The truthm C/L has been a gold mine for me in getting these machines, I would not have any if not for that site... because of shipping e bay is out of the question...
now I do go for the crappy one's, taht are falling apart , mainly it's there price... I've been ask time after time, if I'm going to resell these after the restoring .... each person asking has had a glow in there eye. I have to admite they do look pretty good....
my reply is always the same....... I paid x $ it maybe 25 $ or 100$, put in $100 worth of matrails to restore, any where from 21/2 days to 10 days at 8 to 10 or more hrs per day
I could have any where from 125 $ to over 200 involed in each machine (8 treadle's ) I will ask them " will you give me $500 for that machine " and that glow goes away ... I could not even imagin trieing to restore and resell these. yet I see add on c/l where two are doing just that and list them very hi.
we have all heard that story about grand ma's singer being sold for $4200, I first heard that in 1968 and again last month LOL, which could have happened.. but it must have been a 1849 with a whale bone needle or a Queen mary
I'm sure ol singer had a few made for his misstress's that know one know's about..
I have to agree with the above statement, but who ever wrote that took there information off the net ...
what determines collectability is the buyer, not what others think the value is.. The highest I paid so far is $100. it's a singer with one letter and 7 numbers, so it's vaue is scrap, which would be about 30 cents'
I would bet most people on here would give the 100 I paid. it's a lotus, with very good decals, fact close to the best I have seen in person and net picture's
In buying I will not dicker on the price. like right now a lady has a singer 61w, she would say a price,, making me think she wants 100's or she might take 25$ or she might want $400. This is why I will not dicker on a price, I know what it will cost me to restore it ... I also deal with vintage to antique car parts and do the same thing ....and yes when I set a price that is the price no dickering LOLOL.. this may sound a bit hard core , but go to wal mart and see if they will sell you new tires for 200 less that there asking price.
Go check the price's of restored 60's volkswagen bugs or Buses ( 15,000 to 20 ) Then do the math on the total cost of doing this... 10,000 on the average in materails, who wants to drive a old rat trap VW .>>> again LOL