How Old Is Vintage?
 

I have this Singer and don't know what year/model it is or how much it is worth.
I have no idea what a fair price would be. Please help! Thanks for your help.

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It's not worth a single penny, so you should just mail it to me to get it out of your way!!!

I don't know squat about vintage machines so I'm not going to be helpful here, I just came to drool over your really pretty machine. They sure don't make 'em like the used to...even that case is beautiful.

O.M.G. she is beautiful....please don't sell her. Does she run ???
you could go onto the Singer website and date her I think...she should have a model and serial number plate. I just did that for my mothers featherweight and found out she was manufactured in 1939.
Perhaps go onto ebay and look for finished sales for a price once you have the Singer information.

First, find the serial number on the machine and look it up on this website:
http://www.singerco.com/support/machine-serial-numbers

That will tell you what year it was made. Then do a google search putting in the terms "singer sewing machine" and "year[the number of whatever year you found above]".

The postings you find will include Amazon, eBay, etc sales and you can see what kinds of prices people are expecting to get for this model machine. DO NOT GIVE THIS MACHINE AWAY FOR A SONG! It is valuable even if it is not working right now. It can be fixed. I love it, but live too far away to come to your yard sale ... {sigh}.

Yes she does run, although I haven't used her for a couple years now. Thanks for the info.

You should post this in the Vintage section. There are members who go there that have a fountain of knowledge on these things. I'd say that it looks like a 50's model. It is in a wedgewood case. As to the value of it, I don't have a clue. But, I bought one for 20.00 at a yard sale and I think I got a steal. I wouldn't take less than a hundred for it. I was told at the Singer dealer that I should hang onto it because it is a work horse and will sew leather and denim like no body's business. So, you might want to reconsider selling yours.

Hey Kel!!! If you want to do some trading holler at me!! I can always use another machine.

On the back of the machine is a metal plate attached to the motor and says serial #2030955 then in the front it has a plate (which you can see in the last pic before the case) with G8907883. Which numbers do I look up?

You use the one that starts with a G.

It looks beautiful.

If it works, I would keep it.

The G number. It is a 128 with the LaVencedora decals. I wouldn't be able to part with those decals. The site says it is a 1921 model - how are the electrics? Price? I'd guess in the $50-100 range. I paid $35 for a 1956 128 with the Godzilla finish, but I like yours so much better.

I looks to be in good shape - does it run? If it does work, sell it on ebay and go with the highest bidder. I would think you can over over $300 for it

i have a 128 and i think it was dated to 1924. the decals look similar. the seller wanted $40.00 (it was grandma's) but the knee lever was missing and the wiring was bad so i couldn't test it out. the handwheel did turn and it is a beauty of a machine so i ended up paying less than the $40 asking price.

i would definately say in the $50.00 range but not sure if you would get $100.00. it all is about what someone wants to pay for it in the end. from the pics it looks like yours is in pretty good shape. good luck.

btw, i looked up the vintage vs antique considerations recently and things are generally considered antique at 100 yrs and up. until then they are considered vintage.:thumbup:
mary

First of all a garage sale is no place to sale it. You will not get very much for it, as people who shop garage sales will not understand the value. Have you contacted any guilds in your area, or quilt shops you might be able to sale there at a price that would make more money. I wished I lived close to you -- I'd love it.

look it up- you will be able to find it's *birthdate* as far as month & year- as for how old is vintage...i think generally between 50 & 100 years are considered vintage- more than 100 years you start getting into the antique catagories.
i have one alot like yours- it was very well taken care of- very clean- light working- good electrical- well used/loved/cared for machine- i picked up at a yard sale for $20- i felt very lucky/blessed to be able to bring it home- it has such a wonderful straight even stitch- is easy to maintain- i love that machine :)

for those of you who are interested in buying this machine, it can be shipped as long as it is well packed. you do not need to live close to purchase anything these days.

