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Peter Hogg and his vintage sewing machines
Timaru man Peter Hogg’s hobby of collecting vintage sewing machines has evolved over time. Now he repairs them, and sells them for charity.
Hogg, 82, originally from southeast England, worked at the Singer sewing machine shop on Timaru’s Stafford St in the 1960s.
He had fallen in love with New Zealand after visiting on the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Loch Killisport as a radio operator in 1962, and about two years later shifted his life to Timaru, and got married the same year.
British Royal Navy frigate HMS Loch Killisport at Bluff in October 1962.
He didn’t spend his entire working life at the Singer shop - he worked for South Canterbury Toyota as a salesman, and he retired 17 years ago. But tinkering with sewing machines has always been a part of his life, he said.
“I have collected vintage sewing machines over the years. It became a hobby for me ... The mechanical part of it is what I like. I like fixing things that have a problem, and getting them to work,” Hogg said.
“Fixing these machines keeps them from going to the landfill. I’ll keep fixing these machines as long as I’m able to.”
That hobby followed him into his volunteer work at the St John shop on Butler St, where he had volunteered since it opened.
Peter Hogg says he loves fixing things, and saving them from the landfill.
JOHN BISSET / THE TIMARU HERALD
“I started at St John six years ago and we used to get a lot of sewing machines donated to us,” Hogg said.
“Some of them would not be working so I restored them, cleaned them, made sure they worked and sold them, at St John and through Facebook Marketplace, to the benefit of St John.”
He had also repaired sewing machines for St Vincent De Paul, the Crow’s Nest and The Salvation Army.
Peter Hogg loves collecting and fixing vintage sewing machines.
JOHN BISSET / THE TIMARU HERALD
“I used to fix and sell sewing machines for a few charities but now, due to health reasons, I volunteer only at St John.
“St John is the main reason I do this. I believe they are a worthy cause and they have helped so many people, including me.”
He estimated that over the years he had repaired and sold about $5000 worth of sewing machines for St John.
Peter Hogg believes there are not many people around New Zealand who fix vintage sewing machines.
JOHN BISSET / THE TIMARU HERALD
“Some of them are really good machines, and others that were too broken, I used for parts.
“I make them a reasonable price so families can afford them.”
Hogg said there had been a lot of interest in sewing machines, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Since Covid, people have taken up sewing as something to do, and as a hobby,” he said.
There had also been a change in the sewing machine industry, due to the evolution of the machines from mechanical to electrical.
St John is a worthy cause to donate to, Hogg says, as it’s helped so many people, including himself.
JOHN BISSET / THE TIMARU HERALD
“With the mechanical ones, if something went wrong, you could open them up and fix them.
“Now the machines are not built to last, and if something happens to an electrical machine, you can’t always do something about it.”
Hogg said there were not many people around New Zealand who fixed vintage sewing machines and he believed he could be the only one in South Canterbury.
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