ID Singer Machines Visit my eBay Store by clicking on the link above. This Website is best viewed with Sandman-Collectibles' Singer Sewing Machine Identification Template NOTE: To see a list of available Sewing Machine User Manuals.
Singer didn't put the model numbers on their domestic machines before the early 1950's, hence the need for this chart. The number stamped on the bed of the machine is the serial number; both letters and numbers. My machine isn't black. This page is for identifying older black-coloured Singer machines. Singer sewing machines can be dated by using either the model number or serial number, although you may be able to better pinpoint an exact year of manufacture using the serial number. Use the larger number if there appears to be two different serial numbers on your machine.
(Updated April 2018) From around the late 1950's on-ward, most Singer Sewing Machines had their Model Numbers clearly visible on the front or base of most machines. Prior to the late 1950's, most Singer machines DID NOT have the Model Number anywhere on the machine, thereby making it very difficult to identify. Below is a simple procedure to help you identify your old cast metal Singer Sewing machines manufactured prior to 1960. Just answer the simple questions about your machine by clicking on the answer links and hopefully you will be able to identify it.
There are pictures along the way to assist you. If you are unsuccessful you can email me with a clear picture of your machine and its serial number. Begin with question #1 and the answer links will take you to the next question which will appear near the top of your screen and may not necessarily be question 2. Questions and answers will not necessarily follow a numerical sequence. Keep answering the questions via the answer links until your machine is identified. Have fun and Good Luck!! To begin and you will be taken to question 44.
You have indicated that the Tension Adjustment Knob is on the Left Side of the Head pointing LEFT. You most likely have a Model 15 Series machine but there are several styles which we now have to determine. Check to see how your machine is powered and choose the answer that best describes how your machine is powered. (a) using a motor. (b) such as Treadle, Hand-Crank, or Pulley. You have indicated that your machine is Electric Powered.
The motor on your machine. Should be encased in a squarish type of housing.
Check to see what drives the machine as it may be Belt-Driven or Gear-Driven. Is there a RUBBER BELT that connects the motor to the Hand-Wheel?
(a) my machine HAS a Rubber Drive Belt. (b) my machine does NOT have a Rubber Drive Belt.
With NO Rubber Belt your machine is Gear-Driven and is the Singer Model 15-91. Congratulations you are now finished! Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity.
If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. You have indicated that your machine HAS a Rubber Drive Belt. Now open the slide plate and look at the Bobbin Case. Locate the Bobbin Position Finger and note in which direction it is pointing. Select the answer that best describes your Bobbin's position. (a) The Bobbin Finger points (11 o'clock position). (b) The Bobbin Finger points (1 o'clock position).
Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 15-90. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 15-30. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished.
If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. All the Non-Electrics are similar machines, we just have to determine if it is an early Model 15 or a later Model 15. This will be done by determining what PATH the thread takes when winding the bobbin. Does your machine have a small chrome colored wheel on the very front-right corner of the base? (a) my machine has this little wheel on the base. (b) my machine does NOT have this little wheel on the base.
Without this little wheel the thread path is across the face of the machine from upper-left to upper-right making this an early Model 15 machine. Very popular with this style of machine was the 'Egyptian' style decals. Congratulations you are now finished! Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity.
If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. With this little wheel in the right corner of the base the thread path is diagonally across the front of the machine from upper-left to lower-right to the little chrome wheel and then vertically up to the bobbin winder making this a later Model 15 machine. If you have the Treadle it is a Model 15-96 and if it is Hand-Crank it is the Model 15-98. Congratulations you are now finished! Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. The Tension Adjustment Dial/Knob should be facing toward you as you have indicated and here is NO large Knob/Dial in the middle of the arm.
Now locate and look at the Slide Plate and Needle Plate. Select the answer that best describes your machine. (a) There is that slides to the LEFT of a D-shaped needle plate. (b) There is that slides to the LEFT of a Rectangular needle plate. (c) There are that slide FRONT & BACK. With TWO Narrow Slide Plates you have either the Model Series 27/28 or the Model Series 127/128.
The differences between these models is subtle. Locate the Bobbin Winder on your machine and select the answer that best locates its position. (a) The Bobbin Winder on my machine is. (b) The Bobbin Winder on my machine is. Most Singer machines have One Large Slide Plate so we now have to focus on the Faceplate. Study your Faceplate carefully and decide which answer best describes it. (a) My Faceplate is.
(b) My Faceplate is. (c) My Faceplate is.
(d). You selected Up-Near the Hand Wheel. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 127 or 128.
If your machine is the Full-Size model with the 14 to 15 inch Bed (35cm to 38cm) then you have the Model 127. If your machine is the 3/4-Size model with the 12 to 13 inch Bed (30cm to 32cm) then you have the Model 128. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity.
