My sister gave me this yesterday. An elderly friend of hers was cleaning out her house and gave it to her. She promptly passed it on to me!

The case is heavy so I know there is a machine in there! But I have no idea how to open the case!! Any suggestions? DH wants to break up the box ( over my dead body!) So while he's at work please help me!!

Thank you!

That looks like a lock. I think it requires a small key to open it.

You need the key. Your right that hole onthe sides important. I was given one just like this a couple of weeks ago.

I googled Singer Bentwood case key and found one on ebay for 24.00. WOW! For a tiny little key?

Do you have a locksmith near you? If so take it to him and he will open it for you. Plus he may have a spare key to sell you too!

Go to an antique store and I bet they have one or many.
Would love to see the machine inside once you get it open.

Oh dear .... the case of the missing key! :)

Perhaps your sister's friend has a bunch of extra keys that you could try in the lock?? Otherwise, try the locksmith to open it.

And til you do ...... hide that from your DH so his boy-curiosity does not damage it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have found something that makes the lock turn... but I don't know whether to turn it clockwise or counterclockwise? Maybe someone who has a case could tell me that?

Wish I lived closer my son can pick just about any lock, dont ask me how I know and no Im not proud of him for it but it does come in handy. He learned how to do it when he was 12. Public schools teach our kids wonderful hobbies!

Hi Mamagus.

My Nan had one just like it. It housed a Singer sewing machine. I remember that it was a bit hard to open...you had to shift it a certain way as you lifted the top.....shift it to the right or left as you lifted. I don't remember a key although that certainly looks like it is a tiny lock. Perhaps, like yours, the key to hers was missing and the top was always unlocked.