1900 Singer Treadle Sewing Machine
Whether you have inherited an old sewing machine or picked one up at the local thrift shop, you may be curious about its value. Antique Singer sewing machine values are determined by many different factors, including the condition of the machine and the desirability of the model. 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 manufactured prior to 1900.
Machines can be worth a lot or a little, depending on a number of factors such as age, limited production runs, and condition. Although we can't provide you with an exact value for your machine*, we can provide you with some ways to help you discover it for yourself.
As a little girl, I was fascinated with my grandmother's antique Singer sewing machine table treadle. It sat in her kitchen - the top holding dusty shoeboxes full of odd things and old newspapers - but the top was not what drew me to it. Whether you have inherited an old sewing machine or picked one up at the local thrift shop, you may be curious about its value. Antique Singer sewing machine values are determined by many different factors, including the condition of the machine and the desirability of the model. Determining what your Singer is worth gives you the knowledge you need to insure, sell, or just enjoy your machine.
Step 1: Find the Serial/Model Number
TREADLE/HAND CRANK
On the throat plate or bed of the machine, up to a series of 8 numbers.
TREADLE/ELECTRIC
On right hand side of the machine, 2 letters, followed by 6 numbers.
ELECTRIC
Underneath the machine, 2 letters followed by 6 numbers.
1960’s TO CURRENT
Model number will be on the front or side of your machine.
Step 2: Check Online
Check large sites like ebay and etsy, or smaller sites like collector's weekly. Ideally you will find an exact match, but in case you don't, find another machine with a similar year and model #.
Step 3: Check In Store
If you have an antique store or pawn shop near you, ask them what they would give you for your machine.
Step 4: Sell It or Save It
Based on what you've learned from your research, only you can decide to sell your machine or keep it.
Further Reading
International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society
http://ismacs.net/sewing_machine_articles/how_much_is_my_sewing_machine_worth.html
Buy Singer Treadle Sewing Machine
SINGER Sewing Machine Serial Number Database
Catawiki - Weekly Auctions for Special Objects
https://www.catawiki.com/stories/4935-how-to-determine-the-value-of-your-old-sewing-machine
*Note: Information about third-party services is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute Singer Sewing Company's recommendation or endorsement. Singer Sewing Company does not warrant or guarantee any particular result or the accuracy or reliability of any services, provided by any third parties referenced herein.
In 1850 Isaac M. Singer envisioned the treadle, a cast-iron, foot-powered pedal, as a convenient, marketable device to power sewing machines. Although he did not invent the treadle or patent it, his New Family Model 12 (1865-1902) made the treadle machine affordable for approximately two million customers, according to International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society (ISMACS). This antique treadle model, just one among many, offered more manual freedom and greater control of fabric than previous hand-cranked models. To identify antique treadle machines, note design features, serial numbers and trademarks.
Recognize the basic components of an antique treadle machine, including the entire cast-iron treadle mount supporting the table top. Also note the foot pedal attached to a treadle rod and the treadle belt made of leather. A treadle machine has no electronic connection or plastic parts.
Examine distinctive design features. For example, a Kimball & Morton treadle, first manufactured in 1868, had an eagle and lion design on the treadle end casting, accompanied by the words “Strength and Speed.' The Singer name often appeared in cast iron above the treadle. Sometimes treadles hid within ornate parlor cabinets, designed more for show and status than hard work.
Locate a serial number on your machine to identify its age. Collectors, such as Berzack, collect antique treadles through the 1940s but focus on those produced before 1900. Some manufacturers, such as Singer, have extensive records about their serial numbers after 1870. The White Sewing Machine Company, a major rival to Singer after 1926, has less extensive records. Numerous sites, such as ISMACS, Singer or White can help with the identification of your antique treadle machine.
Search for a trademark on your pre-1950 treadle sewing machine but acknowledge its limitations. Years ago, distributors acquiring at least 100 machines would “badge” them with their own trademark or name, disguising the original manufacturer, including foreign imports. Sears placed its brand name on many machines, including the popular Franklin Rotary that the White Sewing Machine Company produced. In contrast, the Singer Sewing Company never put another distributor’s name on its products, according to Berzack’s interview in Collectors Weekly.
Differentiate among early Singer imitations when identifying your antique treadle machine. In 1894, the Goodrich Sewing Machine Company called one of its treadle machines the “Improved Singer.” Manufacturers even copied the “S” emblem from Singer. Many companies that sold their machines in the Sears Roebuck catalog copied early 1900 Singer models. For example, the Davis company imitated Singer’s attractive Memphis decals with an Egyptian equivalent. After using the Davis models, Sears switched to Domestic, a company that also replicated Singer designs.
Use the information you have gathered to assess the value of your machine or to find needed parts. The ISMACS website can provide you with comprehensive information about collections through its numerous links.
Tip
Singer Treadle Sewing Machine Sphinx
Rarity, rather than the age of an antique treadle machine, can reflect its value; a style produced in mass quantity may lack significant value.
Treadle machines have gained popularity with quilters who enjoy their control; others praise treadles as a way to burn calories as they sew.
Singer Sewing Machines Antique
Toy treadle machines, also made of cast iron, have become popular collector items.