Oh what a beauty! I do not know much about vintage machines, but I would dearly love to have one. I think you should keep this beauty and use it. I hear vintage machines sew a straighter stitch and are just workhorses to boot. If your quilting with it you can even fmq, I hear. My husband has been looking around at yard sales and an antique shop or two to find one of these beauties for me. No luck yet, but he is persistent so I'm sure there will be a vintage Singer in my future (if I live long enough! hee-hee-hee

Keep it!!!!!!! You'll get the money and it'll be gone and then you'll have nothing. The machine is beautiful. I would keep it even if I didn't use it. Even if it isn't worth a lot. Please don't get rid of it. You won't get enough for it.

also check on craigslist and on ebay. you can surly find a vintage singer from one of those sources. there are plenty out there.

Thanks everyone for all of your help.
I think you all have convinced me to keep my machine for awhile longer :thumbup:

I have a machine like the one you have Only mine is a 1952 date......same case though....the one thing I am missing is the key to the case and wonder if all the keys work for all the same cases? I bought mine aat least 10 years ago at a yard sale for 25.00....it is in Great shape.

The Only thing is that it is one heavy machine and case so if it was to be shipped it would cost quite a bit.

i just shipped a sewing machine in a suitcase for around $25.00 with insurance. shipping is a fact of life if you are buying one on ebay or the goodwill site. not prohibitive especially if you are in the vintage machine market and you could at anytime be buying from someone in another state. the costs average between $25-$35 with packaging to ship a sewing machine. please keep in mind some shipping costs will be outside of this average.:thumbup:

Glad you decided to keep that beauty! I can't imagine being able to part with her!

I can tell you that the general rule of thumb is anything over 100 years old is an antique. Many people call anything from 1920's and older antique and anything newer would be Vintage up to about the 1980s and then...???

Yes mine is VERY heavy also. I wouldn't want to guess what it would cost to ship somewhere.
I will take my key to the hardware store and see if they can copy it.
If they can I'll PM you for your address and send it to you. Then you can see if it will fit.
If they can't copy it I'll let you know that too.

I am so glad you decided to keep her. You will not be sorry.

I see a serial number on the front right - on the silver plate. I've researched vintage machines when at auctions and have found some really wonderful German models for almost nothing!

Vintage is anything 20 years old and older; Antique is 100 or over years old
Very nice machine

HAHAHAHA!!! This made me laugh! It's a beautiful machine. I don't have any vintage machines either but I am DEFINITELY keeping my eye out for that special one. I'm not looking to collect vintage machines but I would LOVE to have one this beautiful. So when you're ready to get rid of it... pm me! For now, you enjoy that beauty and learn as much as you can about it. You won't regret it.

It looks "old" and beautiful to me!!!! I wish I had one.

Have you checked to see how old your machine is. A friend of mine has one just like this and her was made in 1938.

once you get your first vintage machine, others will follow. i am not sure why that happens.

I'm glad to hear that you are keeping her. One thing I noticed is that she has the bullet bobbin which you don't find now days and also that you have the original knee control for her. I have seen a lot of old machines but finding one complete and in such wonderful condition, WOW! Enjoy her keep her oiled and sew on her to keep her happy.

i believe it is called a vibrating bobbin shuttle and you can still buy the parts for this type shuttle and the bobbins for it. and you can also find the knee lever which i just had to replace for my own 128. fortunately for me these parts are still available.

I also am happy that you have decided to keep her. If you weren't I was wondering just how far you were from me! I love the vintage machines in the bentwood cases. Mine are both 99's and one has the knee bar and the other one has a large metal foot petal. Is the 128 also a 3/4 size machine? I see that you have the attachments for her. Now oil her well and caress her with sewing machine oil and cotton balls to shine her up and let her know that she is going to stay. The machine oil will make her shine and isn't harmful to the beautiful decals on her. Now you need to sew with her and name her. Watch out, other 'brothers and sisters' will want to join her in your home! :)

A friend paid $200.00 at a Mancuso SHow (vendor) about 15 years ago. Can't say about the value today.

this was recently posted on the vintage thread regarding size of the 128.

check out craigslist. there are several vintage machines in your area. there is a beautiful electric singer redeye that is a must have, beautiful decals.
http://nh.craigslist.org/search/?are...ine&catAbb=sss

Thank You for checking to see if a key can be made....how sweet of you. Have a Great weekend!!

I went to the Singer website. Your machine was manufactured in 1921! I know nothing of her value, but if I were you, I would hang on to it!

Jeanette Frantz