While examining a brown vintage Singer to see if it worked I came across a manual folded into a box of accessories. It turns out there was a very early refurbishing program. Who knew?!
Before finding the document I had a few clues into the model and history of the machine. The Singer Serial Number Database indicates it is from 1922, but unfortunately did not provide the singer sewing machine model number.
Cross-referencing the International Sewing Machine Collectors Society (ISMCS) serial number list confirms the year, Class “66” and that it is one of 50,000 that year.
The machine was installed in a Singer cabinet done in a federalist furniture style which would have been consistent with the regular funiture of the period. It is narrower than a treadle cabinet and looks like a basic sidetable: hides in plain sight. Unlike this lovingly restored “cabinet #40” the front face of this one wasn't a "belly drawer"the entire front face swings open to the left like a cabinet door.
Unfortunatly it does not close because of the position of the knee-pedal. Closer inspection shows the knee–controller is not singer but another manufacture: Delco. The potted motor is also aftermarket: General Motors. Finding the “Rebuilt Singer” manual explains why and gives a secondary date to associate with the machine. A company called Great Eastern Equipment Corp. copyrighted the manual 1941 and no longer seems to exist, or at least not in that capacity. Without an additional receipt or model numbering plate all we can say with certainty is that the machine was rebuilt sometime after 1941 and repainted with a wrinkle–brown finish.
Here's where the romance starts to fade.
That paint job is imperfect with smudge marks which are baked-on, not chips and wear from use. Although I am not in the market for a “collectible” I do want to be sure I'm getting a fair price.
A tour of the electrical cords shows crumbling insulation on the wires, rubber breaking down at the insertion point to the motor, a cardboard covering on the plug face instead of plastic or bakelite and melted copper on the no–longer–attached, hard-wired wall cord. Most likely an attempted to operate it with decomposing electrics caused a short.
The machine is priced at $150 firm which is reasonable if everything is in working order. At this point it needs $200 in electrical/wiring. I determined that even if I sold off one set of the included accessories I would be in the machine for $300. That makes it no longer bargain and not necessarily even a good find. I need to do more homework.
