For machines produced before 1900, the serial number will be only numbers, according to the Singer Company. For post-1900 machines, one or two letters will precede the number. Match the serial number on your sewing machine with a serial number on one of the three lists the Singer Company posts online (see Resources). Serial numbers on Singer sewing machines manufactured prior to 1900 have numbers only. After 1900 the machine serial numbers have a single or two-letter prefix. This table will tel you the age of machine that have serial numbers starting with two letters. Home Singer Sewing Machine Company DatingSerial Number List. Dating Singer Machines. These tables are taken from Singer publications; they show the dates for a particular range of serial numbers for the given plants. PLEASE NOTE: R-series was issued before J-series V-series was issued before F-series. Find sewing machine model number from serial number We often are asked for sewing machine parts to fit a Singer F1234567. The problem is this long number is the serial number and we need the machine model number to help with parts, feet, needles etc. Identifying Vintage Sewing Machines. Using this identification form, I narrowed my Singer’s model down to 27/28 or 127/128. Based on certain factors, I think it’s most likely a model 127/128. Sandman Collectibles also offers many vintage Singer machine user manuals for sale.
Several years ago, I was given an antique Singer treadle sewing machine that has been passed down through my family for a few generations. I had no idea when it was manufactured or its model number. Several parts are missing, it’s not in great shape, and it’s basically non-functional–but it still is a wonderful piece of family memorabilia, and I love having it in my home. My flat screen TV usually lives on top of the Singer cabinet, so I look at it every day. Perhaps someday I’ll refurbish it, and when that happens, it will be important to know a little more about the machine.
Thanks to Singer’s recent 160th anniversary celebration, I was able to pinpoint my antique machine’s model year by entering its serial number into Singer’s online database. It’s nice to know my sewing machine was manufactured in 1907. But I also wanted to find out the model number–which at first I thought would be a far more difficult proposition. Luckily, a quick search online yielded several resources that helped me narrow down my Singer’s model number.
The best and easiest to navigate is Sandman Collectibles’ online Singer identification guide. Referring back to your vintage Singer, you answer a series of yes/no questions about your machine’s features. Based on your answers, the online form jumps you to more identification questions, until eventually you arrive at one or more possible models. Using this identification form, I narrowed my Singer’s model down to 27/28 or 127/128. Based on certain factors, I think it’s most likely a model 127/128. Sandman Collectibles also offers many vintage Singer machine user manuals for sale.
Another very helpful resource is blogger Nicholas Rain Noe’s “The Vintage Singer Sewing Machine Blog”. Through several blog posts, Nicholas offers guidance through the process of analyzing a machine’s features and distinguishing very similar models from each other.
Also worth browsing is the website of the International Sewing Machine Collectors’ Society. The society archives sewing machine manuals, advertisements, and other information and offers many downloadable materials on its website. It also publishes research findings, auction results, and information on restoring vintage machines for an international membership of sewing machine collectors.
Mystery accessories from antique machines can be a little harder to identify, but you can use many of the same resources available for identifying machines. Also, there are many vendors that specialize in original or reproduction parts for antique and vintage machines, and simply comparing your machine’s mystery part-like a presser foot-to those available for sale can help you figure out its purpose. I’m fairly sure that the two identical presser feet in the photo are ruffler attachments (I know the third foot is a roll-hem attachment).
Do you own a vintage or antique sewing machine? Is your antique a family heirloom or a yard sale find? Have you identified its model and year of manufacture? Do you have any favorite resources for identifying antique machines and replacing parts?
My 1907, treadle-operated Singer sewing machine.
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Based on the series of questions posed by Sandman Collectibles' online Singer identification guide, and based on additional details, I believe it's a model 127/128.
The mystery presser foot attachments at left are most likely rufflers, and the one at right is fairly obviously a roll-hem foot.
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