Antiques Roadshow

From Leicester tonight - the magical Victorian pumping stations- so stylish, beautiful tiles and colums, and those superb brass steam beam engines.

Can’t read them but will look up info online myself. Thanks anyway Flo

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Silverlining, I found a couple of lovely sites, on-line, re the Essex miniature sewing machine and have attached a couple of photos with instructions on how to thread the machines. Hope you can read them.

Yes auntieflo exactly the same. I checked earlier online and found mine, an Essex which was sold in every colour as long as it was maroon, rather like the Ford, not as a toy but one which could be used for small repairs etc.
How lovely you have its box i dont , and nor do i have instruction booklet, would help as i am not sure now about threading it.

I remember having a little blue Vulcan Junior sewing machine one Christmas. I hadn’t asked for it (my mother was continually trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear). I remember going with my father to pick up his new suit and the tailor gave me a whole lot of cloth samples to “make things with”! I’m afraid I very soon got bored with it and my mother passed it on to one of my cousins. Needlework was never my thing

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Silverlining, I have found my sewing machine, luckily not in the loft. It looks as though it is exactly the same as yours, an Essex make. So here is a picture and one of it's case and instruction leaflet. The last picture is of a handmade doll, given to me by a friend. I love her snd she sits on a shelf in my sewing room.

I remember my little toy sewing machine which did chain stitch, though I can't remember being specially creative until I was old enough to use my mum's big Singer machine. In the midst of the war, my parents managed to find me a big second-hand tricycle which I loved more than anything. My doll's cot was more often used as a bus when the minister's son came round to play. At granny's house there was a wonderful set of bricks, all different sizes, with arches to make very satisfying buildings. The war was not a good time for toys, but I always had books - and I have never stopped reading!

Here it is...I hope

I have just taken a photo of my little sewing machine which I think still works but not sure how to put it on here.

I had a little sewing machine as a child, and last time I saw it, it was still in it's box. It only did a chain stitch, but as long as you remembered to secure the thread end, all was well. Mum even ran up simple curtains using it. Now I am intrigued, and will be off to look for it when we get home from church. Probably means a trip into the loft. I shall not be long!

Cookie, there should be lots of Vulcan sewing machines on ebay, and not very expensive either.

I occasionally trade on ebay and I acquired about 12 children's sewing machines a couple of years ago, half of which were Vulcans and I ended up giving several to charity shops - those not in perfect condition and not in their original boxes - because nobody wanted to buy them.

I had a little dark blue sewing machine which worked - would that have been a Vulcan?
I can't remember the make.

I was given a Vulcan Countess sewing machine one Christmas as a little girl, and it was my pride and joy.
My Mum loved to use it too despite being a toy.
Now I am going to sound so sad, but I hope find another one perhaps on eBay. So many happy memories ???.

My toys got used; the cooker burnt out (you used meths to light it ), I had a chemistry set, a magic set, a robot; I bet he would be worth a fortune now

Does anyone remember being able to buy dolls’ shoes in Woolworths? I think they came in different colours and sizes as well

I hated fluffy toys, and still do. And would not have liked those clacky puppets. I wanted colouring books, jigsaws , reading books. I would not have kept anything in such good condition, There would have been nowhere in our house to do so.
We played out most of the time anyway.

pocket money not pocket!

You could buy wigs for dolls Auntieflo - I used to save up my pocket and sent for a couple; I think the adverts were in the newspaper.

I expect my Dad threw out the boxes and Mum then passed on the toys when I grew out of them (if fit to pass on).
They probably went to a jumble sale.

Petra I had a walky talky doll, my last doll. She was beautiful, till I got to her hair, she was never the same afterwards.
My lovely dad, made for our daughter, a set of bedroom furniture for her Action Girl. Remember her? She still has it in her loft. Mum made the bedding and I made fiddly Action Girl clothes that hung in the wardrobe on tiny hangers.

Auntieflo
I would have swapped my walking talking doll and my Mobo merrygoround for your dolls house. We had most of the toys of the 50s but I never had a dolls house
My favourite 'toy' was my roller skates. They had ball bearings and rubber wheels. My father brought them back from the USA. I thought I was the bees knees

How sad, (that they were all in their boxes and immaculate) dolls, in particular, are made to be played with.

I did see it, and was amazed at how well she had kept her toys. We didn't have nearly as much, and I can't remember keeping boxes. A lot of my toys I'm sure were 'recycled', definitely my dolls pram, new hood and apron C/O dad. He also made my dolls house and put in electric lights. Mum must have decorated it. Papered in mock brick and roof tiles. Oh how I loved it.