This site is provided as an information resource for people wanting to know more about domestic Singer sewing machines and their accessories. In particular it is aimed at the ever increasing number of more discerning machinists who are fed up with their modern ‘plastic’ machines and want to return to an era when they were in control, and not an electronic chip hidden inside the machine itself. To a time when a beautiful black and gold icon provided a fully adjustable stitch, tension which was easy to adjust and calibrate, and when any old thread could be used top or bottom, whether it matched or not, was cotton or polyester, or even one of each.
Pre 1970 Singer sewing machines were engineered to last and they certainly have. OK you have to oil them occasionally, but at least you can get at the bobbin mechanism to remove the fluff, unlike modern machines which are assembled in such a way as to make it impossible to ever get them apart again. Heaven forbid should you ever break the needle and loose a bit of it inside a modern machine, or have the bobbin winding mechanism seize up. All in all, modern sewing machines have become far too complicated for their own good. Unless one is into elaborate embroidery, the need for a basic machine with a perfect lockstitch is all most seamstresses require, not the facility to produce lines of rather poor ‘swan’ motifs or the like. With modern all singing, all dancing machines, the manufacturers aim to talk us into agreeing to their eye-wateringly high price tags. I know you’re saying, ‘you get what you pay for’ but the early sewing machines often cost many months and in some cases even years’ wages, but they are still working. Will the modern ones be in 50 or 100 years time? I very much doubt it.
Antique Singer Sewing Machines by Serial Number 1871 -1950 The first Singer sewing machine was manufactured in 1851, but some of the logbooks from that time period were lost. Because of this, there are no available serial numbers for the years from 1851 to 1870. If there are no letters in the serial number on a machine, you can be sure that it was. I have a vintage singer sewing machine. The serial number is legible except for the first letter, if it is even a letter. It looks like it could be a “C” but I can’t make it out. It is electric and in a cabinet. The rest of the serial number is 7802645. Home Series Serial Numbers Singer Sewing Machine Company Series Serial NumbersSinger Sewing Machine Serial Number Database. Singer Sewing Machine Serial Number Database When was my sewing machine made? What model do I have? Singer has recently pulled some of their dating and identification information from their website.
Singer sewing machines have a long and rich history, datingas far back as 1851. These beautiful machines have evolved over the years butare still standing the test of time. Some of the older models are highly soughtafter by collectors and sewing enthusiasts. If you’ve nabbed one of thesebeautiful bargains at a local market, it’s worth identifying the age and modelof your machine. You might have picked up a rare antique.
Whether you want to pick up one of your own older modelsbecause you love the history, aesthetic or nostalgia of the piece, they’reeasily still found on the market if you know what you’re looking for. So, howold is my Singer sewing machine? To identify when a model was made, you need tofirst find the Singer sewing machine serial number. It’s near the on/off switchon newer machines, and on the front panel or on a small plate on oldermachines.
Once you’ve found the number, match it to the date in our chart to discover the age of your machine.
Why do Singer Sewing Machines have Serial Numbers?
Singers have always been marked with serial numbers ever since production began. Each number is corresponding to a model from a certain date, and even location. All Singer sewing machines up until 1900 have no letter prefix, and came from all around the world. The Singer company eventually managed their production from all their factories to match up with the serial number flow.
How to choose a valuable model
The first thing to look for if you’re after a collector’sSinger machine, is the age of the item. Over 100 years old is considered anantique, and younger than that is ‘vintage’. By matching the serial number tothe corresponding date, you can determine the exact age of the machine.
Quality also plays an important part in the value of themodel. As expected, high quality, functioning machines are more sought afterthan damaged ones and tend to be a better option. Machines that don’t functionat all may not be worth collecting. However, if you find a damaged machine thatcan be repaired, it may still be a worthwhile purchase.
From a collector’s viewpoint, there are a select amountwhich are valuable enough to be classed as real collectors’ items. Thisincludes any of the machines that come with their own table, blacksides whichhave a black instead of polished finish, and the vintage 221 and 222Featherweight models. These rare models can fetch around £500 or even more, ifthey’re in perfect working order.
The History of Singer Sewing Machines
The Singer brand is synonymous with being the best in the business. After opening a local factory in Glasgow, in 1867, the machines were flying off the shelves. Popularity only grew and factories opened worldwide. By World War 2, the Singers were actually producing guns and bullets as a priority to sewing machines. They only continued making those in their spare time. Isaac Singer was the founder of the company, and the first to create treadle powered, belt powdered and eventually electricity powered sewing machines. Isaac Singer boasts a unique story, and was a pioneer of the sewing industry. Funnily enough, with an ‘enthusiastic’ approach to women, Isaac even hired female demonstrators to disprove that women were too incompetent to work a machine. This enthusiastic approach to women continued into his private life, where he had a total of 24 children!
Designs Throughout The Years
Singer treadle sewing machines are one of the most popularSinger antiques. They are still found in auctions and antique dealers today.These older machines were made of heavy duty components and replaceable parts.So they are still used, and are incredibly long-lasting. A treadle sewingmachine is powered by a foot pedal, and runs mechanically by the user pushingback and forth on the pedal. A reliable, eco-friendly machine, many sewersstill prefer to use this type of model today.
The design has naturally changed over the years withadvances in technology. Electric motors and bolt-on lights were introduced tothe machines in 1921. The treadle tables gradually faded away to chunky boxbottoms in the 1930s. Use of new materials throughout the 20th centurymade the design sleeker and lighter, and allowed for new functions to beintroduced.
Today’s Singers
Singer Sewing Machines Model Number
Today’s machine can cost from as little as £85 up to £1300,depending on the functions and type of machine. But why is Singer so popular?It’s not only due to the rich history, but the fact that they cater to allsewing needs. Singer has a reputation for creating innovative machines. Theywere the first to ever introduce electric, zigzag and electronic machines whichwere targeted to the home sewing market. Offering affordable machines with amultitude of features which are readily available, made them likely the mostpopular brand out there.
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, want an electronic or a mechanical machine, work with embroidery or patchwork, there’s something for everyone. Every model has a unique range of useful functions such as automatic needle threaders and even LCD screens, which is part of what makes the brand the go-to for sewers.
How old is your new (old) Singer sewing machine? Don’t forget to match your serial number to our chart and discover its age!
Singer Sewing Serial Number Dating
Explore over hundred materials with your very own fabric swatch pack, perfect to work with your Singer. Understand the texture, strength and finish of each of the fabrics by taking a hands on approach.