanera]

I love the look of the antique machine! It turned out wonderful. I do like that modern machines often have a light on the sewing, so I can see exactly what I'm doing. That's an advantage of a plug-in machine

[amethystanne]

At about the 4:52 mark, the Gathering my grandmother (1890-1974) needed to gather, she would do basting by hand in the area that needed to be make smaller.

[caraamor]

I am lucky enough to live in New Brunswick Canada and it seems there are always old sewing machines for sale here on Marketplace and Kijiji. I've acquired an old German hand crank (and it works!), an Eatons treadle machine and an early electric Singer with knee control. I also found a space-age looking green 1950's Kenmore sitting on the roadside with someone's garbage.... it breaks my heart to see them being thrown out. So, yeah, I get the love of old machines!!!! Hopefully videos like yours will get more people rescuing (and using!) these beautiful pieces of history. Good work!

[nevsneedles]

I was a little surprised about the decibel levels. I consider my modern machine to be pretty quiet, so I also downloaded a decibel app and mine was higher than yours! I guess not having your ears right next to the noise makes a difference, haha.

As far as #7 (Aesthetics), I bought my Singer Heritage several years ago because I thought it was a pretty machine. Some modern machines, even vintage machines, have that boxy silhouette that I don't care for. However, you said that you put your modern machine away, whereas you leave your vintage machine out. I would consider this to be a new category: Portability. No, not everyone needs a portable machine, but if your sewing space is also your dining space or your office space, being able to put the machine away might be a necessity. In my case, when I used to teach elementary music, I took my machine to and from school during musical season because I sewed costumes during my planning period. Again, that situation was unique to me, and I realize not everyone needs to be able to bring their machine to work with them.

Actually, the longer I sit here and think about it, the more I realize that hand sewing can do all of these things and more, so clearly hand sewing is the superior option, haha.

[fiesehexe]

I wouldn't have considered the gathering (as I always do it by hand) but for me the choice in stiches would be more than 1 point plus. Still if I had to chose I'd take the antique one - beauty plus functionality beats everything else

[jennifergeorgia]

Lovely video -- I agree with almost everything, but for some I would go further....
I have a hand-crank W&G and since I oiled it is it absolutely silent -- you might want to check if anything is rubbing in your treadle or head. Also, the chain stitch that the W&G does, because of the wrapping back around itself, does have some stretch to it, similar to the triple stitch on a modern machine or a cover stitch on a serger. But you're right, it doesn't have enough give for a very stretchy spandex. Regarding the locking vs. unzipping of seams, I agree with you 100% (but if you don't have a seam ripper for normal sewing, you should get one!). As for price, I have seen modern sewing machines that cost more than my car, and both of mine (one now 20 years old, the other bought used) were several thousand dollars -- they are high end embroidery/sewing machines. Whereas I have 3 W&G machines that were all between $100 and $300. And speaking of embroidery -- you didn't talk very much about how TOTALLY COOL the chain stitch looks on the underside! That, for me, was the big selling point -- those tiny little chains are just gorgeous. And did you know you can use them for embroidery? Draw the design backwards on a piece of stabilizer and put it on the back of the fabric, and then follow the lines as you sew it upside down. When you're done, you'll have a chain stitch design on the front.

[MonicaLea]

Absolutely all of my sewing history, dating from when my Mamaw taught me at the age of 7 and I had to sit on 2 Sears catalogs to reach the machine and had the foot pedal on a box, has been on various antique mechanical machines. Last week I bought a new machine but specifically got a mechanical instead of electronic because, not only did I learn to sew on all those old machines (one of them a 1950s Singer 301 which I sorely miss) but I also learned how to repair them myself. I would love to see a comparison between electronic and mechanical, antique or not.

[MrsMelrom]

I first watched this when you released it, and it added to me wanting a Willcox and Gibbs very much. Well, it has arrived. My father is slowly but surely releasing his vintage sewing machine rescue collection to me. I do not know what's in it and the machines are very hard to hide from the people I share my home with. I absolutely LOVE this one though. It is hand cranked and so quiet I can listen to podcasts as I sew. Now all I have to do is find the accessories.

[stevel]

Thanks for making this comparison! I was recently given a Willcox & Gibbs and I learned a lot from your video. The drawers look exactly like the drawers on my 1920 Singer 66-1. I also have a Singers 101-3, 201-2, 404, 431G, a The Free treadle from the early 1900's that had a motor added and a Necchi Nora. They've all been a joy and a learning experience.