You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. You selected Down-Near the Bed. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 27 or 28 or one of their variations such as the Model 28K. If your machine is the Full-Size model with the 14 to 15 inch Bed (35cm to 38cm) then you have the Model 27. If your machine is the 3/4-Size model with the 12 to 13 inch Bed (30cm to 32cm) then you have the Model 28. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity.
You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. You have selected the FLAT faceplate. Now look at the Sewing Bed. Does the Sewing Bed have a hinged fold-down Sewing Bed Extension?
(a) my machine has the fold-down extension. (b) my machine does NOT have the fold-down extension. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 99 or one of its variations such as a 99K or the Model Spartan 192 or 192K.
Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished. These machines are 3/4 and 1/2 size versions of the 66-16. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. You have indicated that your machine has a hinged fold-down extension bed.
Now look at the Needle Plate and note its shape. (a) My Needle Plate is.
(b) My Needle Plate is. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 222 or one of its variations such as a 222K. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. You have indicated that your machine has the 'D' shaped Needle Plate. Now determine your machine's size.
If the Sewing Bed is 14 to 16 inches (35 cm to 41 cm) it is a Full-Size. If the Sewing Bed is 10 to 12 inches (25 cm to 30 cm) it is a Half-Size. (a) My machine is a.
(b) My machine is a. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 301 or one of its variations such as a 301A. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished.
If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 221 or one of its variations such as a 221K or the Model 221-1 or one of the colored versions like the 221J which is a tan colored model. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. You have selected the Faceplate that is Smoothly Rounded and Rectangular.
Now check the motor on your machine. It should be encased in a squarish type of housing.
Check to see what drives the machine as it may be Belt-Driven or Gear-Driven. Is there a RUBBER BELT that connects the motor to the Hand-Wheel?
(a) my machine HAS a Rubber Drive Belt. (b) my machine does NOT have a Rubber Drive Belt. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 201-2. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information.
Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 201K. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity.
You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. With NO fold down bed extension you now must look at the front of the machine. On the right near the bobbin winder check to see if there is a large thumb screw that regulates the stitch length. (a) my machine has this Thumb Screw.
(b) my machine does NOT have this Thumb Screw. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 99-13.
Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished.
This machine is a 3/4 size version of the 66-16. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information.
You have selected the Faceplate that is Rounded in the middle and Flat down both sides. Most likely it is a Singer Model 66 series. How is it powered? (a) using a motor. (b) such as Treadle, Hand-Crank, or Pulley. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 66-16.
Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished.
This machine is a FULL size version of the 99-13. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. SORRY!but your machine model may not be covered by this Template. This Template covers most of the old cast metal SINGER machines for HOME USE but not all of them.
Also, any Singer machines made for INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL use are not covered here at this time. As I work out more parts to this template I will update in the future. You can contact me via email if you need more info about your machine. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 66 or 66-1.
The Model 66-1 has the attachments thumb screw at the back of the presser bar instead of the side. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished. This machine is a FULL size version of the 99 and many of them came with the 'Red-Eye' or 'Sphynx' style decals.
If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. The Tension Adjustment Dial/Knob should be facing toward you as you have indicated. Does your machine have a set of Typewriter-like Keys on the top of the arm? (a) my machine has these Typewriter-Like Keys. (b) my machine does NOT have these Typewriter-Like Keys.
Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 319. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity.
You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. Your machine does NOT have the Typewriter-like Keys on the top of the arm. Looking at the front of your machine does it have a large Knob/Dial in the middle of the arm? (a) my machine has this large Knob/Dial. (b) my machine does NOT have this large Knob/Dial. You have indicated that your machine has the large Knob/Dial on the front of the arm.
Now look at the front of your machine and just above the large Knob/Dial there may be a 1 inch (2.5cm) Round Chrome Knob that is used to attach a Flat Cam. (a) my machine has this round Chrome Knob.
(b) my machine does NOT have this round Chrome Knob. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 306 or one of its variations such as the 306W. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information.
Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 206. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity.
You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 101. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity.
You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 48K.
Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. While facing your machine, as if you were going to sew, where is the Tension Adjustment Dial/Knob? (a) It is pointing/facing towards me on the. (b) It is pointing/facing left on the.
In addition to the 'cross' shape of the slide and needle plates, is there an additional access slide plate towards the front of the sewing bed like in the picture below? ( a) there is an additional access slide plate as above. (b) there is NO additional access slide plate, just the 'cross' shaped slide and needle plates. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 13/13K. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information.
Intentionally left Blank. Lets begin by looking at the slide and needle plates of your machine. Are the slide and needle plates very thin and positioned to form a 'cross' as in the diagram below? (a) it looks like a 'cross' as in the diagram above or very similar. (b) it does not look anything like that at all!. Intentionally left Blank. We now have to direct our attention to the Bobbin Winder Assembly found at the right hand side of the machine.
