The sewing-machine repair guy in St. Augustine shares his favorite vintage machines

John Niles sees all kinds of vintage sewing machines coming in for repair in his St. Augustine garage, something not many people specialize in these days. When asked, he said he'd have a rough time picking out a few of his favorites, but he was willing to give a try.

Singer Red Eye Model 66, circa 1907

The Red Eye, which took its name from the gleaming red eyes among the fancy filigreed decorations, was an especially ornate model. “I love the Red Eye. Only a certain amount of the Model 66 had the nicest details, or you could save money and get a plain one without any details, or less details." It was also especially functional, and even many new models use the same bobbin and needle it had. Then there are those decorative red eyes: “They’re looking right at you as you’re using it!”

Singer 72W19

It's a hem-stitch machine from about 1911. “They are coveted because of the hem-stitch function. That is for real fine fabric work; it was very popular on ladies’ dresses and lace applique. It runs two threads, two needles and two bobbins on the same machine. It is really something else. It is a complicated gizmo."

Singer Featherweight

"I'm working on one right now from Oct. 31, 1951." This electric machine was groundbreaking, with an aluminum body that allowed it to weigh just 11 pounds, compared to, say, 40 pounds for other models. "It came out in 1933. It made its debut in the Chicago World's Fair. Because its cast aluminum, it's portable, really a fantastic machine. It’s quite sought-after, even today.”

Wheeler & Wilson

Niles really likes the models made by this Singer competitor from 1853 to 1905 when Singer bought the company, particularly the No. 9 model from the last decade of the 19th century. He likes them simply because "The reason Singer had to buy them was, it was a better machine than anything Singer was making. It had the first rotating hook, and when a hook rotates instead of oscillates, it’s smoother, quieter and faster. Singer realized the competition with Wheeler & Wilson was going to kill them. He [Isaac Singer] was bigger so he bought ‘em.”

Singer 128

This three-quarter size model from 100 or more years ago proved popular with those who didn't want to lug around a full-sized model. Niles especially likes it in the La Vencedora trim, with ornately designed decals designed to conjure up an Italian motif. “That was the first attempt to make a smaller machine so it could be portable. And the thing with the vibrating shuttle is, they never go out of time; of all the machines I work on they need the least amount of maintenance.”

Singer 401 Slant-o-Matic

This more modern model (it first dates from the 1950s) was "a big deal," Niles says. "With two buttons you could select upwards of 30 different stitches, plus zing-zag. It also had reverse and an enclosed motor with no belt, which meant smoother, easier operation." And the Slant-o-Matic? "The needle bar is slanted toward the user, making it easier to see what you’re doing," Niles said. “If you’re going to sit in front of that all day, that helps a lot.”

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: St. Augustine repairman of vintage sewing machines lists his favorites