|
Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details. |
|
Thread Tools |
3rd Feb 2017, 9:15 am | #1 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Basildon, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,100
|
Singer sewing machines
If there is anyone here who is interested in Sewing Machines then I have come across a 1967 price list for Singer.
Mike |
3rd Feb 2017, 11:23 am | #2 |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Resolfen, Wales; and Bristol, England
Posts: 2,588
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
Very interesting! The average wage in 1967 was £21/7 a week.
__________________
Richard Index: recursive loop: see recursive loop |
3rd Feb 2017, 11:39 am | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,118
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
£21/7/- (£21.35) sounds a pretty good weekly wage for 1967. I started on less than that in 1971 - and I thought I was in a well-paid job (in a computer department).
__________________
Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) |
3rd Feb 2017, 1:50 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Derby, UK.
Posts: 7,735
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
If you can get hold of a copy of the 1988 JMB General Studies A-level paper, there was a question on there that included a good explanation of chainstitch and lockstitch machines.
__________________
If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments. |
3rd Feb 2017, 3:35 pm | #5 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
My Pfaff cost 400 quid a few years ago, not too bad a comparison with Singer prices in 1967.
|
3rd Feb 2017, 3:40 pm | #6 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,783
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
In the 1930s a top of the range machine like a Singer 201K3 cost as much as a small car, or a tenth the cost of a house. They were mostly bought on HP and were expected to last a lifetime of heavy use, making clothes for the family and sometimes being used for commercial piece work at home.
I still have my great grandmother's Jones Family CS from 1898. It has obviously seen a huge amount of use over the years but still sews quite well. It's not electric of course, though an external motor could be fitted. |
3rd Feb 2017, 4:49 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,118
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
I have a treadle Singer machine which belonged to my paternal grandmother (and possibly her mother before her). As with the Joneses, these could be upgraded with an external electric motor to replace the treadle or hand crank, the motor being operated by a foot control - so at least one foot still had something to do once it was no longer operating the treadle.
__________________
Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) |
3rd Feb 2017, 5:11 pm | #8 |
Pentode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: East London, UK.
Posts: 231
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
Hello All,
I have a Singer Fiddle base with the Acanthus decoration. Works very well for it's age. Some of the original decals have worn a bit, but it's probably had a busy life. Alan. |
4th Feb 2017, 10:34 am | #9 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,149
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
I used to work in the Charity sector for many years, and you won't believe the amount of old crank Singer sewing machines we were given, I'm talking about 1000's over the years.
I think the survival rate must be pretty high, but obviously Singer made millions of the units. As for value, generally not particulary high with some exceptions, generally the small Jones equivalent is collectible more so. We did get a fair amount with the electric conversion kits too |
6th Feb 2017, 12:10 pm | #10 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 208
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
I did see one in a charity shop for £85. The problem is, I see them for sale all the time at a market and pick them up for about £15. I have about 10 of them, crank singers mostly.
|
7th Feb 2017, 1:37 pm | #11 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,149
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
I think we used to get about £20ish on average depending on condition, although some people would actually buy them to use them as they didn't like the modern ones.
|
7th Feb 2017, 1:45 pm | #12 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,783
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
I use a 1934 Singer 201k as my main machine.
Pre 1960s Singer and Jones machines are bargains for anyone interested in plain machine sewing. They are cast iron and steel throughout and last forever if not abused or neglected. The quality of stitching is usually better than all but the best modern machines. |
8th Feb 2017, 7:50 pm | #13 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 208
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
As I have a handful of sewing machines, it was about time I used one, I have crank, pedal and knee controlled singers.
I decided to make something for the wife, I didn't want to use a very old machine, so I used a 411G and yes it was another £10 machine. The pedal went up in smoke at one point, but I just removed the burnt out cap and ran it without. I proved I can use a sewing machine and she got a 60's style cape, as she likes that type of thing. |
15th Apr 2017, 5:12 pm | #14 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Southport Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 3,221
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
Quote:
__________________
Paul |
|
15th Apr 2017, 11:18 pm | #15 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
|
Re: Singer sewing machines
My local charity shop declined my late mother's 15K Singer a couple of years ago as they said its exposed belt meant that they were not allowed to sell it as it was deemed unsafe. We had no room for it, but its motor and attachments found homes with forum members. Only later did I find that another charity accepts them for export to the Third World.
|