Need advice please!.
 

I went to an estate sale today and there stood a Singer treadle machine. It is in decent shape (the cabinet is not) and I was told the attachments were all there. According to the serial number, it is a Singer 127 made in1920. It is a common machine for that year as 50,000 were made. They came down from $125 to $100. Fair price? It supposedly works--I did not test it. The lady I talked to pretended to know more than she really knew and around here antique dealers really don't want the machines as they feel that it is a narrow focus group of people that would want it. It, of course, needs to be cleaned up and I feel the cabinet would have to be repaired enough to get it home. What would you do, assuming that it runs? Is $100 fair?

It depends on if you plan to use or just as display. Personally, I want my cabinets to be pretty. If you have the resources to restore/repair it, then $100 isn't bad. But if not, then it will remain unsightly in your home. There are some out there in good condition. Good luck.

This is just my opinion but I would not pay that price for a machine who's cabinet needed repair. Having done a major repair on a Singer treadle cabinet I can tell you it's a lot of work.

If the machine and cabinet were worn but complete and in good working order I might go the $100, but needing repair, no.


Joe

I've been looking online and seeing machines and cabinets in much better shape than this one for the money. I would want to use the machine as well as display it and would want a "pretty" cabinet. I'd have to hire someone to fix it so I will keep looking and pass on this one. Thank you so much for the help!

I would definitely pass on that machine for that price. Then again, I'm really cheap when it comes to vintage machines. Others here have given you good advice.

I would not pay that much for a machine of unknown condition and a poor cabinet. If I really wanted it, I'd offer $25 and maybe pay $50. I can tell you that I brought a Singer 127 in a great cabinet back from the dead (40 years in a barn) and it now works, but I will probably never be happy with the stitch quality and am looking to replace the head with a 201 treadle or a 66 treadle, or even a Necchi, maybe. I do sew with it when the power is out, though.