Posted 1 year ago
Nimbus
(1 item)
Hi, can anyone tell me anything more about this item? It was my fathers & grandfathers, & I believe a Singer machine for stitching their carpets (both fitters). I have contacted a Singer museum & going by the model number prefix W, they don't think I will be able to establish what it is, & it may be a one off.. Presumably not that old, & post 1951, but I would just be interested to know if any collectors could shed some light? There are all sorts of bits and pieces with it, but I could only include 4 general photos. Many thanks.
Very interesting piece..hopefully kera can figure this out..
Hi, Nimbus. :-)
A Bridgeport Singer industrial. Way cool. <3
Yup, that Singer Centennial medallion badge does suggest post 1951.
However, the mother of one of the regulars at the leatherworker dot net forum uncovered a Bridgeport Singer factory serial number chart. It looks like serial number W1217842 would be circa 1949-1950:
*snip*
W 1198698 1949
W 1264065 1950
*snip*
https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/82112-singer-age-by-serial-numbers-slide-chart/
There's a slight discrepancy between the date range on the Bridgeport chart and the Singer Centennial medallion, but it still fits:
*snip*
To celebrate 100 years of business, many machines made during the period 1950 to 1952 were fitted with an alternative 'Centennial' badge. This had a blue border around a yellow centre containing the familiar Singer shuttle logo.
*snip*
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_badges
About the Bridgeport factory:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/bridgeport
https://wikimapia.org/32447173/Singer-Sewing-Machine
Usually industrial Singers have a model number plate, but I don't see one in evidence on yours.
Finding out the model number could take some time, as Google Lens didn't turn up anything really promising.
That leaves me with the comprehensive model list at the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society website:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/model-list/index.html
Feel free to browse it yourself, because this could take some time, and no guarantee that a match will be found, because ISMACS doesn't have pictures or drawings of every model ever produced.
Alternately, you could ask the folks at either the leatherworker or victoriansweatshop forums for help:
https://leatherworker.net/forum/
https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/
Both forums have some very knowledgeable vintage sewing machine enthusiasts.
Hi dav2no1 thank you for your comment, & thank you so much keramikos for going to so much trouble! I shall take a look at each link in a short while, & this info is fantastic & so helpful! I will see if I can find out more, & will post back & let you know how I get on! Thanks, again! :)
Nimbus, You're quite welcome. :-)
The fact that your father and grandfather worked with carpet seems like an excellent clue.
I realize that this isn't even close to a twin, but I suspect we might at least be getting into family here:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/model-list/images0-99/35k1.jpg
*snip*
For stitching carpets. Driven by hand. Two thread chain stitch. Spool tensions. (Photos: Mike Anderson)
*snip*
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/model-list/classes-1-99.html
FYI, my work of going through all the models at ISMACS was greatly shortened by searching each page for the string "carpet." That's both good and bad.
It narrowed things down to the first page (models 1 -99), because none of the other pages had the string.
Thanks again keramikos! What I will do is get the box out tomorrow & take a look in the tin of bits to see if there a number amongst it all. I am amazed at just how many Singer machines there are, & the heavy quality!.... I will keep on looking on the ISMACS tonight.
Nimbus, No problem. :-)
Yeah, I suspect a lot of people don't realize the extent of Singer's production.
Going through the tin of odds and ends is probably a good idea.
In the meantime, I ran down a drawing of the Singer model 36-4:
http://www.industrialsewmachine.com/webdoc1/used/used-singers/36.htm
ISMACS lists the model 36-4, but has no picture:
*snip*
Positive feed. For seaming all grades of carpets and rugs, light, medium or heavy.Has lever driven needle slide with great penetrating power. Speed 800. (10/1952)
*snip*
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/model-list/classes-1-99.html
Ya know, at first glance, the drawing of that model 36-4 seems a bit too busy-looking to be your machine.
However, I notice a four-spoke wheel in your picture of loose odd and ends, and that could fit on the side as it does in the drawing.
How many of the other loose odds and ends might be essential components, rather than mere attachments?
There's a slight discrepancy in the "10/1952" date listed for the 36-4 at ISMACS, compared with the date range for your serial number (1949-1950), but it seems possible that yours was an early one or a prototype.
