Vintage children's sewing machines
 

I got a Singer model 20 not too long ago and got some before and after pictures. I sure hope they will come up on this post.

I'm currently trying to figure out how to get her to sew WELL. She does do a chain stitch, but it's nesting underneath, so we'll see.

Three's the limit, apparently, so let's get some more up.

Oops, uploaded a little Buddah there. Can't get it to delete. (I took that picture to show my nephew that I still had it after all these years since he gave it to me when he was a kid.)

I think these may be the last. You may have guessed the first ones were before pictures. I still haven't changed out the felt on the bottom yet.

Aw, man! How (why) did they turn out upside down?

Oh well.

My Mom thinks it's really cute and has offered a place to keep it - in her curio cabinet. I told her I'd like to try to use it, and I thought maybe her granddaughters might like to try it too. She can keep it there when I'm not playing with it, and as long as everyone understood it's mine. :)

She is really a cute machine. I must say you did a beautiful job cleaning her up. Hope all goes well getting her to stitch properly.

How cute. I haven't seen one like it beore. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for starting this. I have 3, 2 came to me through the DH side and one I got in a shop. When I get to Christmas break, things are nuts at school, I will try and put up my pics. I don't use them, but love them just the same.

Celeste, it looks really cute all cleaned up.

Hope to see others post their pics on here.

Thank a bunch Celeste, keep us posted on how the stitching turns out..My Mom sewed a lot of clothes on this tiny thing..Amazing..Luv the idea of this site.. looking forward to viewing all the cuties around..and found.. the machines that is..LOL

Here is a picture of my little machine with no wheel. I am looking for the wheel and parts to make it complete. It is so tiny the decals are very nice, and the chrome is cleaning up nicely.

Grayhare, Love the decals on this cute machine!

Celeste, I think you need to take a new photo of the Buddha with it sitting right next to your toy sewing machine. Love the Buddha.

My toy Singer from around 1953.[ATTACH=CONFIG]292615[/ATTACH]

Celeste, do you happen to know what year your model was made?

I really like your toy Singer sewing machine. I haven't been able to find one. The prices get way up there on ebay. The search continues, which is part of the fun.

In my research, I've discovered that if this type doesn't have numbers to tell you where to put the thread, it is made between 1914 and 1922.

More Info found..
 

Found that the year also correlates with the number of spokes. Looks like you have 7 spokes. Per Meeker's site "This Singer 20 example is known as the 1922 model, and features the black painted 7-spoke handwheel with a nickel plated rim." And yes it does correlate with the lack of numbers. This is supposed to be a 'rare' model as noted in 'WorthPoint' Price Guide.. so Congrats!.. :)

I have a Sew-ette toy sewing machine, battery operated, red colored. I'm having trouble finding needles. It needs something shorter than one inch. It still is cute though
Enjoy yours.

I have 2, a Singer and a German made one. I need to find needles, too! Haven't had much time to play with them. I loe both the pics, especially the white one!!

Celeste...your problem with bird's nests are due to lack of tension...I would take that entire tension mechanism apart and clean it, then lightly oil it....when you thread it make sure that the thread is actually in the tension guide, and not next to it...sometimes it's hard to see...you will need to tighten the screw to make more tension on the thread.
If that doesn't work, then get a helper to turn the wheel slowly while you pull on the thread from the top..creating your own tension...if this fixes the problem, then you will just need a new tension spring..sometimes hard to find an original, but you can take the old one to a hardware store and they can usually get you something close enough to make the machine work in the meanwhile. Don't throw away the old spring if you can't get a new one, it is still the original part and will add value to the machine should you ever choose to sell it...Congrats...very nice little machine!

1914 8-Spoke Singer Model 20
 

Here is an 8-Spoke Singer 20. It predates the 7-Spoke, and is sometimes referred to as a “1914 model 20”. I understand that they began making them in 1914. Prior to that, the model 20s were 4-spoke machines. I’m not sure what year mine was made, but sometime after 1914, and before 1922.

CD in Oklahoma

Oh, my gosh! Haven't seen one of those in years. It was my mother's first sewing machine and she made a Halloween costume with it.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]292713[/ATTACH]Here is my little jewel! We got her all oiled up - cleaned out a bunch of very large sized thread from around the hand wheel and she stitches a perfect stitch!

Nancy

the inventor of these machines are amazing to me. Looks like a very simple machine too. Wish we still had seam guides like that now. Do you know how old it is?

Thank you for your help, donna.
I have been fiddling with the tension, just the screw part, and when I do about a two inch chain all but one look nice. Just a tiny little loop. I did not think to oil that! Silly me. I did (I hope), every where else. Are those two disc things supposed to be facing the same way? That's how they were when I cleaned them...

Grayhare, I have the same machine, compleat but with green on the decals where yours is red. My DMIL got it as a child in the 1920's. I love it.
MisDixie

I would love to see a picture of it! They are so little and cute.

I don't remember about the tension discs...I don't have one here right now to check, maybe someone with a machine on hand can look and tell you. Just my experience with fixing these up, I don't think they should be "spooned"...it won't hurt anything to take them off and put them back to back, then try sewing with it...most tension discs that I have seen are back to back..smooth surface touching smooth surface...they have to be this way so the thread won't bind or snag...it is the tightening of the spring that creates pressure on the 2 discs, so there is tension on the thread, but if they are spooned it just doesn't sound correct to me. Donna

Jean, I am not sure who you are addressing this question to, but I think my machine is a 1950's machine. Singer made the toy machines from about 1910 to the 1950's, then resurrected them in the 70's for a short time. The machines from the 70's were more modern looking with enclosed parts. Starting in about 1922, Singer numbered the thread guides. My machine has numbered thread guides so I know it was made between 1922 and the 1950's. By the picture on the box I'd guess the 1950's - besides there are two other people on here who have the same machine with dates of 1953.

Nancy

My machine and box are the same as Nancy's (Bojangles), the manual that came with mine has a 1953 copyright date, making mine, at least, after that date. :)

Anyone have an idea how I can get a manual or a copy of one for the 1922 model k-20?? Putting together a folio for my DS, who has Mom's k-20..been looking all over the net as well as ISMAC..but not finding one..

Just found 2 on ebay..didn't see them earlier..happy dance..

How about my little sweet pea?

You are absolutely right, it wouldn't hurt at all! Will get on that soon. Thanks!

I'd try going to www.singerco.com and contact them with an email telling them what you're looking for.

These little machines are just so cute. Now to look for one for myself! Thanks for starting the site Celeste.
Janis

Really? http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/atq/2743013683.html

That's what I thought!

I just got this little one, she is missing the tension knob. and she needs a good cleaning.

Cutie! I think I saw on here somewhere that you can get a replacement knob.

I am working on getting the photos of my 3 little machines up. Computer and camera are still having issues. Half way through loading the pictures on to the computer the camera batterey decided that it would be a good time to recharge. Sigh....do you ever feel like road kill on the info highway? Hopefully I will have the up to share later today.