SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE SIZES
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When was my sewing machine manufactured?
- For Singer sewing machines:
Singer Manufacture Dates
Singer Serial Charts
Call Singer at: 1-800-4-Singer (Have the serial number of your machine ready)
Singer Industrials Dating and Information: 1.800.474.64379
Email Singer at: TalkToUs@SingerCo.com - For New Home sewing machines:
Call New Home at: 1-800-631-0183 - For Elna Sewing machines:
http://www.elnausa.com - For White/Viking Sewing machines:
31000 Viking Parkway
Westlake, OH 44145
440-808-6550
440-847-0001 (fax)
800-446-2333 - For Pfaff machines:
Pfaff Dating Chart - For Willcox & Gibbs machines:
Production Figures for Willcox & Gibbs machines
Who made my sewing machine? I heard about machines being "badged", what does this mean?
- In the 1890 to 1940 period there was a fad with large retailers and mail order houses to sell "own brand" sewing machines.
To do this they entered into contracts with established sewing machine manufacturers who would supply standard models but with the name of choice substituted for the normal brand name.
ISMACS has records of nearly 5000 such "exclusive" names produced by half a dozen makers during this period.
The situation is further confused in that retailers might switch makers at the end of a contract period and the same name would then appear on a completely different machine by another manufacturer.
- Shortly after WW2 the new Japanese sewing machine industry, funded by US aid, flooded machines into America and Europe.
Distributors in those countries gave them various western-sounding names to help sales.
- In the period between 1890 and 1930 many German companies produced machines with no reference to their origin. This was because of a general mistrust of German engineering and, of course, poor public relations following WW1.
Their machines were distributed with non-Teutonic-sounding names.
What is my sewing machine worth?
Please do not seek appraisals, valuations, estimates, worth etc here.
Long time collectors know it's simply not possible to estimate a
machine's worth without a number of criteria being met.
- Condition of the machine which is possible only from a hands-on appraisal. eBay will give you some idea of the vast difference in the condition of so-called "perfect", "mint", "as-new" etc machines. Only with a hands-on viewing would an expert be able to know of any missing parts, replaced parts and the added value of any accessories, box, paperwork etc. These factors can affect the "value" by many hundreds of percent.
- Circumstances When I do an official appraisal I need to know whether the person needs an estimate of what the machine will bring in a local auction, or at eBay in a specialist auction, or at an ISMACS auction, or in a local newspaper advertisement, or to another collector, or to a museum, or to a dealer. or a price for insurance purposes (these are usually pretty unrealistic)
- Location Where you are will play a huge part in the perceived value of your machine.
- Market trends Sales of super rare models are usually between collectors and the information is often available to a limited few. Results of auctions are public domain but outside of the ISMACS events are usually so erratic as to be of little value in assessing results of future sales.
- Human frailty Sadly many folk don't really want to know the "value", they want confirmation that their machine is exceedingly rare and is worth a king's ransom. Tell someone that their recent yard-sale find was made in its hundreds of thousands and is worth less than $100 and you invite a stream of abusive e-mail. Believe me, this has happened many times.
- Why you want to know If you have just bought the machine its value is obviously what you paid for it. If you want to sell it, only you know what price you would be happy to take. If you intend to keep it, the "value" is academic anyway.
How can I clean up my sewing machine?
- View the Restoration Article on this website.
- Graham Forsdyke recommends STP Tuff Stuff foaming cleanser, available in the automotive care aisle.
- Avoid products containing silicone and waxes/car polishes that contain abrasives of any sort.
- The ISMACS Webmaster has used Meguiar's Deep Crystal Cleaner, Polish and Wax with great success on his 1950's and 1960's vintage Singer machines. Meguiar's products are available in the car care aisle.
I need a manual for my sewing machine, where can I get one?
How do I determine what needle my machine needs?
- Start with the needle information here on ISMACS International.