Date a Singer

[mazbag]

No, no, I don't mean go out with a vocalist!

If you've got a Singer sewing machine, particularly an old one, I thought you might be interested to know that you can use the serial number to discover exactly when and where it was made:

http://www.singerco.com/support/serial_numbers.html

Mine is eighty this year. Are there other morsbaggers out there working with venerable sewing machines?

Mazzy

[zappers]

I am so 'miffed' a few years ago I sent my mum's very old singer to africa in a fit of philanthropy. I wish that I had kept it now. But I picture it in some african village being used well.

[mazbag]

zappers

I'm sure it's doing fine work where it is now...we can't keep everything...and the trick is to dispose as wisely as possible of those things we let go. Sounds like that's what you've done.

Mazzy

[Tabatuga]

I have to check at my father's house. It is a black old Singer "pedal-handle" and I remember my mother told me it was of her mother, but she did not know when it was done. This sewing machine is really a good one. After my mother's death (seven years ago) it has never been used, but recently we have to use it again and incredibly... every part of the machine worked at its best!
I cannot use frequently because it is by my father but now that I have started sewing ... who knows.
Thanks for the information

[Lady B]

You could teach your Father to sew bags on that machine............

[Tabatuga]

You could teach your Father to sew bags on that machine............

Too much for my father!
Imagine that my father's sister is a tailor, but she lives in Sicily and it is a bit far from where I live.
I can ask her to join in this adventure but, as far as I know, she does not want to sew anymore, having started at the age of six, like apprentice, till few years ago.
Now she is 74 and sews occasionally.

[Tabatuga]

I checked the serial number of my mother's Singer sewing machine and I found that it was produced in Monza, a town near Milano, from 1934. I found no more information.
Well, I have a sewing machine that has, at least, more than 70 years...wow

[zappers]

wow indeed!

[mazbag]

Tabatuga

They're amazing old machines, aren't they? It sounds as though mine has a similar history to yours. My mother died in 1988, so the sewing machine sat at my father's house and wasn't used at all for nearly twenty-years, but it still worked, when I figured out how to thread it up (thanks to the original instruction leaflet). It was starting to struggle after a couple of dozen morsbags, so I thought it deserved a service.

My machine was made in 1928 in Scotland. Since it was manufactured the year that my mother was born, I can only suppose it was bought by/for her mother.

Mazzy

[daffysil]

Wow, I just checked with my parents and the machine we have at home, in Italy, is from 1924! I have never tried using that one, because I was a bit scared of doing something wrong (I learned sewing just a couple of months ago, actually), but now you make me desire to give it a try when I am back home,

And another one I got as a present from the wife of my neighbour (who was an amasing tailor, still working in his nineties!) may be a sister of yours, Tabatuga, as it is exactly as old as yours and comes from Monza as well,

How fascinating!!!

Mazbag, thanks for posting this link!

[Tabatuga]

Tabatuga,
They're amazing old machines, aren't they?

I like my old sewing machine! And I never imagined that my mom's Singer sewing machine could do its job as well as it did.

... when I figured out how to thread it up (thanks to the original instruction leaflet)....

I found the original instruction leaflet on e-bay and I bought!
Unfortunately, what my mom forgot to do is to allow me and my sister use the sewing machine: "No, it is to difficult. No, it is too old. No, you are going to break it".
OK. But now, I can use it thanks also to the instruction, but I will be very careful in using it.

My machine was made in 1928 in Scotland. Since it was manufactured the year that my mother was born, I can only suppose it was bought by/for her mother.

Wow!
Thanks Mazzie for posting the link!
You have contributed to unveil a "secret" that surrounded the Singer sewing machine for a long time. Neither my mother nor my relatives had any idea about the year of production of the machine. Well, old is old!

[Tabatuga]

Wow, I just checked with my parents and the machine we have at home, in Italy, is from 1924!

Hi Daffysil, where it was produced?

I have never tried using that one

[cut]

but now you make me desire to give it a try when I am back home,

YOU MUST!

And another one I got as a present from the wife of my neighbour (who was an amasing tailor, still working in his nineties!) may be a sister of yours, Tabatuga, as it is exactly as old as yours and comes from Monza as well,
How fascinating!!!

Bless the wife of your neighbour.
It's fascinating because these are machines that, if mantained in good working order, will do their job for other years and years to come.
When I have time I will post a pic!

Mazbag, thanks for posting this link!

Yes Mazzie, thanks again!

[daffysil]

Hi Daffysil, where it was produced?

It seems in Scotland. Maybe at the beginning they were all imported from there, because I just checked with my auntie and my granmother's machine (from 1923!) comes from the same factory...

Yes, I promise to try it when I get back home,

Bless the wife of your neighbour.

Oh yes! I am particularly attached to it, because the owners have been my neighbours since I was born and they have always been like a third couple of grandparents for me! Besides, I think he was the one who transmitted me this passion for sewing,

When I have time I will post a pic!

Yes, I'll do the same!

[mazbag]

Daffy

So you've got the oldest Singer sewing machine so far....I wonder if anyone can beat that? I bet there are a lot of those 1920's Scottish-made machines still out there going strong.

Mazzy

[Svetla]

Mine starts with 60 (million), so it wasn't anywhere on the list. I guess that makes it a nipper.

Our piano (Anderson) is about 85 years old though. Pity you can't sew on pianos.