Vintage Sewing Machine Table Makeover & Spread The Kindness Link Up On the Edge #780
Back in July, I was on a local thrifting adventure when I found this amazing vintage Bradford sewing machine table for just $9.99. I was in need of another small table in my downstairs hallway after I had moved the vintage gossip bench to its new home and this table was the perfect size. Plus it had all of its original sewing machine parts with it.
I have not yet tested it though to see if the machine actually works. I have a newer sewing machine that I purchased a few years ago that works just fine so I don’t really have a need for the vintage machine. Actually, I now have two vintage sewing machine tables. The other was my grandmother’s which became my mother’s and eventually ended up in my possession. That one is a much larger table and is currently housed in my basement and being used as my pot smoking table! Eventually I will give that table a makeover as well and find a space in my home to proudly display it.
The date stamped on the table is difficult to read. I was unsure if it said November 14, 1960, or 1980. However, the minty green color and the fact that the sewing machine is all metal would indicate that it was made in 1960. Most sewing machine manufacturers had transitioned to plastic machines by 1980.
When I typed the serial number into Google, AI identified it as “a vintage sewing machine (likely in a table/cabinet) that was manufactured in Japan by Brother.” According to this search result, the Bradford name was the brand name used by the retailer, which would have likely been a department store, in order to sell the foreign made machines under their own American label. For sewing mavens, the machine is a common “class 15” machine, which typically uses class 15 bobbins and 15×1 needles.
When it was time to paint the table, Archie had suggested that I use the same light teal paint that currently adorns my front porch railings. It was the perfect complementary color for my hallway with the “Aqua Allure” rag curtain that hangs in my cloffice doorway and my small decoupaged sewing table that sits beside it.
Once I had the table all painted, I began lightly sanding it for a distressed effect. During the sanding process, one of the skinny little legs on this very top heavy table gave way and snapped clean off. I will admit that I cried a little. But then I got out some heavy duty wood glue and fixed her all up again. However, I am super careful when moving it around because I am afraid that the leg will break off again!
After some maneuvering of the hallway furniture, I finally got it all set up to my satisfaction. It is such a cheerful addition to the hallway and it still makes me smile months later whenever I walk by it.
The power cord underneath is driving me a little bit crazy though. No matter how many times I secure it so it is not visible, it falls back down. I think it might be the kittens who pull it down so I probably just need to secure it better. But, like I already mentioned, I am afraid to move it around too much in fear of the leg breaking off again. Regardless of that silly power cord, I absolutely love this beautiful little addition to my home!
I am seriously tempted to bring home all the old furniture from thrift stores for cheerful makeovers except I don’t have the space. Like people who rescue stray animals, I rescue stray furniture! By the way, I have also rescued stray animals as all of the pets I have ever owned were shelter animals.
Do you like to rescue things? If so, what do you rescue…animals, furniture, clothing, cars, etc.?
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Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
16 Comments
Amy Johnson
What a fabulous makeover. I have a machine just like that and I want to get rid of it. I just have no place for it. They hard to dispose of.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Amy! I can understand that. If you are using it just as a table, they are so darn heavy so I can see why they would be difficult to dispose of. I think there is a community of sewing folks who collect machines like these though. I guess the problem is finding them in order to sell or donate yours. I hope you have a lovely weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
I like to rescue myself, lol. But can you add more furniture in your home? Haha, you should sell it, start a small business. No, then the fun becomes stress. I wish you a fabulous Halloween and want to see all about it on Monday! Have a great weekend.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hahaha, Nancy, you crack me up! I really cannot add any more furniture in my home! It’s full! And yes, you are right, starting a business would add stress and take all the fun out of my hobby. But someday when I have the space, maybe I will start a very small business, more for my pleasure than for money. Looking forward to our Monday zoom chat!
xoxo
Shelbee
Gail
A very cute addition to your home. Love how you researched the type of sewing machine. Exactly what I would do. I find sewing machines a little traumatising after my encounters with them at school!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Gail! I do love learning the history of the things I rescue. I am so sorry that sewing machines are traumatizing for you. I feel that way about vacuum cleaners. Seriously, I am always getting injured by vacuum cleaners and really it stresses me out sometimes. I hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend!
Shelbee
Joanne
We had quite a few of those old sewing tables in our house growing up. My mom was a seamstress (part time) and somehow we started collecting them. I love your make over and you really can’t tell that the leg broke!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Joanne! I always thought these sewing tables were so clever! I remember my mother sitting at hers for hours sewing away. She, too, was a part time seamstress but mostly she just made stuff for us. Man, I miss those days! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Rena
What a wonderful rescue story, and such a beautiful makeover! The cheerful color suits the space perfectly, and it’s so satisfying to see how you brought new life to that vintage piece even after the leg mishap. It looks right at home in your hallway. And thank you so much for featuring my post this week; that was a lovely surprise 😊
Rena
https://finewhateverblog.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Rena! It really is a cheerful addition that I will cherish for a long time to come. It was my pleasure to feature your post, my friend. I hope you have a lovely weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
carmen
You did an amazing job rescuing the sewing table, you’ve given it a new life with this lovely colour and the decor arrangement is charming! I love rescuing furniture, clothes etc from thrift stores, and especially animals too.
❤️carmen
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aww, thanks so much, Carmen! It really is a wonderful hobby this rescuing business! I am so happy to hear that you are a fellow-rescuer! I hope you have a lovely weekend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Beth
LOVE this makeover Shelbee! Have a wonderful week! Creatively, Beth
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Beth! I really appreciate that. I hope you have a lovely week ahead as well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
Hmmm…I don’t think I rescue anything except clothes from stores, but I don’t think they really need rescuing…especially not by me! I used to have a sewing table that my old Singer sewing machine fit perfectly in. Mike bought it for me the first year we were married from a guy who repaired sewing machines. I used it for many years. Finally, it just died. The guy Mike had bought it from had retired or died. So, we took it to the recycling center and the guy there said he’d take it home to his wife. She’d love to tinker with it. I forget what happened to the table, though.
Your tables look very cheery there in your hallway. I have a couple of tables I’m going to paint once Mike is on his feet again. One of them is now his coffee station so he can reach it. He’s pretty much destroyed it with coffee drippings so it will need some help.
Thanks for the link up, my friend!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, my friend! I love that your old sewing machine got passed onto a tinkerer! That is the best way to keep all of our unwanted junk out landfills. So even if you don’t rescue many things, at least you don’t just dump your unwanted things into the trash but you find rescuers to take it instead! Yay! Oooh, I wonder if there is a way to incorporate the coffee stains into the paint design of the table top. Maybe paint it a light color and decorate it with overlapping coffee stains! That will hide any new stains by making them part of the decor. I don’t how to do it but I think it might be fun and quirky! I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
xoxo
Shelbee