Posted 4 years ago
Illustrate…
(1 item)
I inherited this via my mum and nan years ago. I've always been curious of it's age. It's in a beautiful wooden desk but I think it's been revarnished
The serial no is F2441366
I appreciate any advice.
I don't use Facebook.
Thank you for your reply
Hi, Illustratedmumslf. :-)
I'm so sorry that I missed seeing your post until now. Hopefully, you'll see my tardy response. FYI, I don't use Facebook myself.
How wonderful that you have a sewing machine handed down to you by your mother and grandmother. <3
Anyway, serial number F2441366 was one of a block of 200,000 consecutive serial numbers (2297665 through 2497664) that was allotted to the Kilbowie factory in Clydebank, Scotland January through June 1912, and all were destined to be stamped into the beds of model 28K machines (the "K" suffix on the model number means Kilbowie):
F- 2297665 2497664 28K 200000 January/June 1912 Clydebank, Scotland
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-f-series-serial-numbers.html
That it's a member of the VS1, VS2, VS3, 27, 28, 127 and 128 family of machines checks out visually. The trapezoidal access panel, the circular needle/throat plate, and the split slide plates are all characteristic of that family of machines. The high-mounted bobbin winder is a bit unusual, being more typical for the 127 and 128:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Singer.Model27.IdentificationGuide.jpg
Your decal set is called Rococo:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/decals/domestics/domesticpics/dscf0084decalrococ.jpg
Your access panel looks like Simanco 8427
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_faceplates
I can't tell much about your cabinet from your photos, other than that it's a drop head, but here is a gallery of cabinets for you to browse:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer_sewing_machine_cabinets.html
About the model 28 and its family:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/28
A couple of sources for a manual:
https://www.singermachines.co.uk/sewingmachineparts/instruction-books/singer-28k-manual.html
https://issuu.com/davidmannock/docs/singer-28-manual
About the factory (the world's largest Singer factory in its day):
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/kilbowie
A documentary made circa 1934 at the Kilbowie factory (see the machine in action that stamped the serial numbers into the machine beds starting at 14:17):
https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/1592
I may have forgotten something, so here is a post with a collection of vintage sewing machine links:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-vintage-sewing-machine-help
But if you don't want to plow through all of that, and have any unanswered questions, just put them here in a comment. I promise to be a bit more vigilant about monitoring your post for followup.
Thank you Keramikos for such a wonderful answer. I have read through the information and it's quite interesting. I can not find a cabinet that matches mine. I will post a photograph. I love that it's nearly 110 years old, what stories it could tell ????
Thank you again
Illustratedmumslf, You're very welcome. :-)
I'm so glad that you were monitoring your post or your email, and saw that somebody finally gave you some information about your vintage family sewing machine.
We recently had a frustrating case where somebody asked for information about their vintage Singer, became discouraged by the lack thereof, and announced that they would try contacting Singer.
Had I been able to get to their post before they gave up, they would have not only learned the information they were seeking, they would have learned that Singer, like most of the other surviving sewing machine companies, don't do that kind of historical service any more. Indeed, I learned from one poster that Singer had referred them to this forum.
Anyway, thank you in advance for adding pictures of your cabinet. I'll do my best to identify it. Besides, we like to see all of a Show & Tell item, especially if it's beautiful.
Incidentally, I just ran across what to me is a juicy tidbit:
*snip*
The Clydebank Factory was a key player in the sewing machine industry on a global scale. At its production peak in 1913 the factory had grown to occupy a site of over 100 acres, more than double the initial area of land purchased in 1881, manufactured over 80% of the company's product and, in 1913, shipped 1,301,851 sewing machines from its factory doors around the world with help from its 14,000 employees.
*snip*
https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/leisure-parks-events/museums-and-galleries/collections/singer/
That's about 3,567 machines a day! I'd been wondering about that of late.
Keramikos, thank you.
