Posted 4 years ago
kinnikakes
(3 items)
Hi,
I am looking for answers about this machine and what steps I should take with it next? I have boxes of the wooden "cases" with tools that go with this, as well as a separate wooden stand with old Singer sewing manuals, supplies, etc.
I have another Singer machine in a black case that is in very good condition too.
Thanks
Check the serial number which should be on the right front. Looks like late 1890s to me.
Hi, kinnikakes. :-)
I concur with fortapache; check the serial number. In fact, if you could take a picture of it, and add it to your post, that would be great. Here's what you'd be looking for (on the machine bed in front of the upright arm/pillar):
https://www.singermachines.co.uk/pub/media/upload/image/model_5.jpg
Just from the pictures you've provided already, I can tell that your machine is a member of the VS1, VS2, VS3, 27, 28, 127 and 128 family of machines:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Singer.Model27.IdentificationGuide.jpg
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/28
However, we can determine the allotment date of the serial number, which will get us about as close to a date of manufacture as possible.
You have wooden accessory boxes, too, huh?
Do any of them look like this?:
http://needlebar.org/main/puzzles/index.html
Oh, and both your decal set and treadle are rather interesting.
The decal set is called Persian (it's not one I see much):
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal28
And your treadle is unusual in that it doesn't have the Singer name in the middle of the iron frame, but rather a series of patents. They're a bit difficult to read. They look like:
FEB 17, 1890 OCT 12, 1904 MAR 17, 188?
Please correct; I'd appreciate it.
Your cabinet looks a lot like this one, except with more drawers:
https://treadlequeen.wordpress.com/museum-pages/singer-machines/
Thank you for your comments. I added in 2 more photos. The first should have the serial number and the second is a photo of just a few of the attachments. I only included the “puzzle boxes” and Singer attachments box. I forgot to look at that 3rd year on the metal base when I went back to our storage unit. Do these help?
Thanks
Hi again, kinnikakes. :-)
Yup, that's the magical number we're looking for, thank you.
Per the Singer serial number tables at the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society (ISMACS) website, serial number 11876009 was one of a block of 574,499 consecutive serial numbers (11,339,000 through 11,913,499) allotted by the central office to a factory in 1893:
11,339,000 11,913,499 1893
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-no-prefix-serial-numbers.html
The lines of information for serial numbers with no prefixes don't give any information about model numbers, but considering the low-mounted bobbin winder, it's probably either a model 27 or 28 (consult the bed measurements in the table of Main Model Characteristics in the link I gave you earlier).
It sounds like you have manuals, but here is a link for a soft copy of a model 27 manual (the model 28 is basically a three-quarters size version of the model 27):
http://www.sewmuse.co.uk/Singer%20VS%202%20Model%2027%20Manual.pdf
It's uncertain to which factory that block of numbers was allotted, so I'll give you links for the two biggest, Elizabethport, and Kilbowie:
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/
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/kilbowie
A Google Satellite view of the area that once hosted the Kilbowie Singer plant (there is still a railway station called "Singer" on the northeast corner):
Singer
Kilbowie Rd, Clydebank G81 2JN, United Kingdom
https://goo.gl/maps/ckxa4RrU85UBHXHs9
August 1934 aerial photographs of Singer's Kilbowie (Clydebank, Scotland) factory:
https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1257700
https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1257701
https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1257702
https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1257703
https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1257704
So you have two of the puzzle boxes. :-) Those are very cool. Here's the patent:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US397980
Here is a gallery of Singer sewing machine attachments:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_accessories
In case I'm forgetting something, here's a link to a collection of vintage sewing machine links:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-vintage-sewing-machine-help
But it's a lot to sift through, so if you have more questions, just ask them here in a comment.
I found a similar Singer treadle. No pictures of the back side which shows the embossed patents, but the text lists them:
*snip*
Has patent dates of Feb 17 1880, Oct 14 1884 and Mar 17 1885 stamped on it.
*snip*
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ant-vtg-singer-treadle-sewing-machine-1900017480
Here's the Feb 17 1880 patent:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US224710
The Oct 14 1884 patent:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US306469
The March 17, 1885 patent is pesky. I've found a couple of sewing machine patents with that date, but they don't seem related to treadles.
It's not for certain that this is indeed the March 17, 1885 patent embossed on your treadle, but it IS a treadle patent issued on that date.
The inventor makes this observation in the text of the patent:
*snip*
It will be understood that I do not confine my invention to tricycles, as it is applicable to various kinds of foot-power machinery.
*snip*
https://patents.google.com/patent/US314013