Old Singer Domestic - WOW!

[Sheilajeanne]

I don't know if there's someone out there willing to pay this sort of money, but this is a beautiful machine, and judging by the prices I'm seeing on the local Buy and Sell pages, they are highly collectible!    

I wonder if there are people who still want them because they know how to use a foot treadle, or if it's just the nostalgia factor. I know the one time I tried to use my aunt's treadle machine, I made a TERRIBLE mess!  

Anyway, looks like there's enough of a market for these machines that someone who enjoyed restoring them could make themselves a few bucks! According to the poster, their mother purchased this beautifully restored machine for $675 in 2000.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/551624489415948/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks&tracking={"qid"%3A"-7713944053134917084"%2C"mf_story_key"%3A"925710107827506016"%2C"commerce_rank_obj"%3A"{\"target_id\"%3A925710107827506016%2C\"target_type\"%3A6%2C\"primary_position\"%3A0%2C\"ranking_signature\"%3A8443488340489011200%2C\"commerce_channel\"%3A501%2C\"value\"%3A0%2C\"upsell_type\"%3A21%2C\"grouping_info\"%3Anull}"}

Edited September 25, 2021 by Sheilajeanne

[Mulesaw]

I would guess that it is the nostalgia factor.

I have a treadle powered patcher and an electric powered patcher. For those I actually prefer the treadle powered one. It enables me to sew a bit slower which I find advantageous at times. 
But for a normal fabric type sewing machine I'd go with something electric.

 

[chrisash]

People selling just seem to pick prices out of the sky just hoping a idiot will see there ads

The Singer Featherweight seems to vary from about 150 to thousands, not sure what is so special about them. Ebay in the UK seems to have the majority of industrial machines at silly money with the ads rolling over time after time until so idiot gets hooked, though the under about £400 tend to fly off the shelf, When i had a 29K the base units were offered at £70-400 quite a vary in price without the machine

[Kawakneurder]

Old singers are extremely common, and unless they are a very rare model, or in extremely good condition, they don't warrant a very high price. They don't even mention the name, so calling it 'highly collectible' is not something you should do.

Jason Of All Trades recently posted a video about this, also discussing the extremely high (often unwarranted) prices of some 'vintage' machines.

Regardless, for 1234$ you can get an extremely good walking foot industrial machine. Unless you have a huge collection and this is like the last machine you are missing and want it in top nick condition, honestly that's way too high of an asking price. Even 675 is on the way expensive end. Even nick condition singer 201's go for way less than that.

[Sheilajeanne]

The seller in this case confesses he/she has no idea what it's worth, and just picked that figure at random because it's 1234. But I guess this machine will sell for a pretty decent price because it's been professionally restored, and is really pretty!

I have to confess I'm tempted myself, but I'd have to get the machine for free or next to nothing before I'd bite. And of course, that means it would likely need some work!

[kgg]

4 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

According to the poster, their mother purchased this beautifully restored machine for $675 in 2000.

The last time I owned one of those Singer 127 / 128 models was about 10 years ago I got it for $50 from an estate sale in working condition just required the wood work to be refinished. I think people buy them today mostly for a show piece. What I have seen in the used market over the last couple of years here in Ontario is:

i) The featherweight Singer 221's asking between $300 - $900 with the white ones closer to $1500. The free arm version always seem to sell for $200 - $300 more. I had a Singer 221 for a short time, nasty little machine, they seem to be popular with the quilter groups as they are light to carry (about 11 pounds) from place to place.

ii) I think if someone needs a drop feed domestic the Singer 99K's are pretty bullet proof and can be had for about $200 in excellent condition.

iii) Singer 29k's asking range between $400 to $1000 depending condition and on whether they are complete with the original base, flatbed attachment, manual and threading rod. This is up from a couple of years ago from the $200 to $300 range. Why???? I just pickup a 29k-71 with original base and in decent working condition all it needs so far is a little TLC. If it doesn't do what I am hoping it to do I'll sell it in a couple of months.

iv) Juki 563 asking range between $900 - $1500 up from $500 - $700 a couple years ago.

v) Since Covid 19 the prices have been increasing to point that it is just as well to buy new for what people are asking for used industrial walking foot machines. Just my opinion.

kgg

Edited September 25, 2021 by kgg
work change

[Sheilajeanne]

kgg, if you're talking machines that will REALLY sew leather, like patchers, of course, I'd expect to pay a good price for them. But the ones I'm seeing are strictly domestic machines, though some of the more powerful ones would sew lightweight leather or canvas.

Could have had a nice used patcher for $300 earlier this year, but it would have been just too hard to transport it without help. I still haven't gotten around to buying that marvelous gizmo Ferg has for getting the old cast iron machines up and down stairs!

[kgg]

25 minutes ago, Sheilajeanne said:

machines up and down stairs!

Stairs and any sewing machine definitely don't go together. With that said all my machines are on the second floor except for anything dedicated to the basement for a spruced up or on a out the door journey.

kgg

[SARK9]

16 hours ago, kgg said:

Stairs and any sewing machine definitely don't go together.

I've got 9 industrials in two former bedrooms upstairs....all but 2 are on the normal sized industrial tables, and those 2 are on custom made tables that are shorter but wider. Lightest is the Singer 20U33, heaviest is the Seiko SK-6. The Juki LG-158-1 on its stock issue Juki table will NOT be making the trip upstairs LOL.

-DC

[Gymnast]

I do not agree, that this machine or the table is highly collectable. A lot of these machines and tables were produced. In general I have found the price level of vintage domestic sewing machines to be higher in US than in mainland Europe. You may have machines and tables restored to a pristine condition, that may have some fashion value or decoration value. But this can be hard to evaluate by pictures in internet trade. You will find very high and likely unrealistic prices of such machines everywhere. The shipping costs from Europe to US is high, so most likely only the Singer Featherweights may be able to cover shipping costs. In Europe you can find machines like this sold for $50.

In my opinion, the vintage SInger sewing machines got less quality than average sewing machines, but they got a huge advantage of being produced in high numbers. Therefore spare parts are easy and cheap to get and many of these parts are still produced.