I have a Sewing Machine No Kill Shelter and try not to add to my collection. Today I brought home a cabinet on my Sewing Machine Bucket List.

My sewing machine collection is good sized (more than ten), quite varied and includes a few W&W curved needle, W&W 8, W&W 9 and D9 machines, hand cranks? and treadle cabinets plus a few extra machines for just in case. Additionally, I have a W&W 7 and a few Singer "W" models and a Jones Spool. I rarely search craigslist or shopgoodwill and avoid the temptations of eBay. On Thursday evening, I decided to search nearby craigslist locations and found a Wheeler & Wilson bookcase cabinet and its W&W D9 machine. And it was only 20 miles from home! The seller researched online and found Carter Bays listed it as Rare. I double checked his information and found he was correct.?

The seller, a native Iowan, purchased what he thought was a neat bookcase at an auction in Portland, Oregon about 40-45 years ago. He moved the "bookcase" home and a few years later discovered there was a machine and treadle inside. Eventually, the bookcase cabinet and D9 resided in his MIL's basement for more than 20 years. The MIL moved to assisted living and he brought the cabinet home. I asked him what took him to Oregon and he replied "It was a hippy thing. We got into a van and ended up in Portland." He is very pleased that I have this special machine and cabinet and so am I!

The machine is a bit dirty as expected, but the decals, except for the pin rash on the arm, are in good condition, especially for a W&W.

The cabinet is complete with a mirror and two fake book panels. Each of the two book levels has two fake book panels attached to a panel with hooks and latches to secure the panels in place. The glass protecting the book panels is missing, but that is easy to replace. Behind the mirror and book panels are edged shelves. The cabinet finish can use some TLC, especially the top. But it is mine!!

Decades ago long before we met, a friend and her husband bought a W&W book case cabinet. They refinished the wood, removed the books and mirror, treadle irons and machine and use it to store their cd collection. I have both the machine and the treadle parts if anyone is interested.?

Tomorrow I'll begin the cleaning process.?

-Phyllis in Iowa?