Fleetwood Sewing Machines

Business development was one of the missions during the American occupation of Japan after World War II. In fact, the US government gave money to Japan, not only to help the Japanese people rebuild the infrastructure of their nation, but to also rebuilt its economy. One of the things Japanese business people did was invest in the manufacture of sewing machines. Many of the Japanese sewing machines made in the 1940s and 1950s were mere replicas of sewing machines produced by American, Swiss and Swedish manufacturers like Singer, Bernina and Husqvarna/Viking.

The origins of these machines were indicated on tags and name plates which were normally attached to the underside or rear of the sewing machines. Another indicator that a sewing machine was made in Japan was the brand name. Fleetwood was one of those early ‘made in Japan’ sewing machine brand names. Fleetwoods were manufactured during the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

Early models were designed to replicate the Singer 15. In fact, early Fleetwoods were so much like the Singer 15 they used Singer 15 bobbins and replacement parts. As the brand evolved, the manufacture of Fleetwood sewing machines was moved to Taiwan. Fleetwood sewing machines were quite colorful as well. It was not unusual to find a pink, yellow, red, tan or blue Fleetwood in a sewing room.

One model even had exaggerated fins on the top cover. As far as anyone could determine, the fins served no function except to make the machine stand out from others. For a while, there were lots of complaints because of deco camshafts and plastic gears, and many of them required rewiring. All of these flaws were corrected when the people behind Fleetwood sewing machines began making them with all metal components.

With that significant change, Fleetwood sewing machines were instantly reclassified from unreliable and flimsy status to that of a genuine workhorse, capable of providing many hours of uninterrupted sewing. I can attest to the durability of a Fleetwood with all metal components. I acquired one in 1970 and almost 42 years later this particular Fleetwood has provided more than four decades of absolutely flawless sewing.

When compared to newer sewing machines, my Fleetwood cannot perform many of the functions lots of home sewers have become accustomed to. It cannot thread itself; it has only two stitch options… straight and zigzag. I can adjust the stitch length and width and drop the feed dogs for freehand embroidery, quilting and monogramming; and my Fleetwood has an on-board thread cutter.

The all metal construction requires regular lubrication for continued quiet and smooth operation; and the fact that the Fleetwood is not computerized means that it can be cleaned at home rather than taken to a certified sewing machine repair professional for routine servicing. So, although a Fleetwood sewing machine may some up short on features available on more modern sewing machines, it can be a huge time and money saver for the busy home sewer. It is especially refreshing to know that parts do not wear out easily. When they do, however, finding replacement parts is becoming more and more of a challenge.

On a recent visit to a local sewing machine repair shop, I learned that replacement parts are no longer available for Fleetwood sewing machines. If you have one of these great sewing machines in your possession, the only way to guarantee that your Fleetwood will continue to give you the great service you are accustomed to is to invest in a second machine to be used for replacement parts.

With that in mind, I are now in the market for a back-up Fleetwood sewing machine that can be used solely for harvesting parts as needed. A cursory internet search for Fleetwood sewing machines available for sale revealed that this would not be a large investment, no doubt because fixing them is such a challenge.

I found several Fleetwood models on the internet. Ebay, for instance, recently sold a model identical to the one in my sewing room for less than $30. Other online sites that sell used and refurbished sewing machines list different Fleetwood models as well. If, like me, you prefer to test drive a refurbished sewing machine, even if you want to buy it just for replacement parts, contact the local sewing and vacuum centers in your local area. Drop in and introduce yourself.

Tell the staff what you are looking for and make sure they know how to contact you. Stop in for a visit periodically. Make friends with the proprietors. Get to know the repair personnel and sales staff. Most of the people who work in sewing machine repair shops appreciate people who really know sewing machines and are willing to take time out to chat and share their knowledge with you… especially when they realize that you share their appreciation for a well made sewing machine.

You will be surprised at how supportive they will be in helping you find that replacement machine you are looking for. They might even be willing to post an ad in one of their professional newsletters, asking their peers to help you in your search. And of course, they would be eager to check the machine out for you in advance.

That way, you will be assured of having reliable parts to harvest when the time comes. No doubt, they will also be available when it is time to replace those parts, and thoroughly test your machine out to after each repair to make that sure you remain as happy with your Fleetwood sewing machine as you are right now.

If you are in the market for a refurbished sewing machine, I have no hesitation in recommending a Fleetwood sewing machine if you are lucky enough to come across one. In light of the fact that I have used my Fleetwood for so long and have only had to replace the foot pedal, I feel confident that you will not need to worry about replacement parts for many, many years.

I firmly believe that Fleetwood sewing machines are so dependable that even with the replacement part challenge, they are well worth the investment!