Posted 4 years ago
Lwms1973
(1 item)
My neighbor threw this out with the trash. Just wondering if anyone would like it? I think that it should not be in the trash.
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Hi, Lwms1973. :-)
I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier. Things move fast here at Collectors Weekly Show & Tell, because of the like/love function.
I agree that it should not be in the trash, but per the Singer serial number records, there were over 96 million Singer sewing machines made between 1850 and 1971 (see: https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-vintage-sewing-machine-help).
There are probably more vintage Singers than there are homes for them. :-(
However, somebody might want it, depending on its model, age, etc.
I can see that this is a vintage cast iron Singer with a treadle base, and that it probably uses a boat-style shuttle, but that's about all I can tell right now.
If you could take a picture of the serial number, e.g.:
https://www.singermachines.co.uk/pub/media/upload/image/model_5.jpg
And add it to your post. I should be able to tell you more about this machine.
You can have a maximum of four pictures per post, so you'd have to delete one existing one. If I were you, I'd delete the third picture, because while it's cool, it doesn't tell CW S&T anything that isn't already known about your machine.
You know, I didn't give you altogether good advice in my previous comment.
Certainly, if you add a picture of the serial number I would at minimum be able to tell you the year the serial number was allotted to the factory by the central office, and if it's an alpha-prefix serial number, the model as well.
However, if you add pictures of the full front, full back, and a three-quarters angle picture taken from the left and front sides, as well as a picture of the serial number, I could tell you a lot more.
Here is a clickable link to that vintage sewing machine help post for more advice:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-vintage-sewing-machine-help
I am trying to post them now.
Lwms1973, Woo hoo! You did it!
OK, per the Singer serial number tables at the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society (ISMACS) website, serial number G8296852 was one of a block of 40,000 consecutive serial numbers (8269376 through 8309375) that was allotted by the central office to a particular factory August 5th, 1920, and all were destined to be stamped into the beds of model 127 machines:
*snip*
G- 8269376 8309375 127 40000 August 5 1920
*snip*
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-g-series-serial-numbers.html
That allotment date isn't necessarily the manufacture date of any one of the 40,000 machines associated with that block of numbers. The line of information associated with that allotment date is more in the nature of marching orders from the central office to the factory.
A vintage sewing machine enthusiast and expert came up with a tool to estimate the manufacture date of a given machine, but you'd need an account at that forum to download a copy:
https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/post/excel-2010-sewing-machine-production-date-calculator-8214151
You can approximate the results of that tool using free tools, the next pertinent line from the G serial number table, and some elbow grease:
https://www.timeanddate.com/date/dateadd.html
*snip*
G- 8376051 8396050 127 20000 September 17 1920
*snip*
However, it's all a bit iffy. You're making certain assumptions (and you know what they say about "assume"), like the number of days per week the factory workers worked, no strikes, no factory equipment breakdowns, no world wars, etc.
Sewing machine expert Alex Askaroff knows of a verifiable case where a machine with a serial number allotted in 1939 didn't get sold to a customer until 1946!:
https://sewalot.com/dating_singer_sewing_machine_by_serial_number.htm
So, you might content yourself with the more modest assumption that your machine was made before the allotment date of that next batch of model 127 machines.
Anyway, it's good to see pictures that confirm the model number (the serial number tables are not infallible).
That your machine is a member of the VS1, VS2, VS3, 27, 28, 127 and 128 family of domestic model Singer sewing machines is readily apparent to vintage Singers because of the trapezoidal access panel, the circular needle/throat plate, and the split slide plates. The high-mounted bobbin winder narrows things down further to models 127 and 128:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Singer.Model27.IdentificationGuide.jpg
However, if you didn't know any of that, there is a tool that can help identify about eighteen different domestic models of vintage Singers, plus certain submodels thereof:
https://www.sandman-collectibles.com/id-singer-machines.htm
Sandman concurs:
https://www.sandman-collectibles.com/id-singer-machines.htm#14
About the VS1, VS2, VS3, 27, 28, 127 and 128 family of Singers:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/28
About models 127 and 128 specifically:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/128
A manual for models 127 and 128:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/127-128.pdf
Your decal set is known as the Sphinx:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal12
And your cabinet is Cabinet Table No. 2, Plain with Five Drawers:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/cabinet_table_no_2-3.html
I can't see your face plate or back access panel, but here is a gallery for you to browse:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_faceplates
The factory in question is Elizabethport:
*snip*
ELIZABETHPORT
G-6,500,000 to G-8,500,000 1919 1920
*snip*
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer_dating_by_serial_number.html
About the Elizabethport factory:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/elizabethport
https://www.ericwilliamsblog.com/left-behind-in-elizabeth-the-singer-manufacturing-company-part-1/
https://www.ericwilliamsblog.com/left-behind-in-elizabeth-the-singer-manufacturing-company-part-2/
I suspect that you don't necessarily want to keep this machine yourself, but couldn't bear the idea that it was being thrown into the trash (I don't blame you).
Here's some advice on value and other considerations from one of the experts at ISMACS:
http://ismacs.net/sewing_machine_articles/how_much_is_my_sewing_machine_worth.html
I could be forgetting something, but you already have my collection of vintage sewing machine links to browse. However, it's a lot to sift through, so you can just ask questions in a comment here.
I'm calling it a day, so hopefully you can wait about ten-twelve hours for any more information. };-)
D'oh! I read back what I wrote yesterday, and realized that I had a fairly significant editing problem in it.
This:
"That your machine is a member of the VS1, VS2, VS3, 27, 28, 127 and 128 family of domestic model Singer sewing machines is readily apparent to vintage Singers because"
Should read:
"That your machine is a member of the VS1, VS2, VS3, 27, 28, 127 and 128 family of domestic model Singer sewing machines is readily apparent to vintage Singer sewing machine enthusiasts because"
This error is reminiscent of one in a comment I made on another vintage Singer sewing machine post in which I inadvertently referred to British sewing machine expert Alex Askaroff as a Singer model 201.
I can only hope that if it came to Askaroff's attention that he wasn't annoyed, but instead was amused, perhaps even flattered, because his opinion of the Singer model 201 is quite high.
Oh well, it's hardly recognizable as a comment from me if there isn't at least one editing error in it.
Thank you for all your hard work but I am assuming that it was fun for you like a puzzle. I sold it this morning for $100 because I was going to give it but he paid me
Lwms1973, You're welcome. :-)
You are correct in assuming that researching and writing about vintage sewing machines is a bit like puzzles for me.
However, I also appreciate it when people bring them to CW S&T for identification and other help are cooperative about providing more pictures, etc., not to mention them being appreciative of any help I give them.
I see no problem at all about you giving the machine away, and getting a $100 gratuity for it. That sounds like a win/win situation to me.
Thank you for rescuing a vintage Singer, not to mention bringing it here for me to enjoy. Good luck in all your future endeavors. :-)