This was my first thought. The machine was built when he was 60 years old. So there is a small window of common time. He may have purchased it.

They were both awarded a Gold Medal?

I agree with this one being the factor in common! Just guessing.

They were born the same year!

Your grandfather was award a medal for his service in India and that medal is shaped as a star.

Or they both have a star. The Singer sewing machine has the Indian Star decal and your grandfather was awarded the 1914 Star medal also known as the Mons Star award.

I like that idea that he may have lived in India during the time of British Empire and served as an cavalry soldier. You stated what do they "got" in common. So, I'm leaning towards the machine has the Indian Star and your grandfather was awarded a metal in a star shape that may be from his serve in India.

Thank you all for the entertaining replies.

A round of applause please for tonight's winner of the three-course meal for two plus drinks in an invisible curry house. Vintagemotif correctly deduced that both spent time in India.

My Grandad was shipped to Bombay as a soldier in 1896, and was in India (apart from a short spell in Burma) until 1902.

The machine was manufactured in Scotland and given the Indian star decal, which was put on the machines that were shipped to Bombay for sale in India.

And of course, both ended up back in England. Grandad came back in late 1902 via South Africa, where he had a quick run around in the tail end of the Boer War. Quite how the machine ended up back on these shores I don't know. The lady I bought it from said it had previously belonged to her mother, and her family had never been in India, but my guess is that it must have been a machine that was bought in India and had come back with a British family that returned from there.

imayo - funny you should come up with the date 1904! The photo was taken in 1902.

Covered in Threads - nice idea that he was a cavalry officer, but that's not the case. It's not a riding crop, but a swagger stick, which went with his rank, Lance Corporal, a non-commissioned officer.

Vintagemotif - he did get a medal, but not a star. He got a campaign medal for his service in South Africa. And as for the Rolls Royce - oh what a marvellous fantasy, he was not of that class.

I hope you all enjoyed that excursion into the history of the British Empire through a Singer sewing machine. Photos will be going onto the Vintage Sewing Machine Shop Photos thread later tonight...

Id guess both the same age too!!!

That was fun! I love history. My 15 year old son, who is a history buff, helped me out and gave me the lowdown of the war in India.
Thanks,
Adri

Thank you for the history lesson!