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.
- Total newb here, I love to sew and came a cross an old sewing machine at a thrift store today. It is a centennial Singer 301. I've googled it and have come at a stopping point because I cannot find the serial number to verify when this one was produced.
- Antique Singer Sewing Machines by Serial Number 1871 -1950 The first Singer sewing machine was manufactured in 1851, but some of the logbooks from that time period were lost. Because of this, there are no available serial numbers for the years from 1851 to 1870. If there are no letters in the serial number on a machine, you can be sure that it was.
- Antique Singer Sewing Machines by Serial Number 1871 -1950 The first Singer sewing machine was manufactured in 1851, but some of the logbooks from that time period were lost. Because of this, there are no available serial numbers for the years from 1851 to 1870. If there are no letters in the serial number on a machine, you can be sure that it was.
- After 1900 all Singers had a letter prefix before the serial number. (The letter suffix after the model number denotes where the machine was manufactured) For example, Singer model 99k serial number Y6307577. The 99k denotes model 99 made in (K) for K ilbowie and the serial number Y6307577 gives us the year of manufacture as 1928.
To date your Singer Featherweight, you will need to locate the serial number on the bottom of your machine. It has two letters followed by a series of six numbers. Using the serial number you can use the three charts below to find the date when your machine was given a batch assignment at the factory.
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.
Alex has spent a lifetime in the sewing industry and is considered one of the foremost experts of pioneering machines and their inventors. He has written extensively for trade magazines, radio, television, books and publications world wide. You may have seen him on The Great British Sewing Bee or How The Victorians Built Britain.
The simple guide to dating your early Singer sewing machines.
(Where your Singer has two serial numbers always choose the larger of the two to date your machine)
Singer machine serial number dating Guide
(Brace yourself it's tricky!)
Please note this is only a guide, not gospel! Some people mail me to say they have a receipt from 1950 so how could my guide have their machine as made in 1948 or 1949? Let me explain. The production runs at factories like Kilbowie were complex and long. The castings were marked with the serial number during manufacture. The machines were miles from completion, packing and delivery. Then there is delivery to the depot, storage, sales to the shop, and eventually sales to the customer.These factors all effect the purchase/receipt date, but not the date of manufacture.
For example during WW2 it is a well know fact the Singers were making guns and bullets as well as sewing machines. Only when they could spare the time would they continue with sewing machine production. I have come across a woman who bought her machine brand new in 1946 yet the casting was clearly made in 1939 just before the outbreak of WWII. During World War Two Singer had back orders for over three millions machines!
Now to the dating
All Singers up until 1900 have no letter prefix and came from several factories around the world. The company cleverly managed their production from all factories to coincide with the serial number flow. If you fancy a read on the collapse of Singer in Britain have a go at End of Empire.
Why two serial numbers?
Very early Singers from the 1850's up until the start of prefix letters in 1900 had two serial numbers. There is a lot of controversy over why there were two lots of numbers. The most likely answer is that the larger number was the total number of machines produced by Singers when they only had a few factories and could keep up with, and control, the production output from Britain and America. They would order machines in batches say, 1,000 or 10,000 from Kilbowie, Elizabethport and elsewhere. The lower number may be the total production/batch run of that particular model range, the larger the overall total number of Singer machines made.
Singers have never manage to shed light on these two numbers!
Note: when two serial numbers are on the machine use the larger of the serial numbers.
Singer Sewing Machine Model Numbers By Year
Anyway here goes nothing. I do hope you find it useful.
Where Is The Serial Number On Old Singer Sewing Machines
Note:
On pre-1900 Singer machines if there are two serial numbers, always use the higher, longer, larger, serial number of the two to date your machine.