Posted 2 years ago
Henkctz
(1 item)
Singer. Would just like an opinion if it's worth holding on for the grandchildren, as they don't ha be the same sentiment for this as I ha e, I grew up having it around all the years. 50s model if om not mistaken.
Hi, Henkctz. :-)
A treadle-mounted Singer 15K80. Cool.
Let's get some factoids out of the way. Per the serial number tables at the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society (ISMACS) website, serial number EH479932 was one of a block of 100,000 consecutive serial numbers ([EH]461278 through [EH]561277) allotted to Singer's Clydebank factory September 19, 1952 and all were destined to be stamped into the beds of model (15K machines (the "K" suffix in the model number is the tip off on the factory, which used to be called Kilbowie):
EH- 461278 561277 15K 100000 September 19 1952
EH- 682883 782882 15K 100000 December 30 1952
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-eh-series-serial-numbers.html
The reason I excerpted a second line of information is to give you some idea of when your machine rolled off of the assembly line, i.e., probably some time between the allotment date of its particular serial number block (September 19 1952) and the allotment date of the next block destined for model 15K machines (December 30 1952).
About the model 15:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/15
http://needlebar.org/main/15chart/
Your decal set is called RAF and has an actual designer name associated with it:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal06
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sew_mach_tech/3424548335
I can't see your machines's faceplate and rear access panel, but here is a gallery of them for you to browse:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_faceplates
Your treadle cabinet is Cabinet Table No. 2:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/cabinet_table_no_2-3.html
I can't quite read the model number on the manual for the ZigZag attachment, but here is a collection of SIMANCO attachments:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/simanco_accessories
BTW: hold onto those manuals. As a matter of fact, you might want to consider scanning them so that you have soft copies.
There are a lot of soft copies of various Singer manuals out there, but they're not all free and not necesarily for your exact submodel.
About the Kilbowie/Clydebank factory:
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
A circa 1934 documentary made at Singer's Kilbowie (Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland) factory (you can see the machine that stamped the serial numbers in action starting at around the 14:17 mark):
https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/1592
In case I forgot 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 (other than monetary value), just ask them here in a comment on your post.
Now for the hard part:
It's a not altogether palatable truth that young people don't always value the same things their elders do.
I don't know whether it's worth hanging onto this vintage sewing machine for your grandchildren. It really depends on a lot of factors, such as how much storage room you have, how old you and your grandchildren are, etc.
About all you can do is try to pique their interest in it. How you do that depends on both their generational and individual personalities.
For instance, a lot of people nowadays find treadle operated sewing machines attractive because they don't use electricity. Not only is that 'green,' it means the machine can be used during a power outage. };-)
Good luck. :-)
Tell the grandchildren to get over themselves and just take it. It isn't worth a fortune. Whoever gets it will be glad they did eventually.