Singer sewing machines

Nearly every estate sale has a sewing machine of some kind in it.  People often ask us if old Singer sewing machines are worth anything and in general, they are not hugely valuable depending on the model just because every home had one from the 1800’s through the 1970’s.  Every mother had one for making clothing for themselves, their families and for making decor for their homes so they are quite plentiful and not many are rare. 

Perhaps the most valuable ones are the “featherweight” models.  These are small portable machines that are still highly sought after by people who quilt and craft as they are very durable and simply just work great.  The rare red “S” model featherweights can bring as much as $2000 if they are in excellent condition.

The cabinets and machines are often works of art themselves.  I have a golden oak model that has a beautiful sphinx design in gold on the black machine that is quite strikingly beautiful.  It still has it’s little golden oak attachments box that unfolds like a puzzle..

Singer also produced little child size machines that actually functioned and are still popular with collectors.  Future homemakers could sew clothing for their dollies.  I have always liked the old treadle sewing machines with their fancy cast iron bases. Some early sewing machines were cranked by hand.  Singer was probably the most prolific but there are many other makers out there including White, New Home and National.   You would be surprised to see how many companies made sewing machines.

A lot of times you will find a cast iron base from a vintage sewing machine where the machine is gone and it has been repurposed into a table or some other thing.  There are a lot of reference books and websites available for you to learn more about these amazing and beautiful machines.  Happy Collecting!