To identify when a model was made, you need to first find the Singer sewing machine serial number. It’s near the on/off switch on newer machines, and on the front panel or on a small plate on older machines. Once you’ve found the number, match it to the date in the chart below to discover the age of your machine. Match the serial number on your sewing machine with a serial number on one of the three lists the Singer Company posts online (see Resources). This will reveal the year your machine was manufactured. However, lists of serial numbers for machines produced from 1851-1870 are unavailable because the original serial number log books were lost.
Singer sewing machines have a long and rich history, datingas far back as 1851. These beautiful machines have evolved over the years butare still standing the test of time. Some of the older models are highly soughtafter by collectors and sewing enthusiasts. If you’ve nabbed one of thesebeautiful bargains at a local market, it’s worth identifying the age and modelof your machine. You might have picked up a rare antique.
Whether you want to pick up one of your own older modelsbecause you love the history, aesthetic or nostalgia of the piece, they’reeasily still found on the market if you know what you’re looking for. So, howold is my Singer sewing machine? To identify when a model was made, you need tofirst find the Singer sewing machine serial number. It’s near the on/off switchon newer machines, and on the front panel or on a small plate on oldermachines.
Once you’ve found the number, match it to the date in our chart to discover the age of your machine.
Why do Singer Sewing Machines have Serial Numbers?
Singers have always been marked with serial numbers ever since production began. Each number is corresponding to a model from a certain date, and even location. All Singer sewing machines up until 1900 have no letter prefix, and came from all around the world. The Singer company eventually managed their production from all their factories to match up with the serial number flow.
How to choose a valuable model
The first thing to look for if you’re after a collector’sSinger machine, is the age of the item. Over 100 years old is considered anantique, and younger than that is ‘vintage’. By matching the serial number tothe corresponding date, you can determine the exact age of the machine.
Quality also plays an important part in the value of themodel. As expected, high quality, functioning machines are more sought afterthan damaged ones and tend to be a better option. Machines that don’t functionat all may not be worth collecting. However, if you find a damaged machine thatcan be repaired, it may still be a worthwhile purchase.
From a collector’s viewpoint, there are a select amountwhich are valuable enough to be classed as real collectors’ items. Thisincludes any of the machines that come with their own table, blacksides whichhave a black instead of polished finish, and the vintage 221 and 222Featherweight models. These rare models can fetch around £500 or even more, ifthey’re in perfect working order.
The History of Singer Sewing Machines
The Singer brand is synonymous with being the best in the business. After opening a local factory in Glasgow, in 1867, the machines were flying off the shelves. Popularity only grew and factories opened worldwide. By World War 2, the Singers were actually producing guns and bullets as a priority to sewing machines. They only continued making those in their spare time. Isaac Singer was the founder of the company, and the first to create treadle powered, belt powdered and eventually electricity powered sewing machines. Isaac Singer boasts a unique story, and was a pioneer of the sewing industry. Funnily enough, with an ‘enthusiastic’ approach to women, Isaac even hired female demonstrators to disprove that women were too incompetent to work a machine. This enthusiastic approach to women continued into his private life, where he had a total of 24 children!
Designs Throughout The Years
Singer treadle sewing machines are one of the most popularSinger antiques. They are still found in auctions and antique dealers today.These older machines were made of heavy duty components and replaceable parts.So they are still used, and are incredibly long-lasting. A treadle sewingmachine is powered by a foot pedal, and runs mechanically by the user pushingback and forth on the pedal. A reliable, eco-friendly machine, many sewersstill prefer to use this type of model today.
The design has naturally changed over the years withadvances in technology. Electric motors and bolt-on lights were introduced tothe machines in 1921. The treadle tables gradually faded away to chunky boxbottoms in the 1930s. Use of new materials throughout the 20th centurymade the design sleeker and lighter, and allowed for new functions to beintroduced.
Today’s Singers
Today’s machine can cost from as little as £85 up to £1300,depending on the functions and type of machine. But why is Singer so popular?It’s not only due to the rich history, but the fact that they cater to allsewing needs. Singer has a reputation for creating innovative machines. Theywere the first to ever introduce electric, zigzag and electronic machines whichwere targeted to the home sewing market. Offering affordable machines with amultitude of features which are readily available, made them likely the mostpopular brand out there.
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, want an electronic or a mechanical machine, work with embroidery or patchwork, there’s something for everyone. Every model has a unique range of useful functions such as automatic needle threaders and even LCD screens, which is part of what makes the brand the go-to for sewers.
How old is your new (old) Singer sewing machine? Don’t forget to match your serial number to our chart and discover its age!
Explore over hundred materials with your very own fabric swatch pack, perfect to work with your Singer. Understand the texture, strength and finish of each of the fabrics by taking a hands on approach.
If you are one of the lucky people that own or inherited an old, antique Singer sewing machine, you may want to know how old it is and how much it is worth!!
Singer sewing machines were first manufactured in 1851, so if you have an older model, you may have a collector's item on your hand. If you go to eBay, you can check out what people are paying for these old, antique Singer sewing machines.
Some of the prices are over $3000!!! To find out how much your sewing machine may be worth, you need to know it's serial number and model number. First, I will show you where to find the serial number and crosscheck it with a database to find the year it was issued. Finding the model number on some old models is harder and may need some digging.
How To Date Your Singer Sewing Machine
Ok, now to the meat and potatoes of this article. The serial number will be on a metal plate somewhere on your Singer sewing machine. When you find your serial number, you then crosscheck it with a database on Singer's website.
Singer Treadle Sewing Machine Model Numbers
This will tell you when the sewing machine was issued. To be clear, just because you bought the sewing machine in a certain year, doesn't mean that the sewing machine was issued in that year. It may have been produced in a different year than the year the first purchase was made.
The general rubric for determining which year your sewing machine was manufactured is below:
Singer Sewing Serial Number Dating
- If you find that your serial number consists of numbers only, it was manufactured before 1900 (Cha-Ching!)
- If you find that your serial number has a single or two-letter prefix before the number, your sewing machine was manufactured after 1900. (Still may be worth some money!)
After you find your serial number, go HERE to the International Sewing Machine Collectors Society website and find out what year your sewing machine was issued.
If you want help with finding your model number, go HERE to ISMACS' website and they may be able to help you with your model number.
With your serial number and model number in hand, jump on over to eBay. Search and see what people are paying for your model/serial numbered Singer sewing machine!!!
Good luck and I hope you have a gold mine on your hands!! Thanks for stopping by and checking out our article on how to identify singer sewing machine by serial number.