Here's a photo of my son wearing the first sewing project he made on his "new-to-him" vintage sewing machine this past week! It's a hat (for clowning and unicycling while busking in Boston)!
Introduction (for those new to this website):
Tamara Rubin is a ...
Read More about Is your grandmother’s sewing machine dangerous? 1948 Singer Sewing Machine in Table: 6,238 ppm Lead (in the gold paint).
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Are your sewing tools Leaded? Optima fabric measuring guide with yellow & black markings: 3010 ppm Lead
Introduction (for those new to this website):
Tamara Rubin is a federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children, her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005. Since 2009 Tamara has been using XRF ...
Read More about Are your sewing tools Leaded? Optima fabric measuring guide with yellow & black markings: 3010 ppm Lead
Made in Taiwan Vintage Blue Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Arsenic Free, Mercury Free.
When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this blue vinyl unbranded measuring tape (with black writing, pictured here) had the following readings:
On the vinyl part of the tape:
Barium (Ba): 2,050 +/- 75 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 415 +/- 37 ppm
Copper (Cu): 87 +/- 31 ...
Read More about Made in Taiwan Vintage Blue Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Arsenic Free, Mercury Free.
Not So Old…German Dritz Blue and White Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: 1,372 ppm Lead. [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]
When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this blue and white vinyl Dritz brand measuring tape (pictured here, marked "Germany" and "Dritz", purchased by my friend 15 or 20 years ago, c. 2000) had the following readings:
Lead (Pb): 1,372 +/- 59 ppm
Barium (Ba): ...
Read More about Not So Old…German Dritz Blue and White Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: 1,372 ppm Lead. [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]
Vintage Red Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: 4,054 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe in kids items.]
When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this red vinyl "Made in China" vintage measuring tape (pictured here) had the following readings:
Lead (Pb): 4,054 +/- 121 ppm
Barium (Ba): 823 +/- 82 ppm
Bromine (Br): 31 +/- 9 ppm
Copper (Cu): 74 +/- 41 ppm ...
Read More about Vintage Red Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: 4,054 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe in kids items.]
Singer Sewing Machines Vintage Pink Vinyl Measuring Tape: 3,783 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe in kids items.]
When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this measuring tape (pictured here) had the following readings:
Lead (Pb): 3,783 +/- 98 ppm
Barium (Ba): 435 +/- 63 ppm
Bromine (Br): 35 +/- 7 ppm
Copper (Cu): 54 +/- 34 ppm
Iron (Fe): 126 +/- 68 ppm
Metals not ...
Read More about Singer Sewing Machines Vintage Pink Vinyl Measuring Tape: 3,783 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe in kids items.]
Vintage Fisher Price Little People Sewing Machine: 2,309 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids] + 126 ppm Arsenic
Vintage Fisher Price Little People Sewing Machine Doll House Toy.
Green & Blue Plastic.
Year of Manufacture Unknown (presumed c. 1970s).
To see more vintage Fisher Price items I have tested, click here.
The XRF test results for this exact item (pictured above) are as follows:
Green Plastic ...
Read More about Vintage Fisher Price Little People Sewing Machine: 2,309 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids] + 126 ppm Arsenic
Vintage Vinyl Measuring Tape (for Sewing): 19,900 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]
Originally posted, November 19, 2017
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Measuring Tape - Soft Plastic, Made in China.
When tested with a Niton XRF instrument it was positive for Lead with the following reading: 19,900 parts per million (ppm).
To learn more about XRF ...
Read More about Vintage Vinyl Measuring Tape (for Sewing): 19,900 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]
If I celebrated Christmas, here’s what I would like in my stocking…
For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website:
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were ...
Read More about If I celebrated Christmas, here’s what I would like in my stocking…
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South African Zulu Wire Basket(Fair Trade Federation ): 4,689 ppm Lead [company assured us “Lead-free” wires were used].
Introduction:
Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009, and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She ...
Read More about South African Zulu Wire Basket(Fair Trade Federation ): 4,689 ppm Lead [company assured us “Lead-free” wires were used].
Fisher Price recommends not letting kids play with these vintage toys (using them as decor only). They can have unsafe levels of Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic & Mercury.
For those new to this website:
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely ...
Read More about Fisher Price recommends not letting kids play with these vintage toys (using them as decor only). They can have unsafe levels of Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic & Mercury.
Lead Safe Mama’s Non-Toxic Stocking Stuffer Guide, 2020 Edition
[Originally posted in 2019 — updated for 2020]
Hello! Happy Holidays!
Let me start by saying a few things...
#1) I don’t happen to celebrate Christmas (we’re Jewish - although December 25th is my late mother’s birthday(!), so we do take the day to remember her and spend it with family!)
#2) I ...
Read More about Lead Safe Mama’s Non-Toxic Stocking Stuffer Guide, 2020 Edition
Antique child’s thimble “For A Good Girl”: 839,800 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids) + 139,600 ppm Antimony.
When tested with an XRF instrument this antique (likely c. 1920-1940) child’s thimble (given as a reward to children who have done a good job with a sewing project!) that has the words “For A Good Girl” on the side.... had the following readings:
Lead (Pb): 839,800 +/- 6,000 ppm
Antimony ...
Read More about Antique child’s thimble “For A Good Girl”: 839,800 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids) + 139,600 ppm Antimony.
