When it comes to Singer, even avid sewing-machine collectors tend not to mince their words. “They were not great innovators,” says Harry Berzack, who owns about 500 sewing machines of various makes and models. But one thing everyone agrees on was Singer’s unprecedented ability to get its machines into the hands of customers. “They were unbelievable marketers,” Berzack says.

That may be why collectors of antique and vintage sewing machines have so much fun collecting Singers—there are a lot of models to choose from. One of the earliest was the Turtleback from 1856, which was only in production for a few years but paved the way for Singer’s New Family machine, which was introduced in the 1860s before being renamed the Singer Model 12. The machine came in hand-crank and treadle versions, and featured decorative gold details on its jet-black body.

An Improved Family machine followed in 1879. This machine is considered a breakthrough because of its oscillating shuttle, but the next year an even more significant development ...

By 1890, Singer had a staggering 80 percent of the world sewing-machine market, and by 1891, that early Edison prototype was being offered to the public. Other models from this era (there were 40 at the turn of the century) include the Singer 48 K, which was manufactured at the company’s plant in Kilbowie, Scotland (the factory would be renamed Clydebank).

The Singer 66 is also of this vintage. It was introduced in 1900 (its portable cousin, the 99, arrived around 1920) and remained in production until the 1950s, which makes this probably the most ubiquitous Singer model available. Another Singer machine that’s popular with collectors (as well as seamstresses and tailors, for that matter) is the Featherweight, which was introduced in 1933 at the Chicago World’s Fair.

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Recent News: Singer Sewing Machines

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Sri Lankanisms
Nation on Sunday, May 25th

You have a 'Singer' sewing machine at home. Every older non-relative male is an 'uncle' and every older non-relative female is an 'auntie'. EVERYONE is a family friend. You went to a university as far away from home as possible and you still came back...Read more

The Horse That Birthed the Beatles
Wall Street Journal, May 24th

The Horse That Birthed the Beatles. The Thoroughbred that links the Aga Khan, an heir to the Singer sewing machine fortune and the mother of the Beatles' first drummer. Article; Comments. more in Books | Find New $LINKTEXTFIND$ ». smaller; Larger...Read more

Pandora de Balthazár gives antique linens their place in the sun and the home
Dallas Morning News, May 24th

De Balthazár's mother became the first female manager at the Singer Sewing Machine Co. and raised her family in a home embracing design styles from the 1950s. At 6, de Balthazár learned to sew and prided herself in making aprons from her grandmother's...Read more

Downtown Development The Development Scene: The Latest Info on 88 ...
LA Downtown News Online, May 24th

SINGER SEWING MACHINE BUILDING: Steve Needleman, who runs the Downtown property firm Anjac Fashion, is overseeing a conversion of an eight-story commercial building into apartments. The Singer Sewing Machine Building at 806 S. Broadway is...Read more

Betty Jane Anderson
Napa Valley Register, May 23rd

She had a gift for sales and worked in both retail and direct venues, including Singer Sewing Machine, Penney's, and Albert's Department Store, and as a Tupperware sales manager. She was also the proprietor of And Also Antiques, which opened on Main...Read more

Along These Lines: Be careful what you sew
Richmond County Daily Journal, May 22nd

Back in 1933, some 200 disgruntled workers at a branch of the US Singer Sewing Machine Company in Yokohama, Japan, went on a riot and trashed the factory. The employees were upset at a 10 cent pay reduction (I guess this was in the days when a dime...Read more

Collection of historic Singer sewing machines to go on public display after ...
Scottish Daily Record, May 12th

Collection of historic Singer sewing machines to go on public display after being kept in storage for 30 years. 12 May 2013 14:45. WEST Dumbartonshire Council have secured accreditation from Museum Galleries Scotland for the collection, a major step...Read more

Bunker Hill Capital acquires Dyno Holdco, licensee of the Singer sewing brand
Boston.com, May 8th

Bunker Hill Capital, a Boston based private equity firm, said Wednesday that it has acquired Dyno Holdco LLC, the exclusive licensee of the Singer brand for sewing accessories and one of the largest producers and marketers of holiday decorative home...Read more