Thanks keramikos, I am off to bed in a bit (11.55pm here). I think you do have the correct model/picture & I would think the bits on the floor are essential. I will take a look at the box in the morning, & I will get back to you. Much appreciated! :)
Right, I really am off to bed now, but I just wanted to say that I have found a manual for the 36-4 dated 1933? https://www.supsew.com/wpfb-file/singer-36-4-pdf/ Speak to you later!
Hi keramikos, you did it! Having taken a look this morning, there is a easily missed grimy & tarnished brass plate around the opposite side to that of the centennial badge. I gave it a quick wipe & I can confirm it says 36-4, so well done! :) The tin of other bits looks like accessories, & looking at the picture, I think I can see where the bigger part on the floor next to the tin attaches. I will mark this as solved, & hopefully it will still allow people to reply if they wish. (this is my first posting on this all very new to me). Thanks again, & much appreciated! :)
Nimbus, Ah, so it does have a model plate. :-)
Kudos to you for running down a parts manual. It will be useful to you for identifying all the little loose bits.
It's useful in another sense in that it has copyright dates on it that pushes the origins of the model 36-4 back to 1925, although yours seems to be much newer than that.
Oh, and thank you very much for marking this post as mystery solved. :-)
I'm terrible about remembering to ask people to do that. CW S&T is a veritable boneyard of posts marked as unsolved mysteries. Some of them are legitimate unsolved mysteries; others are solved, but never got marked as such.
There should be no problem with people commenting on a post marked as a solved mystery.
I'm so glad this mystery is solved. Not only do I like it personally in the sense of a solved puzzle, but this Singer sewing machine is a family heirloom for you, and I'm sure it's gratifying to know more about it.
No joy on finding a user manual for it, though. :-(
Nice job Kera! Nimbus - I forgot to say..welcome to CW. Hopefully you find some more interesting items to share with us.
Thanks Keramikos, & thank you for the welcome dav2no1. I will keep searching for the user manual, & hopefully this might bring out 1 or 2 others that own these 36-4's because I can't currently find any others online. To be honest, this is the first time that I have come across this site, due to looking into this machine. You have been so helpful, & I am loving looking at other peoples items on here too, so plan to stick around on here. :)
dav2no1, Thanks. :-)
I figured I was onto something when I found that drawing of the Singer 36-4.
Thank you for welcoming Nimbus to Collectors Weekly Show & Tell. I fail miserably at extending that little courtesy to new members.
Nimbus, You're very welcome. :-)
I'm not really a vintage sewing machine expert; I just became slightly (*cough*) fascinated with them a few years back.
One potential source for a user manual might be the very large Facebook vintage sewing machine group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VintageSewingMachines/
They have somebody who maintains a library of over one thousand manuals.
Unfortunately, that FB group is kind of a black box to anybody who isn't a member, so you would have to join.
By all means, if you have other interesting things, VSM or otherwise, post away. :-)
BTW, it probably wasn't quite accurate for me to say that the Singer model 36-4 goes back to circa 1925. It's that the model 36 series appears to go back that far, judging from the available soft copies of parts/price lists at hendersonsewing, supersew, and universalsewing dot com.
Models 36-1 and 36-3 go back to circa 1925; model 36-4 starts circa 1933:
http://hensewfiles.com/PDFs/SINGER%2036-1%20NEW.pdf
http://hensewfiles.com/PDFs/SINGER%2036-4.pdf
Still no joy on finding a user or service manual for the 36 series, but I did find some instructions for the 35 series:
http://dixiesewing.com/MANUALS/SINGERSERVICE/35%20CLASS-Inst.pdf
Better than a sharp stick in the eye, right? };-)
Thanks keramikos :)
What I will do is set up an eBay automated search for a user manual, & if I can remember how, one on Google too!
That is interesting seeing how the 35 series worked on a suspended carpet seam! I think the 36-4 works on a metal pole/track.
I will let you know if anything turns up! :)
Nimbus, Good luck with that effort. :-)
Your guess as to how the 36-4 works is much better than mine, I'm sure.
FYI, insofar as I can tell, your Singer 36-4 is the only one ever posted here at CW S&T.
Anyway, perhaps now that we have one, some other owner will see it on an Internet search, and post theirs.