Antique sewing machine, Ebay, dealer or freecycle?

[LadylissielouofShropshire]

I have an old singer sewing machine, serial number places it at 1948, and its a simanco 33653 hand operated thing of beauty! still works with bobbins eyc in original cardboard box. it was originally in a case, but thats gone.

thing is, I dont know whether to stick it on ebay, collection only. ring up a dealer and see if they want it. or stick it on freecycle.

wwyd?

Have you looked on Ebay to see what they go for?
I would ring around some dealers before you do anything.

over $200

wow, might be worth a shot then!

Other thing is that some charities collect them to ship abroad so that communities can set up their own businesses. If it doesn't sell on ebay that is a worthwhile option.

I know a charity that ships them out to Malawi - they are given to people out there.

I'd be round in a shot if you weren't in Shropshire! Have wanted one of those for ever

its almost exactly like this its soooo gorgeous!

Ooh! I have one like that. In the original case as well! Interesting....

they are gorgeous, but I cant take it with me

I'm in Shropshire

But have no money and DH would kill me :(

Good lord I had no idea they were worth that much! I have a similar one (diff model and no electric pack) which I use quite regularly. Wouldn't part with it for anything as it was my grandma's but I think I might treat it with a bit more care from now on.

If I was you, I'd get a proper valuation from a dealer (to take into account the condition and whether the lack of carry case is a big problem) then decide whether to risk ebay, use the dealer, or perhaps go for a private sale via the newspaper in the hope of an avid collector spotting it.

I hate to disappoint you but actually they are not that valuable... you would be lucky to get £50 for it as there were an awful lot of them made. And when they made them, they made them really well which is why so many of them still work. I have one from the 30s which I still use when I am just doing straight stitch and miss the treadle machine which I learnt to sew on.

Interestingly is is down to Singer that we have credit as when he first made his machines they were so expensive that he started a credit scheme to allow the public buy them.

Maybe it depends where you are and perhaps there are just lots of old sewing machines round these parts, but you can pick up a singer 99k for about £15 any day you like here. Ebay or local advertiser paper.

(Maybe it's a very different machine).

Agree they are not that valuable, I've been watching a few on e-bay & they seem to go for around £40 - 50, saw one go for a bit more but that was advertised as full working order with all original accessories & books, around markets & the like they seem to go for around £15, but never seen one thats actually working

I'd snap your hand off for it though, but you are too far :(- I really really want one for DD to learn on

Phew, don't have to up the house insurance then!

Just wanted to thank you as your post prompted me to check out the actual date of my machine which I can now date to 1920 precisely and to write an article on my blog about it.