My sister gave me this yesterday. An elderly friend of hers was cleaning out her house and gave it to her. She promptly passed it on to me!

The case is heavy so I know there is a machine in there! But I have no idea how to open the case!! Any suggestions? DH wants to break up the box ( over my dead body!) So while he's at work please help me!!

Thank you!

That looks like a lock. I think it requires a small key to open it.

You need the key. Your right that hole onthe sides important. I was given one just like this a couple of weeks ago.

I googled Singer Bentwood case key and found one on ebay for 24.00. WOW! For a tiny little key?

Do you have a locksmith near you? If so take it to him and he will open it for you. Plus he may have a spare key to sell you too!

Go to an antique store and I bet they have one or many.
Would love to see the machine inside once you get it open.

Oh dear .... the case of the missing key! :)

Perhaps your sister's friend has a bunch of extra keys that you could try in the lock?? Otherwise, try the locksmith to open it.

And til you do ...... hide that from your DH so his boy-curiosity does not damage it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have found something that makes the lock turn... but I don't know whether to turn it clockwise or counterclockwise? Maybe someone who has a case could tell me that?

Wish I lived closer my son can pick just about any lock, dont ask me how I know and no Im not proud of him for it but it does come in handy. He learned how to do it when he was 12. Public schools teach our kids wonderful hobbies!

Hi Mamagus.

My Nan had one just like it. It housed a Singer sewing machine. I remember that it was a bit hard to open...you had to shift it a certain way as you lifted the top.....shift it to the right or left as you lifted. I don't remember a key although that certainly looks like it is a tiny lock. Perhaps, like yours, the key to hers was missing and the top was always unlocked.

I hope you get it open. Please show us a picture if you do!

I have one the same I will check out which way to turn it, I was also given a key just the other day, if it fits mine I can send it to you if you want it. Let me check it out first OK.

BTW if your DH damages that case I will RUN across the pond and beat him to death with a feather duster :twisted:

This is my one: http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/32...425x425Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/46...425x425Q85.jpg

A Singer 201K sews the most wonderful straight stitch and one of Singer's best machines.

My DH buy me one just like it. with no key!!! If you take a samll sreew drive and put it in the hole and ture easy you sure be able to get it open[ a drop of oil in the hole may help]. If that dose not work if you can get the top away from the base just a little you can slide a knife in the space and move the lock that way. If you was close I would love to help find the baby in the box.

It's out!!!!

Wow what a great find! Even if you have to buy a key, you got yourself a fabulous deal. Off to the locksmith with you!

Hello here's a bit of a tutorial. These cases can be difficult to open, but just go slowly and carefully.

I think I remember hearing that the key is a shape - like a square or triangle... Sorry, I do not have one to share. Don't let your DH break the box!! I have a machine that came without the top of the box, and am looking for a replacement. Not easily found :-(

Here she is in all her glory! Serial Number says she was manufactured in 1934.

What a beauty!

So what kind of a machine is she? She is a handcrank which is not surprising as many communities in Newfoundland did not have electricity until into the 40's and 50's.

I think she is beyond beautiful! ( and I was not actively looking for a vintage machine...)

Now that she is out should I offer it back to my sister? She really didn't seem to want it!

Maybe I have more of an affinity for it because my grandmother taught me to sew when I was 7 or 8 on her old Singer treadle machine. My sister two years younger didn't get to use that machine because by the time she was old enough my grandmother was dying.

What a beauty.

Oh how nice .... bet you won't be doing housework today, and will take this lady for a spin!

Wow she's beautiful.
In case you're interested, here's a pic of the key.

OMG, hand crank to boot. How wonderful. These are going for $300. To $400. Around here. They can be made into a treadle very easy also. To have one with a perfect lid is a real plus. Enjoy it!

Congrats! Very pretty machine. Maybe your sister could babysit, but I certainly wouldn't place the machine up for adoption.

She is a beauty. How lucky you are to get it for free. My sister would have given it to me too..as she has no interest in sewing at all. Congrats!

What a beauty!!!Congrats on your new find!

she's stunning!

just love it~!

Glad you got her open. She is a beauty and you are so lucky to have her.

Mamagus- what a beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was also fun reading the post hee hee
Have FUN!! :D:D

My son knows how to pick locks too and he was homeschooled! Believe me I didn't teach him that, but it does come in handy sometimes. Thank goodness, he only uses that skill to help people with legitimate reasons to get into whatever is locked!

You could try using a heavy wire and bend it so it catches the the metal tab that unlocks it. Back when these cases were made they were easy to brake into. I had to unlock my Grandma's sewing machine for her many years ago.

I get one of the same at an auction and got it cheap because they could not open it. When we go home my husband took a small screw driver and was able to turn the mechanizim inside the lock to open it with damaging the machine or the lock. Never have had a key. Good Luck.

She was manufactured in 1935. She is a Model 128 with the LaVincendora Decal. Now I'd like to find out where she was manufactured! Would be lovely to make another connection of how trade was conducted in this island country in the 1930's. Newfoundland was an independent country until 1949 so that kind of thing fascinates me!

hmmmm.... how do I find this out?

I don't have any direct answers for you. Though when I was looking for Featherweight info one day, I did see that some were made on the Rock! Not sure if other Singer models were or not? So perhaps you have a "native" machine! Wouldn't that be great?

Every time I see those wooden cases I think of my mother. She had a Singer in one of those. I have no idea whatever became of it. My father remarried after she died and I don't recall ever seeing it again. Someone on this board probably has it! LOL

Very pretty machine!

Mamagus, what a GREAT score! She's a beautiful machine...looks like a 28 or a 128... and the serial number will tell where she was made...when you look at the shuttle, does it have a metal button to push to pop the shuttle up?

What is the serial?

I saw that St. John's was mentioned somewhere... but I though that there must be another one somewhere!

Y9465105 and yes there is a little silver cross-hatched button that is to the right and near the top of the opening.