How to determine the year of manufacture of the Singer sewing machine by the serial number?

Singer sewing machines have become classics for a long time. And this is well deserved, since they are associated exclusively with a high-quality and reliable household item. Models of this particular brand have always been considered a profitable investment. Even then, they were not cheap, which means that even then it was considered prestigious to have such a sewing machine.

After so many years, many cars have retained a decent appearance, and some even work. Moreover, despite the venerable age of each of the models, knowing its serial number, you can find out the year and place of manufacture. Having this information makes it even more valuable.

The founder of the sewing machine factory is Isaac Singer (Isaac Singer). He patented the Singer brand, which gained worldwide fame and recognition. Since the sewing device had already been invented before, the inventor only slightly improved it:

• put the shuttle in a horizontal position;
• a special board appeared to support the fabric;
• added a leg to the needle holder;
• connected the machine to the foot pedal.

The first factory for the manufacture of branded sewing machines began operating in 1851. Initially, the plant was located in the state of New York, and then moved to the state of Tennessee, where it has been successfully operating to this day. Over time, production began to expand, the Singer factories started working in Europe.

At the beginning of the last century, a plant was built in Russia, since the delivery of finished products from America was unprofitable. It is for this reason that a plant was built in Podolsk. As it turned out, this solution was cost-effective for the following reasons:

• the close location of the railway contributed to the uninterrupted supply of products;
• Japan, China, Turkey and the countries of Persia willingly bought Russian-made sewing machines;
• sales of finished goods were second only to the main plant in the United States.

After the nationalization of 1918, the plant changed its name, but this did not particularly affect the design and equipment of the machines. This model is very fond of consumers. Over time, the appearance of sewing units, of course, has undergone changes - they have new additional functions. At the moment, the Podolsk Mechanical Plant has stopped production, although in 1994 it was bought out by the company that owns the Singer trademark.

Each machine assembled at the Singer factory is a masterpiece. Not in the sense that it was made from exclusive, unparalleled parts, but there was a share of uniqueness in each of them. Such models cannot be found among modern models. Today's sewing machines, which are made of plastic, are lighter and more functional, but they all look the same.

The heyday of the production of the Singer factory fell just at the time when the modern style entered the world fashion. Consequently, this was noticeably reflected in the products of that time. Each of the models was decorated with branded monograms, the brand name and a unique serial number were required.

The old sewing machines of the famous manufacturer are of high value exclusively as antiques. Factors influencing the formation of the cost of the car:

• model refers to the anniversary edition;
• appearance, general condition and safety of the drawing;
• functionality and equipment - the structure in working order has the greatest value;
• Serial number availability with the ability to determine the year of manufacture.

Surely everyone remembers the hype that arose around the Singer sewing machines in the early 2000s. At that time, everyone began to rummage through the grandmother's closets and attics in search of old, rare models. The reason for this was the rumors and speculations that were walking among the people, as well as the thirst for profit of not quite respectable people. The most popular versions were as follows.

• Gold case... This myth is based on the fact that immediately after the revolution, nobles who immigrated to Europe melted gold jewelry or objects and gave the ingot the shape of a sewing machine. This was followed by painting and applying all the identification marks of the Singer factory.
• There is platinum in the internal parts. This metal is not only durable, but also expensive. If it were used in production, it would significantly affect the cost of the models.
• Some parts of the product contain red mercury. This is generally a fantastic story, since many do not know whether it really exists and what it is for.
• Lucky number. This legend says that the manufacturer promised to hand over $ 1 million to the owner of a car with a specific serial number. There was a rumor that such a model was supposedly produced at the end of the 19th century and bought by someone in Russia.

A visual inspection is sufficient to locate the sewing machine identification number.It is usually located on a separate metal plate in the face on a cast iron base and in a specific location. But there are also exceptions, since each plant had its own specifics of applying license plates. The following location options are also possible:

• behind on a cast iron body;
• on the rotating wheel of the foot machine.

If you look closely at the structure from all sides, the number will definitely be found.

In Russia, the Podolsk Mechanical Plant produced the most common model of sewing machines in the Soviet Union. - 16K33 with foot drive. It was not always possible to find the serial number on them, but the year of manufacture had to be present. You can find it:

• below under the corporate monogram;
• inside the emblem;
• in the product passport.

The first Singer plant began operations in 1851. However, it was the first registers of sewing machine numbers that were lost until 1870. Only their total number is known - 611,000. At present, serial numbers of models manufactured since 1871 are widely available.

Singer sewing machines with a digital code have been produced over 16 million copies... The numbers with the use of letters are several times smaller, but also quite a lot.

Knowing the letters of the serial number, you can determine the place of manufacture of the model, and the numbers will tell you about the date of this event. The lettering in license plates appeared to eliminate confusion among manufacturers.

You can find out reliable information about any model of interest by going to the official website of the company. It stores information about all the sewing machines ever made. Convenient navigation of the site will allow you to quickly break through the necessary data, they are presented in the table. The phone numbers of service centers are also indicated there, where they are also always ready to help their customers.

Many argue, claiming that the authenticity of a sewing machine can be determined by its name, or rather by the first letter. The original name is written exactly Singer, because the letter "C" in German sounds like "Z".

The guarantee of the authenticity of the eminent brand is the presence of a plate with an embossed serial number. At the same time, it can consist of either numbers alone or in combination with letters.

Only an experienced antiques expert will be able to determine the authenticity and check the value of a manual or foot-operated Singer sewing machine. That's why both before buying and before selling such products, it is better to consult with several specialists.

Next, watch the video review of the 1897 Singer sewing machine.