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Penguin Dreams and Stranger Things

7/25/2013

12 Comments

 
A couple of weeks ago, in an article about the Singer Automatic Zigzagger, I made the comment "sewing machine attachments, especially the really old ones, can be pretty strange looking."   I went on to liken some of them to torture devices, spiders, and bugs.  

But yesterday I met a new one and this one is pretty cute.  And it has a cute nickname too!

Meet the "Penguin."  Officially, it's the Singer Walking Presser Foot, Part #160741, but it's nicknamed "Penguin" because it actually looks like one, with its black and white body and waddling feet.  It even has a little flipper wing lever at the side.  
The instruction sheet has a 1953 copyright date.  ​
Picture
Singer Walking Presser Foot Part #160741
"The Singer Walking Presser foot is designed to produce superior stitching on fabrics which, by the nature of their texture, surface, or weave, tend to ease, stretch, or adhere when stitching."  -  Singer Walking Presser Foot instructions ©1953


Picture
Singer Walking Presser Foot box
Designed to work with low-shank, straight-stitch Singer machines, the Penguin is one of the rarer vintage Singer attachments.  

Because of their rarity, novelty, and practicality, Penguins are highly sought after accessories for the 221 Featherweight.  After all, the Featherweight is pretty cute, but a Featherweight with a Penguin?  Priceless!  

​
Like all walking foot or even feed attachments, the Penguin functions by moving the presser foot in time with the feed dogs so that fabric layers are fed uniformly.  This is a huge advantage for quilters because it insures that pieces and batting are fed evenly and line up perfectly.  Walking foot attachments are sometimes called "plaid matchers" because they help ensure that plaid designs or stripes match up perfectly along a seam. ​
Penguins are apparently pretty rare.  Dad and I happened across this one yesterday in the drawers of the cabinet of a Singer 306W Swing Needle.  It's always fun discovering something we have never seen before.  

A review of eBay sales revealed that only a few Penguins have been listed and sold recently and they fetch pretty high prices from folks looking to complete their Singer attachment collection.  


I'd love to keep this one, just for the fun of it.  But we're in the buying and selling business, not the collecting business, so this one will be finding a new home very soon.  

Sure was fun to see and play with, though.  

Happy Sewing!
Barbara
OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.    
12 Comments
Mary Alice Ellison
2/15/2015 11:05:28 am

would like tp purchase the penguin walkimg foot if price not too spendy> whar is your asking price?

Reply
mary alice ellison
2/20/2015 06:00:05 pm

looking to purchase the singer walking foot called "penguin"

Reply
OldSewinGear
2/21/2015 12:27:53 am

Hi Mary Alice,
The penguin found a new home a while ago, so we don't currently have one for sale. I'll add you to my "wish list" in case one turns up.
Barbara

Reply
Mary Alice Ellison
2/23/2015 05:45:43 pm

Thanks so much for your reply, please add my name to your "wish list"

Katherine
4/1/2015 10:41:02 am

i happen to have one for sale. Sorry to bust into this thread but was trying to be helpful

Reply
Karen
1/12/2023 09:43:18 pm

Is your walking foot still for sale?
If so how much??

Tim
8/29/2015 02:36:54 am

Does anyone have a Penguin for sale? I'm looking for one to use on my singer 201 for repairing my boat cover.

Reply
OldSewinGear
9/7/2015 08:52:41 am

Sorry, no Penguin available right now, but I'll add you to my list to notify if one does! They do come up on eBay so you might want to check there. Prices are high, though!
Barbara

Reply
Richard jamed
9/24/2015 05:05:25 am

Hi katherine how much would you like for the penguine walking foot i will buy it off you please x

Reply
JaneEllen HILLIS
5/16/2016 11:15:55 am

I am looking to buy a Penquin Walking Foot for my sister. Please Please notify me if you have one for sale. Thanks
Jane Hillis
jehillis@gmail.com

Reply
Brenda Garrett
9/3/2016 02:30:31 pm

I would also like a Penguin to complete my collection. Please add me to your list. Thank you.

Reply
Sallie link
11/2/2021 06:04:10 am

I an looking for a manual for a Penguin walking foot. A reprint is fine as well. Do you have one or suggestions where to find one?
Thanks, Sallie

Reply



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