Antique Sewing Machines Wanted

Yes, antique sewing machines are still wanted. Here is a short list of the:

• antique sewing machines wanted in today’s market
• ideal pricing for various vintage models
• top places to buy and/or sale machines

Here is a short list of the top antique sewing machines wanted in today’s market.

Singer 401A – 404A models are loved for their excellent stitch quality and slant shank presser feet. It also has easy to find replacement parts, which makes it a highly sought after line of sewing machines. Likewise, many complement the over weight of the sewing machine. It is lighter than the 60+ pound machines of the 1950’s. Yet, the machine is heavy enough to not bounce around when working on a quilt. Likewise, you may also fancy the 301A! It is similar to the 401A with minor differences. Just check your local listings for availability.

Singer 201-2 is a quilters dream. She makes a beautiful straight stitch! Most importantly, Singer 201-2 stands out from other machines because of the gear driven motor. It slips a lot less than a belt driven motors and has more piercing power than you’ll find on many modern home sewing machines.

Kenmore 158.1941 is a sewing machine with a detachable bed for free arm usage. It was one of the last all-metal sewing machines made before the switch to plastic. Therefore, you’ll find a variety of wonderful stretch stitches included. This sewing machine came in a time when everyone was starting to use Spandex/lycra fabrics for making swim and athletic wear. Therefore, Kenmore 158.1941 is the ideal machine for making clothing with stretch fabrics. However, it is also ideal for making jeans due to:

• a free-arm
• powerful 1.2amp motor
• beautiful button hole stitch

Bernina Record 930 has top notch stitch quality, wonderful craftsmanship, and presser feet like no other. The machine features motor with excellent piercing power and zips thru projects with speed and precision. Bernina Record 930 is one of the more sought after machines in my short list of antique sewing machine wanted in today’s market. However, other classic Bernina  models are also good. *I’ve got a Bernina 1010 and she is a great machine!

Ideal Price for a vintage find!

Pricing is always based on demand and condition. For a great Singer sewing machine in the 401A line, (As of 2020) you can expect to pay $150 – $300. The price would be lowered for missing parts and/or accessories, paint issues, and non working machines. You might knock of $30 for a problem like a missing foot pedal. However, a cosmetic issue like a missing light bulb cover would reduce the costs to half of the base price (as nobody wants a machine with a missing part that cannot be replaced easily). *Please note: I have found Singer 401A cheap as $20 at a tag sale. It just depends on if the seller finds true value in the machine or if they are just trying to get rid of it.

For Kenmore, (As of 2020) I would consider $135- $250 for a good machine. Missing accessories, however, knock off value. For example, a missing buttonhole attachment would be a big issue because Kenmore buttonhole attachments are very hard to replace.  You would have scour eBay to find another.

Vintage Bernina’s are often very overpriced.  On average (As of 2020), you can expect to spend $400-$600 on a used model. My Bernina 1010 was $450. From eBay and other auction sites, however, you can expect for bids to go high as $1500. Bernina sewing machines are very nice. In my opinion, however, the quality is  not high enough to pay over $800+ for a used/vintage model.  I haven’t noticed any big different in performance between Bernina Record and Singer 301A – Singer 401A models. So, I really cannot justify paying $900 for a Bernina Record.

The top places to buy and sell machines depends on which side of the equation you are on.

Let’s say you own a machine and would like to sell. Ebay: isn’t going to be a good place for you to sell your sewing machine for 3 reasons.

1. Seller fees are super high.
2. Shipping is a hassle, even when the customer is paying.
3. It is easy to get swindled by a buyer. The buyer can say something is wrong with the machine even if they just changed their mind about making a purchase. Then, as per eBay policy, you (the seller) have to pay return shipping on the heavy machine. Plus, there is no guarantee you will receive the same item eBay refunded the customer for.

The best places to SELL your sewing machine are going to be local.

• Add your machine to Craigslist. Meet the buyer in a public place. To allow the buyer to see the machine ahead of time, pop-the trunk and allow them to take a peek. Then, the buyer can push money into the cracked window of your car. They get to take the machine from your trunk once the money is paid in full. But, don’t let them collect the machine until it is paid for!
• Add your machine to Facebook marketplace, Offerup, or Letgo. All of these sites work similar to Craigslist, but you’re most likely to have success with Facebook.
• Opposed to selling online? Go to a local flee market or farmers market and sell your machine. Or, have an outdoor yard sale!
• Just want to get rid of the machine and don’t care what you get for it financially? Sell the machine to a local antique shop.

The best place to BUY a vintage sewing machine is going to be local. But, there is one exception.

Let’s say you are in the market for an antique sewing machine. Here are the top places to shop.

1) Craigslist, Offerup, Facebook marketplace, and Letgo are all great places to buy local from an online listing. Honestly, all of my current vintage machines have come from these outlets. I’ve paid as little as $15 for great functioning machines. However, you do have to be careful when making a purchase from these sorts of places. Safety first!

• Always meet in public.
• See machine first. Then, present money!
• Arrive early before the seller to scope the scene out. If something doesn’t look right, leave.

2) The next best place to buy local is a tag or estate sale. Many times, sewing machines go for real cheap on the second day of a tag sale because owners just want to get rid of stuff.

3) The one exception to buying local is, buying from Goodwill online. There are often  good listings! Also, it helps to buy from Goodwill because bids start lower than they would on your average bidding sites.

Well, I hope this brief blog will spur some ideas. Please, let me know what exciting sewing machine finds you’ve gotten in the comments below. Happy sewing!

Other related articles

My Craigslist Bernina 1010: Restoration to Review

Legendary Kenmore Sewing Machine Serial Numbers

What is The Best Vintage Singer Sewing Machine?

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