Posted 2 years ago
Nicki629
(3 items)
These are some updated pictures of my sewing machine. It's a beautiful piece and I wish I could show more pictures, so many details on this beauty. There have been several questions so far and I hope these pictures will provide some information.
Nicki629, Aha! Ya snuck another post in on me while I was busy doing other things. };-)
Thank you. :-)
(Actually, I was hoping for a picture of the underside of the sewing machine head's cast metal base, but I do really appreciate the closeup of the serial number cartouche.)
I'm linking your other post here:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/309238-singer-sewing-machine
So, the serial number looks to me like "K496561."
Serial number "K496561" was one of a block of 39,900 consecutive serial numbers ([K]462101 through [K]502000) allotted by the central office to the Elizabethport factory October 1, 1902, and all were destined to be stamped into the beds of model 27 sewing machine heads:
K- 462101 502000 27 39900 October 1 1902
K- 522054 526800 27-4 4747 October 8 1902 Montreal
K- 551001 576000 27 25000 November 22 1902
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-k-series-serial-numbers.html
The next block of 4,747 consecutive serial numbers ([K]522054 through [K]526800) destined for model 27 sewing machine heads (submodel 27-4, actually) was allotted October 8, 1902 to the Montreal factory.
Sub-model 27-4 was a hand-crank:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer_Model_27_and_127
The Montreal factory was small and probably did only assembly, so the actual castings were probably done at Elizabethport:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/montreal
The next block of 25,000 consecutive serial numbers ([K]551001 through [K]576000) destined for model 27 sewing machine heads was allotted November 22, 1902 to the Elizabethport factory. Those heads were both cast and assembled there.
The reason I excerpted three lines from the "K serial number table was to give you an idea of when yours probably rolled off of the assembly line.
A lot of people get the mistaken idea that their particular machine rolled off of the line exactly on the allotment date associated with its serial number block. The reality is that it probably rolled off of the line some time between that allotment date and the allotment date of the next block of serial numbers destined for the same model number.
The small block for Montreal muddies the waters a bit, but you get the general idea. Yours probably rolled off of the line some time between October 1 and November 22 of 1902.
I don't know what kind of shape the leather belt on your machine is in, but that's usually the first thing on a vintage treadle sewing machine to give way.
Fortunately, replacements are available to this day, including from Amazon and Walmart. I don't know about the quality of those sources, however.
These two outfits have good reputations:
https://singer-featherweight.com/products/belt-treadle-leather-for-antique-singer-machines
https://www.vintagesingerparts.com/products/treadle-sewing-machine-leather-belt-3-16-x-72-part-p60013
Here is some expert advice in fitting a treadle belt:
https://www.quiltingroomwithmel.com/2017/03/replacing-treadle-sewing-machine-belts.html
Here are various resources with advice on restoring vintage sewing machines:
http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachineshop/cleaningmachines/cleaningmachines.html
https://mermaidsden.com/
http://ismacs.net/sewing_machine_articles/a_tricky_woodwork_restoration.html
https://tashamillergriffith.com/2015/11/22/satisfaction-restoring-a-treadle-cabinet/
Hi again, Nicki629. :-)
I'm just following up a bit from yesterday.
While I'm still interested in seeing the underside of the sewing machine head's metal bed, the appearance of those hinge pins worry me. I don't want you to hurt yourself or your machine just for the sake of a photograph.
If you should want to remove the sewing machine head from the cabinet entirely (to clean, polish, refinish, or service), here is some advice on how to do that:
https://www.supermomnocape.com/how-to-remove-a-vintage-singer-sewing-machine-from-its-cabinet/
Again, because of the appearance of those hinge pins, if you decide to try anything like that, go slowly and carefully.
Thank you so much for all the information. It's been very helpful. I'm sorry I didn't understand the question, I'm not familiar with sewing machines or sewing. My grandmother and mother did some amazing sewing, this talent skipped over me and I need help to sew a button.
I probably won't be removing it from the cabinet anytime soon. I did find a service tag of my grandmothers from 1987 in the cabinet. I assume that was the last time it's been removed.
At some point I will have it cleaned up and there are a couple of issues with the cabinet that will need repaired. So hopefully somewhere down the line, I will be able to answer your question. Again, I thank you for everything, it's much appreciated
Nicki629, You're quite welcome. :-)
So your grandmother had the sewing machine serviced in 1987, huh?
I'd keep that service tag with the machine if I were you. It might not seem like much of a piece of history right now, but in another generation, somebody in the family might be all agog over an artifact like that.
In fact, you might want to scan it so that you have a soft copy.
The way those hinge pins are set into the cabinet right now makes me nervous, so it's probably best to have somebody versed in that kind of thing to take a look at it.
You might start by making an inquiry at a local Sew & Vac shop in your local area. If they don't do that kind of work, they might know somebody who does.
Good luck. :-)