1950 Singer in cabinet
 

A friend of mine wants to sell her 1950 Singer in cabinet..model # AJ987146...she doesn't know what to ask for it...great condition...can someone give me about what they are worth...thanks

Here you go... http://www.ismacs.net/sewing_machine...ine_worth.html

I saw one at a thrift store for $34. It's worth what you can get for it.

I have my mother's 15-91 in a cabinet and no way I would let it go. Sure wish I had the matching stool but it would more than likely just get in the way. Value? I agree, whatever you can get for it. The buyer will want to know when it was serviced last. Do you know the model number? That has a lot to do with the value.

Good luck!

I just bought a 1951 model 15 in a very nice cabinet with the stool for $75.

I bought mine at a garage sale with manual and attachments with the cabinet and stool for $8.00.

Mary

I just purchased a Singer "15ch Models - 1 and 11". The cabinet and machine are in very good condition, but needs a new belt and thread spindle to start. I haven't had a chance to check out much more. Does anyone know how old this machine is? I have checked out a lot of stuff on internet and it appears to be in the group between 1850 and 1870. Nothing gives an approximate value, but I felt that $80.00 was reasonable. I found it in a thrift shop. My first find.

Millie,
If in fact this is a CH model, it was made in China. Probably made in the 1980 (ish). To verify this we need the serial number.
Cathy

Thanks very much Mizkaki. The serial number is 493519. Any help in identifying will be appreciated.

Millie,

Are where any letters before the serial number? And can you post a picture?

Cathy

:)Mizkaki and Cathy:

Today I finally got the machine out of the car. Discovered I had wrong serial number. Correct number is 493519. I also found that it was made in China. I checked into "mysingerstory.com" which provided a certificate that this number was issued in 1851-1870. The decorations on the machine depict Egyptian pharoh and scenery. There are no letters before the serial number and per www.sewalot.com/dating_singer_sewing_machine_by_serial_number.htm and prefix letters were not added up to 1900 and came from several factories around the world. Boy this stuff is confusing.

Millie

Cathy: No letter in front of serial number. The design on the machine is a sphinx and it was made in China.

Millie,

There is something not quite right here. Singer was not making machines in China in the 1800s and they weren't using the sphinx decals until 1891. Why do you think this machine was made in China? Can we see a close up picture of it?

If it is a Chinese made machine then you can't use the Singer data to date it. There is no dating data for the China made machines from the 1980ish era.

Cathy

It's a Singer "reproduction"....I've seen both model 15s and 27s in the repros...

Ditto. The Chinese Sphinx or Memphis decals are always a bit more garish in style and color.

Mizkaki and Cathy: "Made in China" was engraved on a metal strip underneath the head of the machine. I can't give you a picture because machine is being checked out and given a few new pieces. In addition, I still need to learn how to post a picture. I am also very confused about its age. I went to Singer on the internet and they sent me a certificate acknowledging that serial #493519 was issued in 1851-1870. This information was not guaranteed however. Nothing about being built in China, but apparently Singers were being built in several countries even then. In any case, I'm not concerned with the monetary value of the machine, just curiosity getting the better of me. It's in beautiful condition and I'm hoping I can learn how to use it properly.

Millie,

Yes, that serial number was being used before 1870, but not for the Chinese machines. This machine can not be accurately dated because there are no dating records for the Chinese machines. Singer assumed that the serial number given by you was for an European or American made machine.

Cathy

Marilyn,

Can you see the round dial/knob on the bed of this machine. Does your Chinese made machine have this knob for lowering the feed dogs?

Also, does the tension dial have numbers and does the machine have a reverse stitch?

Littlebear:

Yes it does have a drop feed dial and the tension dial does have numbers. It also does a reverse stitch.

that is so pretty .........

I also believe it's a Singer reproduction. It was probably made in the 1980s.

Hi Marilyn,

I think we can safely say that your sewing machine is of late twentieth century origin, probably 1980's as others have said. Definintely not between 1851 and 1870. The evidence we have is that the 15 model was not made during this time, I believe it was first manufactured during the late 1870's (1879?), also machines of this era didn't have the numbered tension dials and the 15 model didn't get the reverse stitch feature until quite late in it's production. The plastic dial to drop the feed dogs is a feature of the late twentieth century Chinese, Taiwanese etc models.

The machine in the picture I posted is a late twentieth/early twenty-first century machine.

I hope this has helped you in your quest for information about your machine.

I have a 15 made in Taiwan, circa 1980 and she is a lovely machine.

Clare