h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My mother had one just like it. It got stored in my parents' bedroom after she no longer wanted to use it. I have no idea where it is now.

My mother and sister made clothing as late as the 1960s.

It's called Pearl
Because Pearls a singer

and also "we" had one in our house many many moons ago (was never used) so I think something "passed on ?"

Go back a hundred years, and you find that the women in a typical family were expected to be able to make shirts for their husbands. They practice by making shirts for their brothers.

Both of my grandmothers knew how to make shirts, but they pretended not to. They had more ambitious plans for their lives.

We still have a newer version of such a sewing machine desk (mostly as a desk). There is an electric motor bolted to it (Luxury galore). I use that one for the heavy duty stuff (jeans and things with a lot of layers). My wife doesn't let me use the newfangled electronically controlled thing for that (afraid it will break down).

Past projects:
Create two banana bags for my recumbent bike out of an old backpack.
Several belt pouches to have my phone on my belt, using old jeans. (new phone, new size, new pouch)
Rowing team suits and tights
Transform two old pairs of jeans into a denim jacket

I'm glad some people are still using home sewing machines.