Posted 4 years ago
daisee1203
(1 item)
We just inherited this lovely antique Singer sewing machine in a cabinet. Both machine and cabinet need some restoration but otherwise, in good condition. Treadle moves freely from what I’ve been able to test.
I have tried looking for model # info and find conflicting info - I’m specifically looking for the year and model - we have zero history other than it came from a yard sale. I plan on cleaning it up and learning how to use it. From my very amateur research, I believe the “B” means it was made in Bridgeport, CT? Any insight would be appreciated! I would especially love to know the time period.
Thank you so much for all the wonderful info. I am psyched to know it was from the early 1900’s. I am excited to learn more about my historical piece. Thank you for the time you took to help me.
Hi Daisee1203. My research shows this is a Model 31 made in 1904. There were 1,000 of them made. You can find the information at the following link;
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-b-series-serial-numbers.html
Best wishes and happy sewing ~ Bonnie
As long as I'm at it, I might as well start correcting the vintage sewing machine posts that have been left with either incorrect or incomplete information.
At a glance, this is a vintage Singer sewing machine with the famous Lotus decal set applied to it.
The Lotus decal set was only ever applied to model 66 machines. Most of the Lotus model 66 machines were made in Singer's Kilbowie plant (Scotland), but a few were made at Singer's biggest U.S. plant in Elizabethport, NJ. This appears to be one of the latter.
Serial number B1317009 was one of a block of 20,000 consecutive serial numbers ([B]1299001 through [B]1319000) that was allotted by Singer's central office to the Elizabethport factory September 1 1905 and all were destined to be stamped into the beds of model 66 machines, probably some time before November 21 1905:
*snip*
B- 1299001 1319000 66 20000 September 1 1905
B- 1469001 1479000 66 10000 November 21 1905
*snip*
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-b-series-serial-numbers.html
*snip*
ELIZABETHPORT
Letter B Series 1904 1905
*snip*
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer_dating_by_serial_number.html
About the model 66:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/66
The famous Lotus decal set:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal09
The cabinet is either Cabinet Table No. 5 or No. 6 (the only difference between those two is the decoration on the center drawer and the center drawer on this one is missing):
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/5-6_cab.html
About Singer's South Bend, Indiana cabinet-making factory:
https://orangebeanindiana.com/2019/06/12/south-bends-singer-sewing-machine-company/
Here is a 1913 manual for a Singer model 66-1 (the only real difference between the sewing machine head in the manual and the one in this post is that the former has a back-clamping presser foot):
https://archive.org/details/Singer661Manual
About the Elizabethport factory:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/elizabethport
https://www.ericwilliamsblog.com/left-behind-in-elizabeth-the-singer-manufacturing-company-part-1/
https://www.ericwilliamsblog.com/left-behind-in-elizabeth-the-singer-manufacturing-company-part-2/
My (sporadically updated) collecton of vintage sewing machine links:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-help-for-vintage-sewing-machines