Chinese singer 128 reproduction
 

I received what appears to be singer 128. I'm sending a pic and would like to have feedback. Note the singer logo and the serial number clearly starts with a 1. http://tinypic.com/m/hu0cya/2
chrome is falling off handwheel and machine sounds like a box of bolts. Comments please


Bezzer

Wow! Looks totally fake. If you paid for it I'd be applying for an immediate refund

Actually I got it for service. I put a belt on and oh my god. Junk. I will give my customer a machine just so I don't have to work on this bucket of bolts.

bezzer

http://i44.tinypic.com/263zlf4.jpg

I couldn't see anything but a thumbnail on the tiny pics site so I used the code on the site to post it here.
From your pic I don't think it's a Chinese made machine or a fake. I think it's a remanufactured machine done by a Singer licensed shop.
I have a Singer 66-1 done that way.

Joe

Bezzer,

What is the serial number? If it starts with a 1 it was made before 1900.
The machine looks to be a real Singer 28 or 27 that was repainted/ refurbished during the war. These are not smooth running machines especially when run hard and put away wet. Many singers were refurbished during WWII and look like this.

Cathy

Do the Chinese machines have the serial numbers in the bed like the USA machines do?

Mark,

I believe that all the ‘Nostalgia’ models were class 15s (no 127s or 128s) and were made in China and Taiwan. These were labeled as 'model 15NL. The serial numbers started with a NLT.

Cathy

That machine just doesn't look right. 1) The blackside 128 didn't have a cover on the screw above the needle - just the LaVenezia and 127s had it as far as I know. 2) The Singer plate rather than a decal. The machine looks so shiny compared with mine, but mine has the black accessories so that may be the difference there.

This machine is a 28 or 27, not a 127 or 128. The bobbin winder is low and designed to work on the original treadle belt not the hand wheel (as the 127/ 128 would). The riveted 'Singer' plate was frequently used when machines were refurbished during the war. Singer probably was not furnishing decals. This was most likely not refurbished by Singer, but by a dealer. Dealers did repaint/ refurbish machines, since there were not new machines being produced at that time.
Small parts were replaced during the refurbishing, such as needle clamps, spool pins, tension units, motors, even bobbin winders.
These replacement parts can cause confusion when comparing a war refurbished machine with one from after the war.

Also note the tension unit is a manual release, not release when the presser foot is lifted, indicating an early machine.

Cathy