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Machine Pricing Adjusted for Inflation?

Machine Pricing Adjusted for Inflation?

Old 09-17-2013, 03:21 PM
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Default Machine Pricing Adjusted for Inflation?

Today, I hemmed some frayed pant cuffs with my 201. As I was sewing and enjoying the click-click of the perfect SS machine I wondered if my family could have afforded a machine such as the 201 when they were new. More than likely this question has been answered but I would be interested if any posters have ideas on what a new 201, or other machines sold for when new and adjusting for inflation what would the price be in today's money. Inquiring minds need to know.
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Old 09-17-2013, 03:35 PM
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In 1950, they were sold for $100 or so, which would be close to $1000 today.

The price probably varied depending on what cabinet you got.
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Old 09-17-2013, 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by mlmack View Post
In 1950, they were sold for $100 or so, which would be close to $1000 today.

The price probably varied depending on what cabinet you got.
Wow! No we couldn't afford a new machine back then. They are bargains on the used market today.
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Old 09-17-2013, 03:53 PM
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Here is a fun little site that supposedly does inflation adjustments for you.

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/
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Old 09-17-2013, 03:53 PM
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Singer was top-of-the-line back in the day. Heck, their repairmen even made house calls.
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Old 09-17-2013, 03:59 PM
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This is a fun site to explain a little of the history of 201's. Unfortunately, he is in England so the receipt and his discussion is in pounds/shillings but he says that for one woman it was the equivalent of half-a-year's wages!
http://www.sewalot.com/singer_201k_sewalot.htm
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Old 09-17-2013, 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Lisa_wanna_b_quilter View Post
Here is a fun little site that supposedly does inflation adjustments for you.

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/
Mark was right on!
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Old 09-17-2013, 05:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Kathy T. View Post
This is a fun site to explain a little of the history of 201's. Unfortunately, he is in England so the receipt and his discussion is in pounds/shillings but he says that for one woman it was the equivalent of half-a-year's wages!
http://www.sewalot.com/singer_201k_sewalot.htm
Kathy, thanks for that link. I'm not alone in my admiration of the 201.
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Old 09-18-2013, 08:35 AM
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The other thing to remember about Singer machines is they were basically the "first" (This is what I read, but maybe one of the first?) company's to do retail financing. You didn't buy a $100 machine outright (usually), you made payments on it. A friend of mine has a receipt for a machine her grandma owned with the "down payment" and monthly payments set out on it.
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Old 09-18-2013, 10:43 PM
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Singer was the first company, from what I read, to have machines that one bought 'by hire'. Now we would call it, 'buy here, pay here.' They also would take machines in as a trade in for a Singer sewing machine. The 'trade ins' would be destroyed so they couldn't be resold, and a person wanting a sewing machine would have to buy a new one instead.
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