Unique ‘Vehicles’ Built From Sewing Machines

Unique ‘Vehicles’ Built From Sewing Machines “When I retired, I started making simple objects, like exotic birds, out of PVC pipe and metal. Eventually, I started working with old sewing machines,” says Barry Golley. “I’ve made three different ‘vehicles,’ all of them with my trademark sign, ‘Body by Golley.’” Golley’s tiny green-and-yellow sewing machine “tractor” might at first glance appear modeled after a Deere, but the decal says otherwise. “Mine is a John Beer,” says Golley with a laugh, “because I intend to make a small cart that will carry a 6-pack.” The body itself is an old Singer sewing machine, and the grill is made from an office paper holder. The seat is a small shovel with a coil spring, which Golley says adds a touch of realism. He made the footrest from an old coffee maker, and the neat, rounded sunroof is from an old, broken air fryer. Drawing on his experience as a collision repair specialist, Golley crafted the frame and axles and styled the radius fenders. “I just started making parts and used any unusual piece that I thought might work,” Golley says. “Friends give me different things and suggest that I use them. The tractor is definitely a work of art, a one-of-a-kind never to be duplicated.” Another of his sewing machine remakes has strong family ties. An old Singer treadle machine, which his grandmother bought at 16 in 1920 and used for many years, became the foundation for what Golley calls his “highway semi-tractor.” It’s built on a stretch frame to accommodate the trailer plate and includes many features of an actual semi-tractor. Under the main Singer body lies the sewing machine’s actual motor. Chromed fenders, front and back, the steps, bumpers and the trailer plate are formed from old coffee maker parts. The saddle tanks are made from tea cans and are secured with stainless metal straps. Twin air horns are mounted on the front fenders. The metal cab has an authentic “tough-looking stuffed driver” seated at the wheel. Straight-stack exhaust pipes extend high above the cab roof. His grandmother’s name is artfully painted on the cab doors. Golley transformed a 3rd Singer body into a high-powered pulling tractor. He built an extended “rail” frame, installed narrow lawn-mower wheels on the front, and mounted oversized wheels from an old walk-behind snowblower on the rear. The rear wheels are covered with carefully shaped radius fenders. Chrome straight pipes extend high along the sides of the bright orange engine. The seat was previously an egg turner. Golley says it’s fun to use his imagination to build different things from sewing machines and other parts he can turn into interesting objects. One of his sewing machines even hangs on the wall of his house as a one-of-a-kind sconce lamp. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Barry Golley, 40356 Stone School Rd., Wingham, Ontario, Canada N0G 2W0.

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