Posted 9 years ago
Kydur
(103 items)
This is the smallest sewing machine I have - the length of the machine base is just 12". Is there a special name given to these tinier-than-normal machines? The other "full-size" machines I have are 14.5" long at their base. I have a small cat and she looks huge relative to the sewing machine in the 3rd photo!
The machine is equipped with an electric motor, shaded light, and a knee controller. The cabinet is in excellent condition and is compact for a space-saving place in a room. The inlaid door has a spool holder on the inside a tray for odds 'n ends. The appears to be a little clip tucked up under the table that I presume is to hold a can of sewing machine oil.
This machine is very simple in it's design, compared to her big sisters, without all the fancy decals one sees on other machines, and appears to have seen very little use during its life - or was very well taken care of. I bought it all for $10 at a yard sale!
This machine is a model 128, and you're right about the size - it's a 3/4 size. The 128 was introduced in 1912. The decal is called Celtic Swirl which wasn't introduced until the 1930's. It's possible that your machine was refurbished, or it could be original to the design, and the cabinet that it's in, and be newer than the date you've looked up. What is the serial number?
Thanks for the info Bernadette. The serial number is JC184068.
I just looked it up again and on the Singer site it shows all JC numbers dated at 1948 (?).
I must've previously looked it up on the ISMACS site which shows letters "J-" and then my number dated 1904. Perhaps my assumption that the dash in "J-" meant any letters that came after "J" was incorrect...?
Based on the info you provided it sounds much more likely the date is 1948.
Do you know of a better (more reliable) online database for Singer serial numbers? I find there is so much discrepancy between those two sites I use. Makes it so you can't really trust either of 'em!
Hi Kydur,
You're welcome :) the double letter prefix serial numbers are listed separately to the single letter prefix. I would say there's no one online source that's 100% correct, but ISMACS is good. The ISMACS lists, and most of the other online sources, relate to the Elizabethport NJ factory in the USA and the Kilbowie factory in UK. The JA-JE are the machines from St Jean sur Richelieu factory in Quebec. Singer took a big heap of info off their site about 7 or 8 years ago. JC184068 dates to 1949, that seems about right for the style of the cabinet.
Thanks Bernadette, I've changed the title to reflect the correct date.