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Posted 1 year ago
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I found this nifty old machine (guessing it's 20-30 years older than I am) browsing Craigslist shortly after I'd sold my 2006 Brother sewing machine. Every time I get the urge to use it, I'm always hesitant, and want to find out exactly what I've come across. I can't seem to find a way to get a specific date (year, really) of when it was manufactured, and every time I've searched the model and/or serial numbers in search engines, I can't find anything that's helpful. The model # is KZM, and serial # is 402187. Is anyone able to tell me what I've got my hands on?
Non-Singer Sewing MachinesSinger may be the name most associated with sewing machines, but the compan…
I think the machine plates tell you quite a lot - it's manufactured by Koyo, Osaka, Japan for an importer named Standard Sewing Equipment, of NY. It's a multi-stitch automatic zig zagger so not that old, probably early 70's, if it's 20 to 30 years older than you you must be quite young :) It's not valuable or rare, and looks pretty typical of a modern machine in threading etc. There may be numbers stamped underneath it that could help with further id. Is it a drop in bobbin or a vertical bobbin in a case?
I'm from the early 90s so it is 20 years older! The koyo company doesnt make sewing machines anymore so I couldnt get to any type of records to find out how old it was. Also, its got plates for standard and universal, which had thrown me off. :]
and its a vertical bobbin style
LOL ok Rachael, one person's vintage is another's very young :) You have what is generally referred to as a badged machine. This refers to a machine that was purchased by a reseller, and given their own brand or name. The company that IMPORTED this machine was the Standard Sewing Equipment Co, NY. The company that SOLD the machine called it a 'Universal'. This may have been a branch of Standard Sewing Equipment, or another retailer. The MANUFACTURER of the machine is Koyo, from Osaka, Japan.
I found this info from Google:
STANDARD SEWING EQUIPMENT CORP
11760 BEREA RD
CLEVELAND, OH 44111
216-252-3370
This may or may not be the same company.
The KZM was also sold by Montgomery Ward as 'Signature'.
I would be surprised if the company could tell you when the machine was made, there may be a chance that you could find a manual, with a copyright date or something like that.
I can tell the age by the style of the machine, it's not very different from the type I had in sewing classes at school, a long time before you were born :) It's more modern that the zig zag machines that used cams for stitch patterns, or keys to change stitch patterns.
I can't see a spool pin - is it a horizontal type or is the pin missing?