The Jazz(y) Singer

La, A Note That Follows Sew

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Since the pictures of the old Singer sewing machine (see Lilo And Stitches) struck a chord with so many of my readers, I'm posting a few more from the series. I was fascinated to see how many comments and emails I received from people who said that they remembered their own mothers and grandmothers using a faithful old Singer sewing machine.


In this shot above, does anyone know what the green object is? I don't have a clue, and I'm hoping you can help.


And if you look carefully at this image (above), you'll see a makeshift pulley attached to the wheel. Look to the right of the frame and you'll see what I mean. Instead of using a treadle, the man who was using the Singer told me that it had been modified to run off an electric motor.



Finally, I thought I'd leave you with an example (above) of some of the work the man was producing. Pretty intricate, don't you think?

Lilo And Stitches

Sew, A Needle Pulling Thread

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

With this week's theme being "Skinny", I reviewed a lot of my images. There was a photograph showing the graceful, slender Rolls-Royce hood ornament called the Spirit of Ecstacy; there was an early morning reflection of a slim tree on the still waters of a pond; there was even a shot of a group of mannequins.

But I figured there are not many things that are skinnier than the needle of an old-fashioned Singer sewing machine. These pictures were shot in an arcade in Singapore and as you can see from the image below, I was equally fascinated by the beautiful material that was being used. And just for the record, I'd like to point out that the "seamstress" was a man, who was more than happy to talk to me about the delicate work he was performing - and his love for the ancient machine.