Originally Posted by dunster
Originally Posted by Miz Johnny
Originally Posted by chris_quilts
Question: Has anyone talked to an insurance person about the antiquity/antiqueness of their sewing machines? I did today and was told that their value depends upon their collectibility and desirability. Now I have a couple that are rarer, also a requirement, perhaps than others but am unsure of how to proceed from here. I have one that is stamped "Made in Occupied Japan" and I have a National Two-Spool treadle which is complete and has a box of accessories/feet. He was unconvinced by my logic about their rarity. I don't know what to do about the insurance on the machines. Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas about this? Thanks. :)
Here's the thing--though most of us consider our machines to be priceless, the rest of the world could basically care less. There are a few truly rare and truly worth-a-lot-of-bucks models, but they are mostly in private collections such as Carter Bays or Harry I-Can't-Remember-His-Last-Name in Charlotte. The rest of us have fairly common machines. Every so often, two bidders will get in a war over something on Ebay, and a common machine will sell for some outrageous price. We all shake our heads and wonder, but that doesn't mean we can sell OUR machines for that price. Off the top of my head, I can think of two machines that I have that might spark a bidding war on Ebay. Those two machines are the 431G, a German version of the 400/403 machines with a free arm, and a Singer VS I treadle. Even so, the 431G would probably only go for $500 tops and the VS I is anyone's guess. Maybe $100, maybe $600, depending on who wants it and who is close enough to get it.
Most people want Singers and will pay more because they're recognizable, but it's rare to get more than $150 for a decent treadle. I have seen Two Spool machines and Davis VF machines go unsold at collectors' gatherings, because they're common enough that if we want one, we find one.
Just my two cents worth, and that's ALL it's worth.
Miz Johnny, I thoroughly agree. I bought a few machines because I was interested in tinkering with them, cleaning them up, sewing a little, learning about them. Except for my featherweight, I never paid more than $50 and seldom that much. Lately I am watching the asking prices on craigslist go up and up in my area, but I don't think most of those machines are selling, at least not anywhere near the asking price. (Some of them reappear month after month, sometimes with the same price, often with a lower price.) The typical ad says something like "not sure what this is, but I know it's rare and valuable". Since craigslist has no mechanism to report back on what sold, and at what price, everyone seems to assume that they will be able to get the prices they see there.
So that's another 2 cents worth. Pretty soon somebody will see this and think that their opinion is worth 5 cents, and off we go. Soon opinions will be offered on craigslist at ever-higher prices.
I am the original poster and thanks for your thoughts. Was just curious about this topic and glad Miz Johhny replied. I agree that pretty soon opinions will be listed on CL for 5 or 10 cents or whatever the market will bear. Thanks again.