Help with vintage Singer machine needles
08-26-2019, 06:38 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 60
Help with vintage Singer machine needles
Hi Everyone,
I've been searching for a bit and can't seem to find the answers to some (I think) pretty basic questions about vintage machine needles, so I thought I would ask those who would likely know and/or be able to direct me to the appropriate resources....
I'm trying to figure out what needles are what, and approximate ages, based on the inscriptions on the shank. I've obtained a bunch of vintage Singer needles to fit the machines I'm interested in using (15, 27, 500a) and my goal is to know what needle is best for what material (or machine!), or when to choose a particular needle.
So far, I've separated the needles I have by the following inscriptions. I have been able to find some correlations/explanations, but nothing comprehensive:
75/11
80/11
90/14
11GY
14GY
16GY
18GY
and plain 11, 14, 16, 18
In particular, I can't figure out what the "GY" suffix refers to. Any explanations would be so helpful! I suspect some of these became the "color banded" identifications of the more modern packages. Also I think the 75s are ball points.
Finally, I think I have the old packets arranged in order of date... does anyone know approximate dating for the individual package styles?
Thanks so much!
Matt
I've been searching for a bit and can't seem to find the answers to some (I think) pretty basic questions about vintage machine needles, so I thought I would ask those who would likely know and/or be able to direct me to the appropriate resources....
I'm trying to figure out what needles are what, and approximate ages, based on the inscriptions on the shank. I've obtained a bunch of vintage Singer needles to fit the machines I'm interested in using (15, 27, 500a) and my goal is to know what needle is best for what material (or machine!), or when to choose a particular needle.
So far, I've separated the needles I have by the following inscriptions. I have been able to find some correlations/explanations, but nothing comprehensive:
75/11
80/11
90/14
11GY
14GY
16GY
18GY
and plain 11, 14, 16, 18
In particular, I can't figure out what the "GY" suffix refers to. Any explanations would be so helpful! I suspect some of these became the "color banded" identifications of the more modern packages. Also I think the 75s are ball points.
Finally, I think I have the old packets arranged in order of date... does anyone know approximate dating for the individual package styles?
Thanks so much!
Matt
Last edited by Rocketeer; 08-26-2019 at 06:40 PM.
08-26-2019, 11:57 PM
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Burgundy, France
Posts: 101
I don't think I can help much about the needle denomination... I only think they changed the classification names and numbers a couple of times and that there is a difference in size names between Europe and America...
If you want to make sure the needles fit in your Singers (15, 25 and I think 500 all take regular 15x1 needles) you can take a modern needle and compare the length...
As for dating the packets, you can check the logo, on this page down here, the lady shows the Singer logo evolution
http://www.lamachineacoudre.net/arch...tion_logo.html
If you want to make sure the needles fit in your Singers (15, 25 and I think 500 all take regular 15x1 needles) you can take a modern needle and compare the length...
As for dating the packets, you can check the logo, on this page down here, the lady shows the Singer logo evolution
http://www.lamachineacoudre.net/arch...tion_logo.html
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