chickadee

I just acquired a Downs hand crank sewing machine. I have googled it but I can't find any info on it. Can anyone help me?

Caroline S

Posting a picture of your sewing machine would help us help you.

SteveH

It is a common misconception among new collectors (or non-collectors) that a name on a machine = a company to be tracked. This is why we ask for pictures, so we can see who really made it.

If you were willing to order 5 of the same machine companies like national would make you a machine with your name on it. Perhaps for a give-away, or a business promotion. So there might only be 5 of that design out there. Before you start thinking that means it is valuable, remember that they made several MILLION machines per year like that.

Some fun names are like "The Vibrator" and "The Climax" (a collector here has one of each side by side)