Does your Bobbin Winder have a Bobbin Thread Leveler like the one in the picture below? (a) my machine has a Bobbin Thread Leveler like the one in the picture above. My machine has a Bobbin Winder but NOT the Thread Leveler.
Intentionally left Blank. Congratulations, you have a Singer Model 12/12K. Look at the pictures below to confirm your machine's identity. You are now finished. If you need the manual for this machine OR require more information. Intentionally left Blank. Intentionally left Blank.!!
Singer Sewing Machine Company: A Brief History In the early 1850s, Isaac Merritt Singer inventing the first really practical sewing machine of the times. Instead of a circular shuttle movement and a horizontally angled needle, the Singer machine used a straight needle that worked vertically. This made it comparatively easy to use and inexpensive to produce, and 'Singer' rapidly became a household name in sewing. Over the following decades, Singer continued developing his improved sewing machine to include the following features:. A traverse shuttle.
An eye-pointed straight needle. A presser foot. An overhanging arm.
A support table. A slot for a roughened feed wheel. Gear operation. Lock stitching Surging Popularity By 1863, the Singer Manufacturing Company held 22 patents and sold 20,000 sewing machines yearly. Within eight years, the yearly sales reached 180,000 sewing machines, which included their New Family machines released for sale in 1865. Introduction of Electric Motors As the leader of the sewing machine industry, the Singer Company introduced the first practical sewing machine powered by an electrical motor in 1889. Within two years, commercial sewing machines were being sold powered by electric motors.
By this time, the company also was producing commercial zigzag sewing machines. Important Singer Sewing Machines Singer sewing machines were constantly improved and updated. Since the first machines were produced in the 1950s, thousands were sold to eager consumers. The beautiful cabinets, well-made machines, and practical improvements made Singer sewing machines a must for the average household.
In fact, the quality of these early machines is so good that there are still many Singer treadle sewing machines in use today. 1851 The first Singer sewing machine was patented in 1851. It was the first rigid-arm model and included a table to support the cloth. A vertical presser foot kept the cloth in place during the upstroke of the needle. Most importantly, the machine was the first to have a foot pedal instead of a hand crank.
These were designed to be set up on the packing crate that they were shipped in. 1856 The was the first machine designed for home use. It had a rocking treadle and a driving wheel. 1859 machine improved upon the Turtleback.
The foot treadle was wider and easier to use. 1865 machine was released in 1865.
This machine had a lockstitch and an adjustable feed. It was black with a gold scroll design on the machine.
1867 Singer made a modification to the New Family machine with its 'Medium' sewing machine, released in 1867. It had more room under the arm, which made it easier for the seamstress to manipulate large amounts of fabric. 1908 The model was a treadle machine.
Later Class 66 models had a motor and numbered tension dial added. The 66 is easily identified by the 'red eye' decals decorating it. 1921 Singer introduced the model 99 electric sewing machine. It was the first portable electric machine and included a bolted on electric light so that the work was easier to see. 1933 The Featherweight, model 221, was introduced at the Chicago World's Fair. This beautiful machine was black with a scrollwork faceplate and gold decals. It included a chrome-rimmed handwheel and a stitch regulator plate.
If you can find one in its original case and with the accessories, it will be worth more than just the machine. 1939 In 1939 Singer introduced the.
These are considered by many collectors to be the best machines that Singer ever produced. The machines sewed seams smoothly, with little vibration 1941-1947 The Singer Blackside was manufactured during the years of World War II. It was called Blackside because all of the parts, including the cover over the light bulb, were painted black. 1949 The Model 95 was introduced in 1949.
This machine could produce 4,000 stitches in 60 seconds. 1949 The 301 was the first slant shank and needle machine. It had a vertical, side-loading rotary hook and an aluminum body. While it was similar to the 201, there were some differences as well. The feed dogs drop and it had a marked needle throat plate. 1952 Singer introduced the 206 model. It was the first domestic zigzag sewing machine.
Where to Buy Antique Singers Because of their popularity and durability, finding antique Singers is relatively easy. If you're looking for a specific model, you may need to do some extra searching. Depending on the model and condition, can vary dramatically from about $50 to upwards of $500. Some of the best sources for finding a vintage Singer machine include the following:. Estate sales.
Auctions. Flea markets. Classified ads Using Antique Singer Sewing Machines Many of even the oldest Singer sewing machines are still in use because they were made to last.
Unlike machines of today, these old machine were made of heavy duty materials and easily replaced parts. If the is missing, you can often get another at the Whether you treasure antique Singer sewing machines because they bring back nostalgic memories of years past, are historically significant, or simply beautify your home, you're not alone. Each one, regardless of its commonness or rarity, held a valued place in a home of yesteryear.