A Singer sewing machine which thanks to the Singer website can be dated accurately to 1914 Made in Clydebank, Scotland from the serial number plate.
My Grandmother had one similar to this and I used to watch her sewing as a child....she was a great seamstress and at Christmas she would present me with a little brown suitcase, full of beautiful clothes that she had made for my Tiny Tears doll.
I can remember them even now....especially the underwear.... little frilly lace knickers and petticoats..... they were so over the top compared to my own cotton ones!
Tiny Tears and my Grandmother are no longer here, but it was the purchase of the sewing machine that brought back childhood memories and remembering how I helped to turn the pretty handle as she pushed the material through...
And being fascinated by all the gold decoration.......
Then when all the work was done, all its prettiness was hidden away in a boring brown box.....
Just like the Tiny Tears clothes in the little brown suitcase....
Have a memorable weekend,
Julie x
Thank you so much for doing this post. I have two vintage Singer machines but didn't know how to date them. I had done a few internet searches but to no avail. It didn't occur to me that Singer would have this on their website, duh!
ReplyDeleteThanks again, I hope you have a great weekend.
x
Isn't it a beauty! The story of your Gran and tiny tears are really lovely - I got a real picture of it!
ReplyDeletehiya- this made me smile because I've just finished cleaning, oiling and polishing 2 Singer Sewing Machines to sell at my Vintage at the Village Hall fair next month.
ReplyDeleteOne is 1919, and the other is a Centenary Issue from 1951. They both came from a House Clearance where they'd lain in the attic for some 50 years and I simply threaded them up and off they trundled, working perfectly.
My own sewing machine which I use all the time was my mother's Singer, bought when she married in 1948 with Wartime Coupons- the original receipt is tucked in the accessories box.
Every time I use the machine I think of my lovely mum (not that I need to sew to do that!) and how pleased she would be that her expensive purchase is still appreciated and going strong!
Have a lovely weekend xx
Daughter still has a Singer that belonged to husband's geandmother - it does work but threading the bobbin is a nightmare. I love the way they were ornamented and decorated just for the sake of it.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE my old Singer. It's really similar. I don't use ir any more - although it still works beautifully - I have it out on display.
ReplyDeleteLovely!
I love these old sewing machines too and have fond memories of my Mum and Grandma using theirs. Thanks for the reminder!!
ReplyDeleteI used to have one of these sewing machines when we lived in Devon. In Paignton is Oldway mansion that was built as a private residence for the Singer family, unfortunately it was turned into council offices!! In the main entrance you could still see a small display of vintage sewing machines and ephemera. I think these machines are so decorative and I used mine until it finally broke.
ReplyDeleteJo xx
Oooh, I used to have one very similar - I wish, wish, wish I'd kept it! Lovely things.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely blog post and a beautiful sewing machine! You paint such a lovely picture of your time with your grandmother and I can almost see you in front of me, opening the bag at Christmas, helping your grandmother turning the wheel...
ReplyDeleteYes, sorry about the "evil" pumpkin - this was what met me when I came back from a shopping trip this morning, courtesy of the boys in the house... ;-)
Wishing you a lovely and sunny autumn week,
Helena, The Swenglish Home
Thanks for the link to the Singer site - I will have to investigate my Singer, which I bought in a junk shop 15 years ago. I used to have a Singer treadle machine (given to me by a friend of my Mum's when I was a teenager), but I gave it to a friend when I bought an electric Singer when I started work - how I regret that now. I loved reading about your Granny sewing things for Tiny Tears!!
ReplyDeleteOh so lovely . . . . . . you do write a lovely post . . . . . . . . love Helen xxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, I remember one of those old Singer machines from when I was little too. You lucky thing to have all those lovely things made for your Tiny Tears.
ReplyDeleteTake care. Nickyx