Price range for 1919 Singer 127 or 128 ???
 

Would any of you vintage enthusiasts be able to give me a price range for these treadle machines? A good friend is selling his mother's machine and both he and I have no idea of the value. I have not seen it in person yet, but it is in a cabinet, has had the belts replaced and works. In the meantime, I am verifying the model number with him. Many thanks for any input. (On ebay, the machines alone seem to be in the $150-$250 price range and that sounds low to me.)

this is not as simple a question as it would appear. "Value" is incredibly subjective.

What you see listed on EBay is what the seller "wants". If you do an advance search and select the option to only show completed sales you will get a better idea of the reality of the market.

Please remember that they made quite literally millions of EACH model of these machines and they were built to LAST.

One of my favorite morning giggles is to do a search on my local Craigslist for "rare sewing machine" and then counting the 50-75 ads for "rare" machines.

I have seen 127's and 128's listed as "free to good home" and for $1000 on the same day.. (The $1000 ad has been up for more than 6 mos...)

Machines like this listed over $200-$250 tend to get shown on our "what are they smoking " thread.

With that said, the right machine on the right day to the right customer can be worth almost anything.

in example:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/clt/3917642410.html - Two free treadles

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/atq/3928021258.html - $650 "antique treasure"

Different machines but generally relative.

Realistically, likely somewhere in the $0-$100 range, depending on condition of machine, cabinet, and whether there are any accessories or a manual. If everything is in fabulous condition, the right buyer might give you more.

Here you go... http://www.ismacs.net/sewing_machine...ine_worth.html

Have a look at how many examples of 127/128 were made. A large number of these are still around, in basements, attics etc. just waiting for the owner to pop their clogs. Demand today is limited and as Steve said they sit around for ages with the high price tag. This is why you see so many of them: It's just probability - the over-priced ones are all on display, because nobody will pay that much. Bargains last only a short time.
I've bought three model 66s in the past month (two on ebay, other at local collectables market), and paid an average of about $20. This is the head only, but all had nice decals (the nicest of them was a seized 1924 lotus for only $15). Got a 1900 Tiffany 27 head for $28 (ebay). Treadle cabinets without machines can be really cheap (current one was $16 on ebay). If you sit back a while, you'll see a bargain and grab it. Treadle belts are very cheap: Most folk think they must be hard to get and expensive (around $5), and/or that the staple is something added later to fix the broken belt.
Cabinets are extremely easy to brighten up, yet most people don't do it, and Muv's guide to cleaning and lubricating a machine head is great. Seized heads, incidentally, are a great find. The owner doesn't know what to do, and just sells it as a door stop. Half an hour after you get it home, armed with WD40, Singer oil, a few tools and tri-flow and it's been transformed into a heart pumping bargain.
I wouldn't pay more than about $100 in good condition with a cabinet, or a head only for about $20.
I'd prefer the latter only because I get a kick from rescuing and restoring.

I agree. The last one I got was free - and it's a 1912 New Home beauty in a great solid oak cabinet. The one before that was a 1906 Singer 127 in rough shape but a great cabinet for $75. I bought it from a friend who was moving, and that is what she paid for it.

I paid $100 for my 128 in a nice oak cabinet. The machine is in great shape, stitches well, all the feet and bobbins were there, original instruction book and a cabinet that does not need refinishing. Best of all it belonged to our mail lady that delivered mail to our farm when I was a child. Her son was glad to get rid of it (cleaning out the family home) and I have a lovely display machine in my front room that didn't need any work.

I saw a 127 sell for $5 at an auction yesterday and it took awhile to get that price. It was missing the bobbin and throat plate and I'm just not ready to go searching for those at this time or I'd have it. So, $250 is really a high price in this area..... don't think anyone would go for that no matter how good it looks.

Here in central FL they go pretty high, I paid $150 for my 1920 66 redeye a few weeks ago.