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Singer Sewing Machines
About Vintage Singer Sewing Machines
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 occurred—Singer put an Edison electric motor in one of its machines, a foreshadowing of things to come.
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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Interviews & Articles
An Interview With Antique Sewing Machine Collector Harry Berzack
I work for a sewing machine distribution company that was started by my late father. We mainly distribute industria… [more]
An Interview With Antique Sewing Thimble Collector Sue Gowan
My husband, Mike, used to buy me pieces of china. One day he bought me a Jasperware blue Wedgwood thimble and I put… [more]
An Interview on Vintage Fashion, Sewing, and Aprons with Author Amy Karol
I think I started collecting vintage aprons seriously probably in 1991, my first year of college. I was an absolute… [more]
Guest Column: Collecting Vintage Sewing Patterns
Paper sewing patterns were first manufactured in the middle of the 1800s. These first paper patterns were designed … [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
The NeedleBar
A rich site showcasing the passion of a group of antique sewing machine collectors from around the globe. Features … [read review or visit site]
Sewing Machine Collector
Geoff and Norma Dickens' reference site on vintage toy sewing machines from the late 1800s. Browse the images alpha… [read review or visit site]
Vintage Patterns
Looking for some vintage patterns or style ideas? This Flickr photo pool, a group effort, showcases a huge collecti… [read review or visit site]
Thimbleselect of Australia
Sue Gowan's impressive thimbles reference database. Using the left-side navigation, choose 'Learn More About' and s… [read review or visit site]
Sensibility Vintage Images
An extensive collection of photos and ephemera illustrating changing fashion styles from 1795 to 1959. Includes por… [read review or visit site]
Got a site to suggest? Let us know.
Clubs & Associations: Sewing
- Thimble Collectors International
- International Sewing Machine Collectors Society
- National Button Society
Discussion Forums: Sewing
- Yahoo Singer Group
- Yahoo Singer Sewing Machine Attachments Group
- Yahoo Vintage Singers Group
- Yahoo CyberThimble Group
Other Great Reference Sites: Sewing
Are we missing one? Tell us.
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Recent News: Singer Sewing Machines
Source: Google News
Basic home ec could help prevent student college debt
WalletPop (blog), March 18thYou don't have to worry about dropping a load of cash on the latest Singer sewing machine either. All you need is a needle and some thread...Read more
Bexley woman's home-based business turns medical uniforms into Sparkly Scrubs
Columbus Dispatch, March 18th
Using a Singer sewing machine that belonged to her late mother, Weisman said she taught herself how to sew and invested $500 in a professional heat-pressing...Read more
Jeff Goldberg's blood-and-soil Israeli nationalist fantasy
Salon, March 17thMarty Peretz, who married into the Singer Sewing Machine fortune and then used his wife's money to buy and ruin The New Republic, turning it into pro-Contra...Read more
Thought Leader -- Making the Case for Made in America
IndustryWeek, March 16th
His father ran the Singer sewing machine factory in Elizabeth, NJ "That's why I went into manufacturing," Moser is quick to point out...Read more
Singer holds sewing instructress meet '10
Financial Express Bangladesh, March 11thA total of 65 participants, including sewing instructresses of Singer sewing schools across the country, field members and top officials of the company...Read more
Esteve: My grandmother laid the foundation for my independence
SDNN (blog), March 11thAs a cycling and swimming aficionado, she made her own bloomers on an old Singer sewing machine that she kept all her life, even when my grandfather bought...Read more
Annual Needle Art and Quilt Show displays historic craftsmanship
Killeen Daily Herald, March 7thThe quilt of an antique Singer sewing machine that Lampasas resident Joyce Lucas, 64, entered was made to teach an aging fellow quilter in the local circles...Read more
HSN Celebrates National Craft Month with Top Brands, Designers and Special ...
PR Web (press release), March 1stOn March 1, Singer Sewing starts the celebration with an exciting array of embroidery accessories and tools, such as the state-of-the-art Singer...Read more