The Secret to What Vintage Sewing Machine Buyers Look For

99.9% of vintage sewing machine buyers are experts who love sewing. So, if you know very little about sewing machines, have a vintage one you’d like to sell, or find yourself in the market for a new vintage machine, keep reading. The first question non-experts ask is always…

“Is my sewing machine valuable?”

Antiques collectors love rare items, but vintage sewing machines aren’t rare because everyone used to have one. The lack of rarity means, 90% of the time, you won’t get over $600 out of any machine. The most you’ll get out of a mint condition Japanese class 15  home sewing machine is around $300 because they are not in high demand. However, some of the more sought after sewing machines, like Singer featherweight, will bring around $500.

*Buyers: Please don’t purchase a vintage home sewing machine over $500 unless it is in the original box or comes with a ton of high-quality accessories.

Vintage sewing machine buyers look for 5 main things when they are shopping. They are looking for a sewing machine with:

1) All metal internal parts and gears

No sewing machine expert wants a sewing machine with nylon gears unless it came from Bernina. Even then, nylon gears are still a no-go. Since nylon gears wear out, vintage sewing machine buyers search for older machines that were made to last forever.

Sellers: It is a great idea to take photos of the inside of your machine to display the all metal construction. Once you do that, your machine will sell much faster.

Buyers: Always look up your sewing machine online before buying.  Can’t find your sewing machine online? Check out my previous blog, “ What to Do When You Can’t Find Data on Your Vintage Sewing Machine” to get tips on how to learn more about your machine before making a purchase.

2)An all metal body.

In addition to searching for all metal internal parts, vintage sewing machine buyers want a machine with an all metal exterior. Metal construction means the sewing machine will be solid and unlikely to bounce around when sewing thru thick materials. This feature is most appealing to quilters, bag makers, or those who work with upholstery fabrics.

3) The manual.

The manual, even 50 years after the sewing machine was made, remains very important. The guidebook has everything you need to know about how to thread and operate the machine. Buyers are willing to pay much more for a sewing machine with its manual. Hence, it’s a great idea to include the manual or provide the link to a PDF copy.

*Sewing machines without manuals sell too. So, don’t stress if you can’t find one.

4)Accessories.

Accessories can be difficult to find. Therefore, vintage sewing machine buyers are always looking for machines with accessories included. They are even willing to pay more for a machine with all the needed accessories. When a vintage find has no accessories, its not the end of the world.

Dear buyers,

Vintage sewing machines don’t have snap-on presser feet. So, if you’ve already got a modern sewing machine with snap-on feet, you can simply buy a snap on attachment for your vintage sewing machine. This will allow you to use the same presser feet for both machines without having to spend extra money.

Here’s the links to presser foot adapters for common vintage machine types

• High Shank
• Low Shank
• Slant Shank

5)A carrying case.

Tables are more convenient and make sewing easier. However, a vintage sewing machine tends to be in much better condition when the owner housed it in a carrying case. For this reason, seasoned vintage sewing machine collectors search for machines in a carrying case.

Other Helpful Articles:

What to Do When You Can’t Find Data on Your Vintage Sewing Machine

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