I have posted somemore pictures. Ii still houses its bobbin and cotten under the access panel. I think it's beautiful and it makes a beautiful display table in my home x
Illustratedmumslf, Thanks for adding that full length picture of the sewing machine, and cabinet, but it's actually the back side, so I'm still guessing.
Are you sure it's not No. 72 Cabinet?:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/72_cab.html
Or the No. 71 Cabinet?:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/71_cab.html
Ah, the beautiful face plate is 28K - Vine + 2 Corner Dots.
Retired blogger Sid comes through with some attachment identifications:
https://oldsingersewingmachineblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/2011-07-28_104.jpg
*snip*
From top to bottom and left to right, that’s the adjustable hemming foot, the binder, narrow hemmer, ruffler, tuck marker, underbraider, seam guide and quilting guide.
*snip*
https://oldsingersewingmachineblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/2011-07-28_109.jpg
*snip*
Above we see basically the same set but with a different (later) type of underbraider and the addition of the two Singer screwdrivers plus three bobbins. Any avid attachment-collectors seeing this picture will be mortified to note that two of those bobbins are plastic ones and not the kosher item, but they were handy just now and I don’t care. Besides, we have the little illustrated layout guide for that tin and we have the original packing slip, so there …
*snip*
https://oldsingersewingmachineblog.com/2011/07/28/attachments-a-crash-course/
Thanks, again Keramikos for the information. The cabinet doesn't have any drawers and it is identical on the front and back..
Inside the lid is a arched shape section that holds the spare bobbins and feet. It also still has Candle wax we're someone would sew under candle light. I love learning it's history but I have never found a match and I just feel its such a beautiful piece although others disagree. My ex husband wanted to throw it out, probably why he's my ex.... no class ????????. Thanks for the snippets, there was some interesting reading.
I love this, site and can't believe I haven't stumbled on it before x
Illustratedmumslf, The front of the cabinet looks the same as the back? That IS unusual for there to be no center drawer, or even a mock center drawer.
One thing I noticed in the added picture is that your sewing machine head has a hand-crank. One would of course need that, because the machine is neither motorized, nor attached to a treadle.
It strikes me as an unusual setup. The model 28 is a three-quarters size model 27, so it was really designed to be a portable.
It's not that model 28 machines never came installed in cabinets, but when they did, it was in treadle cabinets:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer_Model_27_and_127#Variations
Is it possible that your grandmother's machine was retroactively installed in a cabinet? Either that, or perhaps it was a special order.
So your ex wanted to get rid of a family heirloom. It sounds like he wasn't meant to become a family heirloom himself. };-)
I'm glad that you like the site. If you watch it long enough, a fascinating array of items get posted here. It's quite an education.
I'm going to make a separate comment about your attachments.
With regard to that candle wax reference: is it literally a candle, or is it some kind of stick or container of wax? Wax is sold in sewing stores to this day. e.g.:
https://www.joann.com/realeather-craft-1oz-beeswax/16806044.html
https://www.joann.com/dritz-quilting-beeswax-w-holder/4792172.html
Anyway, what I think the attachments in your closeup picture are:
Top left: quilter
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0992/8814/files/Quilter_Instructions.pdf?4029549216601084073
Top right: a ruffler
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0992/8814/files/Ruffler_Instructions.pdf?4029549216601084073
Bottom left: this is not an attachment per se; this is a shuttle bobbin case (this is dangerous territory, because there are slight but critical differences in the shuttles for the different models in the VS1, VS2, VS3, 27, 28, 127 and 128 family):
https://www.amazon.com/Sewing-Machine-Shuttle-Bobbin-Singer/dp/B07CKJFNVV
Bottom center: Seam or cloth guide
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0992/8814/files/Seam_Guide__Thumb_Screw_Instructions.pdf?4029549216601084073
Bottom right: I haven't found this one yet.
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_accessories
Finally, your cabinet needs some tender loving care. Here is some advice:
http://ismacs.net/sewing_machine_articles/a_tricky_woodwork_restoration.html