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Member since 4/8/02
Posts: 2662
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Posted on: 2/1/06 6:27 PM ET
Fuel Cell Sewing Machine

Now if it had a few more features, I'd be interested. It's 7 cents (US)/hour to operate.

Actually, this will be a huge boon to people in areas of the world where the electricity supply is not taken for granted.
-- Edited on 2/1/06 6:30 PM --
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Neefer aka AgitProp and Village Churl Sewing Blog: http://www.oaktrees.org/blog/

Bonny lass, bonny lass, will you be mine?
You shall neither wash dishes nor serve the wine;
But sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam,
And feast upon strawberries, sugar, and cream.
  
Member since 7/2/04
Posts: 1725
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Posted on: 2/1/06 8:05 PM ET
I've been looking at portable, non-generator power units, so I could do demos at craft shows. this might solve that problem, too. I can't find a way to price it, tho.

Thanks, Neefer.
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Mary Lynn (Who's finally sitting up and taking nourishment)

Design Degree??? I prefer my artistic license

"A woman who works with her hands is a laborer; a woman who works with her hands and her mind is a craftsman; but a woman who works with her hands and her brain and her heart is an artist." (St. Thomas Aquinas, modified)

  
Member since 6/26/05
Posts: 1148
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Posted on: 2/1/06 8:16 PM ET
Actually, all you need is an old '60s vintage heavy metal machine with an external belt drive. Plunk it down in a treadle table, operate it with foot power, get an aerobic workout while sewing! I wonder if it's necessary to drape a towel over the top to keep sweat off?
  
Member since 7/2/04
Posts: 1725
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Posted on: 2/1/06 8:32 PM ET
they don't zigzag, which i need.
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Mary Lynn (Who's finally sitting up and taking nourishment)

Design Degree??? I prefer my artistic license

"A woman who works with her hands is a laborer; a woman who works with her hands and her mind is a craftsman; but a woman who works with her hands and her brain and her heart is an artist." (St. Thomas Aquinas, modified)

  
Member since 1/26/03
Posts: 3678
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Posted on: 2/1/06 8:59 PM ET
In reply to Neefer
DH is obsessed with fuel cells and we are waiting for generators to get within reach. I'd love this SM for power outages, travel, etc.
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Buy the best and you only cry once.

  
Member since 3/27/02
Posts: 1586
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Posted on: 2/1/06 10:56 PM ET
In reply to Stitchology
This company has some interesting gadgets, too. :)Lehman's

edited to add link
-- Edited on 2/1/06 10:57 PM --
  
Member since 2/13/05
Posts: 1340
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Posted on: 2/1/06 11:41 PM ET
Lehman's even has a treadle sewing machine with zigzag! Cool link, gabrielle!

Edited to add: Neefer's link is cool, too. I think they might be overthinking the whole thing. Wouldn't it be easier/less expensive to design a power cell that would let you use your own sewing machine (or other plug in appliance)? The market would be quite a bit larger too. Maybe a "small appliance power source"? Still, a cool concept nonetheless.
-- Edited on 2/1/06 11:43 PM --
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Muria

Where did all this fabric come from? I CAN'T have bought THAT much!
  
Member since 11/5/02
Posts: 2755
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Posted on: 2/2/06 1:14 AM ET
It mentions "rural women" (I guess they assume men don't sew). Does this mean they can start moving the sweatshops to more countries with cheap labor?
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Janome 6500P, Babylock Eclipse SX, Janome Coverpro 1000, Babylock BLCS, Juki 654 (2), Babylock Spirit, Juki TL2010q, Brother PE770
  
Member since 1/26/03
Posts: 3678
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Posted on: 2/2/06 9:01 AM ET
In reply to Mrs.Moos
Let's hope not. A sweatshop needs lots of specialized industrial machines and a large building with lighting for working long hours. The power cells would be for cottage industry type sewists and men would be among them in a lot of places.
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Buy the best and you only cry once.

  
Member since 1/10/05
Posts: 220
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Posted on: 2/2/06 9:46 AM ET
In reply to MaryLynn in Long Beach
There are older machines with the belt drive on the outside that zig zag and go backwards. I had a motor put on mine, so I can use it with electricity or by treadle ( which I have).

And it is easy to treadle, I do not think it would qualify as a work out!
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No matter how little money and how few possessions you own,
having a dog makes you rich.
  
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