Feb

Antique Singer Sewing Machines

In today’s world of high tech gadgetry, there is something peaceful about owning an antique sewing machine of yesteryear. Since 1851, The Singer Manufacturing Company is the most renowned sewing machine manufacturer in the world. For generations, SINGER has delivered an outstanding family of products for garment construction and care, known all over the world for their durability and value. Isaac Merritt Singer formed I.M. Singer & Company with New York lawyer Edward C. Clark, following Singer's first lockstitch sewing machine patent. Numerous factories were established in the different countries like the United States, Great Britain, Russian and Germany.

Vintage sewing machines range from beautiful antiques to practical, usable, high quality pieces. Today, the value of an antique Singer sewing machine in good condition made prior to the 1900s could be appraised in the thousands and is based less on condition and more rarity. In the sewing machine world, models are generally considered antiques if they are manufactured prior to 1900. Machines built since 1900 are thought to be vintage and are valued more by crafters and quilters than by collectors. Numerous antique collectors are always on the lookout for antique Singer sewing machines. Working machines are worth more to collectors along with machines complete with all of their parts.

Serial numbers on SINGER sewing machines manufactured prior to 1900 are numbers only. After 1900, the machine serial numbers have a single or two-letter prefix. Dating a vintage sewing can be quite easy or significantly more difficult. Depending upon the sewing machine and style, using the list from Singer's official website one can check its age from its serial number. With this information, Singer can tell the date the sewing machine was manufactured as well as the model number.

One of the earliest was the Turtleback from 1856, came in hand-crank and treadle versions, and featured decorative gold details on its jet-black body. By 1890, Singer put an Edison electric motor in one of its machines and by 1891, that early Edison prototype was being offered to the public. Other models from this era include the Singer 48 K. The Singer 66 introduced in 1900 is also of this vintage and remained in production until the 1950s, which makes this probably the most ubiquitous Singer model available. The Singer Featherweight first produced in the 1930’s is the most popular Singer sewing machine ever made. Compact and lightweight, this portable electric sewing machine, came in tan, white and black colors...Though the basic design of the machine was the same, the earlier sewing machines had an Egyptian scroll work pattern etched on its chrome plated endplate. The later dated Featherweights had a striped or striated design. This antique is quite sought after.

Singer celebrated its 150th Anniversary in 2001 and launched the world's most advanced home sewing and embroidery machine: the QUANTUM XL-5000. The machine offers state of the art features such as a fully automated re-threading system, wind-in-place bobbin winding system, and the next generation of Professional Sew-Ware, making it the most powerful and user-friendly system on the market.

A little sewing machine grease, along with a drop of machine oil in all of the appropriate places, and these machines can last a lifetime. One that perhaps could be 100 yrs old is ready to serve a new owner.