Calling Vintage Sewing Machine fans!

[SoupDragon]

I know you're out there! I think of you every time I visit my favourite house clearance shop and keep meaning to take pictures... so this time I did.

Here we have offering no. 1. Which the serial number seems to imply is rather old. It has a lovely domed wooden case. Just beautiful but I can't really justify buying it!

[SoupDragon]

And offering no. 2 - it's been there for weeks and I fear for its future. It. Has a full cabinet which houses the foot treadle and has been converted to run on electricity. Not as elderly as offering no. 1 though.

[SoupDragon]

I did lovingly turn the handle on the first one and it is so smooth. Amazing.

[FantasticBeasts]

The first one appears to be from 1873 !

Lovely things, I have got four including a 201 like the second one. I buy them because I think they won't be available forever , and I would like to be able to pass them on to DD (who knows whether she will actually want them).

[SoupDragon]

I know -1873! it's incredible isn't it? It must have been restored or lovingly looked after as it was so smooth running. It didn't have a price on it but I'm very tempted to rescue it. And the one with the treadle because I love the treadle.

But I must not.

[SoupDragon]

What things it must have sewn....

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Soup that first one I'd have in a heartbeat! (If I wasn't broke). I've seen those decals in photos online and always thought if I saw one in the flesh - unless they were really trashed - I'd have to have it!

My oldest machine is 1885 and looks more primitive than that, somehow. Ah looked it up - yes, that is 1893 - I thought it didn't look like a Singer 12! (You may have missed that first "1" in the serial number?) Even with the later date, I'd have that if I saw it (and had the money to hand). Those ones with flower decals hardly ever seem to turn up near me.

[Microwaste]

Ah, my nan had one exactly like that first one, I don't know what happened to it. They're so beautiful, I don't know how you are resisting!

[Manumission]

It's dangerous for me to look at these.

DD's machine is a big cabinet-housed one very similar to #2, but unconverted and I have a turn of the century Singer, that I love but the beautiful old ones like #1 make me dribble. I could easily end up with a houseful.

The decoration on that one is gorgeous.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

OK, just ran it through my favourite website for IDing old machines:

www.sandman-collectibles.com/id-singer-machines.htm

It is either a 27K or a 28K. If it's full size, it's a 27 if - as I suspect - it's a slightly smaller, 3/4 length machine, it's a 28K. I had this very machine (but with different decals) and gave it to my son's friend to make cos play stuff. I first sewed a big project on it to check it was OK. It was sweet as a nut - and made the most satisfying sound when it sewed, of any of my machines.

If that was a good price, I'd buy it - despite the worn decals on the table. You might be able to use that to beat them down on price! As you can see, it's a bullet shuttle so the bobbins take a bit less cotton than on the round bobbin machines. But not enough to write home about.

[Manumission]

Oh god I'm just jabbering incoherently now

[JoffreyBaratheon]

The second machine looks close to wartime? It doesn't float my boat, gotta say. If I was looking for an electric Singer of a similar age (judging by the striated face-plate - not dated it), I'd go for a 221K, every time (looks like a toy! But it sews like a demon - photo below is mine and the husband's - for a bit more vintage sewing machine pR0n).

[SoupDragon]

The second one is 1953 I think. It's the treadle I loved on it rather than the machine.

The first one - yes. I suspect 1873 was a typo and I just went with it. I'd looked it up when I was there and remembered it was late 1800s so just went with what Fantastic Beasts said :)

I must say, I strongly suspect I might be going back to rescue it once DS1 has disappeared (I don't want to explain why I'm going there again!)

What is a decent price for it? I don't think they have a clue. The 1953 one was listed as a "sewing cabinet" and reduced from £50 to £30. The floral one didn't have a tag on it.

It was staffed by burly men this morning who I suspect know nothing!

[SoupDragon]

As you can see, it's a bullet shuttle

PMSL. I know nothing, I see nothing! I just knew it was pretty and that there would be people here who would be interested :)

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Ah, sorry - the clue is the long, thin bobbin cover plates.

Staffed by men who know nothing? Say the bad wearing of the decals on the bed makes it worthless for collectors, and that you may have trouble finding spare bobbins (you won't).

[Manumission]

Buy from Burly Men who know nothing. Good tactics!

[SoupDragon]

What price would you say is a bargain?

The worry is, of course, that someone more knowledgable has arrived since I was there this morning.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

I'd pay £35 or under for it, but I get all mine at car boots for around a tenner. Also if anything has seized on it - you can bargain them down (a bit of Plus Gas usually fixes that) but if something is seized you can convince them it will take a lot of work to fix, so I'd go for a big reduction if I could find something seized.

I'd also tell them the ones with bullet shuttles are less popular because the bobbins are smaller so whatever price they have on it, tut and shake your head. Blind them with science.

[SoupDragon]

I always take photos of them when I see them but never got round to posting them.

This was there a few weeks ago and has now gone. The table was beautiful.

[SoupDragon]

I strongly suspect there would be no blinding them with science beyond "would you take a tenner?"

I'm not sure I can bring myself to go back today - it's cold and I might be stealing it from someone who really really wants it.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

That was a lovely table. Were the machine decals a Sphinx?

Ah it might well be only a tenner,already then - that little 28K.

[SoupDragon]

Yes, a sphinx

[SoupDragon]

It's really sad that I take photos of all these! :o

[FantasticBeasts]

Did I miss a digit , I was on my phone, watching swimming lessons, joy.

I am in the market for a treadle table but I am waiting (have been looking for a couple of years) for a nice example of a Drawing Room Cabinet. I missed one last year and sort of lost my keenness for a while but I will find one, one day.

[SoupDragon]

Having googled them, I've not seen one of those in "my" shop!

[FantasticBeasts]

I want one with the brass drawer/cupboard handles, like this (if it works)

oldsingersewingmachineblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/2011-10-28_014.jpg

I turned one down as it was too shabby and then saw one with a 'sold' sticker on it on a day out last winter, the woman was literally just handing over the cash .