Vridar

Today, I hemmed some frayed pant cuffs with my 201. As I was sewing and enjoying the click-click of the perfect SS machine I wondered if my family could have afforded a machine such as the 201 when they were new. More than likely this question has been answered but I would be interested if any posters have ideas on what a new 201, or other machines sold for when new and adjusting for inflation what would the price be in today's money. Inquiring minds need to know.

mlmack

In 1950, they were sold for $100 or so, which would be close to $1000 today.

The price probably varied depending on what cabinet you got.

Vridar

Wow! No we couldn't afford a new machine back then. They are bargains on the used market today.

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

Here is a fun little site that supposedly does inflation adjustments for you.

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

mlmack

Singer was top-of-the-line back in the day. Heck, their repairmen even made house calls.

Kathy T.

This is a fun site to explain a little of the history of 201's. Unfortunately, he is in England so the receipt and his discussion is in pounds/shillings but he says that for one woman it was the equivalent of half-a-year's wages!
http://www.sewalot.com/singer_201k_sewalot.htm

Vridar

Mark was right on!

Vridar

Kathy, thanks for that link. I'm not alone in my admiration of the 201.

ArchaicArcane

The other thing to remember about Singer machines is they were basically the "first" (This is what I read, but maybe one of the first?) company's to do retail financing. You didn't buy a $100 machine outright (usually), you made payments on it. A friend of mine has a receipt for a machine her grandma owned with the "down payment" and monthly payments set out on it.

Janis

Singer was the first company, from what I read, to have machines that one bought 'by hire'. Now we would call it, 'buy here, pay here.' They also would take machines in as a trade in for a Singer sewing machine. The 'trade ins' would be destroyed so they couldn't be resold, and a person wanting a sewing machine would have to buy a new one instead.