Posted 2 years ago
ImaComplet…
(1 item)
Hello I have had this singer machine for years and I am unable to find out any concrete information regarding it. I am very curious to find out when it was made and honestly any other information would be helpful.
Hi, ImaCompleteCyclePath. :-)
I don't know how you conducted your search, but if you tried to use the Singer serial number in the little bronze-colored cartouche on the bed of the machine (G2111155) as a search criterion, that probably wouldn't have worked if the machine has been sitting in storage since before the dawn of the modern Internet era.
Of all vintage sewing machines, Singers are the best documented; however, the serial numbers are represented in the serial number tables as blocks, not individual numbers.
Per the Singer serial number tables at the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society (ISMACS), serial number "G2111155" was one of a block of 10,000 consecutive serial numbers ([G]2105501 through [G]2115500) allotted by Singer's central office to one of its factories on June 3 1912 and all were destined to be stamped into the beds of model 28 machines:
*snip*
G- 2105501 2115500 28 10000 June 3 1912
G- 2135551 2165550 28 30000 June 27 1912
*snip*
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-g-series-serial-numbers.html
FYI, the reason I excerpted a second line was to give you an idea of when your machine might have rolled off of the assembly line, i.e., some time between June 3 1912 and June 27, 1912 (the latter date is when the next block of numbers destined for model 28 machines was allotted).
About the model 28:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/28
Your decal set:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal08
Your faceplate and back access panel:
*snip*
28K - Vine + 2 Corner Dots
28K - Flat (Simanco 8427)
*snip*
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_faceplates
Your portable case is probably one of these:
*snip*
197 PORTABLE CASE
Base (83317) and cover (83320) with winged ends and lock
Superceded by set #198
For machines 28
Available in Oak (AXNEJ), Walnut (AXNIK), Nyssa (AXNOL) case #197
198 PORTABLE CASE
Base (83512) and cover (83525)
For machines 28, 128
Available in Oak (ATSUN), Walnut (ATTAK), Nyssa (ATTYP) case #198
199 PORTABLE CASE
Base and cover for electric drive
For machines 28, 128
Available in Oak (AVPYN), Walnut (AVRAJ), Nyssa (AVREK) case #199
200 PORTABLE CASE
Base and cover for electric knee controller
For machines 28, 128
Available in Oak (AVSIM), Walnut (AVSON), Nyssa (AVSYP)
*snip*
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/tables
Here are a couple of operator manuals for the model 28:
https://archive.org/details/singer-28-user-manual-en
http://needlebar.org/manuals/Singer28.pdf
FYI, the reason I'm giving you two slightly different manuals is because it appears that somebody modified your sewing machine and it looks like it was a "do-it-yourself" job.
The motor doesn't look like a Simanco (Singer) and neither does the foot pedal, but by far the most interesting modification is the light.
Typical Singer lights look like these:
https://oldsingershop.com/products/singer-sewing-machine-bakelite-work-lamp-light-singerlight-simanco-s-3?variant=32351916130340
https://oldsingershop.com/products/singer-15-66-128-sewing-machine-bakelite-work-lamp-light-singerlight-simanco-cat-s4?_pos=6&_sid=3e2a8f5c5&_ss=r&variant=39369191325732
I don't think I've ever seen one quite like yours and certainly not mounted that way (somebody drilled a hole right through the rear access panel).
Anyway, about the factory:
*snip*
ELIZABETHPORT
G-1,000,000 to G-2,500,000 1910 1912
G-2,500,000 to G-4,400,000 1913 1915
G-4,400,000 to G-6,500,000 1916 1918
G-6,500,000 to G-8,500,000 1919 1920
G-8,500,000 to G-9,999,999 1921 1923
G-1 to G-999,999 1924 1924
*snip*
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer_dating_by_serial_number.html
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'm out of time right at the moment, so in case I've forgotten anything, here is my collection of vintage sewing machine links:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-help-for-vintage-sewing-machines
However, it's a lot to sift through, so if you have any questions, you can just ask them here in a comment on your post.
It is a beautiful machine. Looks like it may have been converted to electric.
fortapache, It IS beautiful. The decals are in good shape.
Yes, converted, but when and by whom?
I did some more poking around with regard to electrification and as usual the wonks at the victoriansweatshop dot com forum had all kinds of information:
https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/post/questions-about-1918-singer-28-9866128
Probably this particular sewing machine head casting lacks the little notch in the rim of the rear access hole (as seen in the pictures at oldsingershop dot com) so whoever mounted that light felt compelled to drill a hole in the access panel.
Similarly, the casting possibly didn't come equipped with the wherewithal to mount a motor so whoever mounted the motor on this one had to improvise.
Phil and Fred Diehl were some busy boys:
http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=1954&tab=7
Unfortunately, a lot of those links at vintagemachinery dot org go back to the USPTO which isn't smart phone friendly nowadays, but so long as you have the patent number, you can plug them into the Google Patents format and look at them from there, e.g.:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US324666/en
https://patents.google.com/patent/US351167/en
https://patents.google.com/patent/US381222/en