Sewing Machine Consignment Sales
We are active, knowledgeable, experienced, and
specialized dealers in both rare and
historically important American patented sewing machines and child size or toy
sewing machines. Full size early
Patented Sewing Machines have their own
page on this site.
We are always interested in
helping you sell sewing machines through
the Consignment Program we offer. Please see the
FAQ
page and the other informational pages at this site for further info or
Contact Us
You are currently at
www.AntiqBuyer.com,our antique buying and informational website.
Past sale results for many antique sewing machine can be found by
clicking
this link We conduct our antique
TSM Toy Sewing machine sales, and those for
antique and vintage sewing machines, including Singer Featherweight 221
and 222 sewing machines from our sister website
www.Patented-Antiques.com. We are currently selling a
collection of close to 300 toy and child size sewing machines from one collection, and have some early and nice
patented sewing machines listed there for sale as well.
Please do visit that site if you are in the market.
Examples
Below are
a series of pictures that graphically illustrate some of the types and vintage
of antique toy sewing machines
(TSMs) we actively deal in. There are also numerous past sales results and more information about
these types of sewing machines in the Past Sales archives which are
linked in the right column.
Many small antique sewing machines were marketed as travel or
mending machines, and at other times they were sold as children's machines. Very few
of these small antique sewing machines utilized a shuttle and made a
lockstitch. Most of these
"child size" antique sewing machines were designed to
make a simple single thread chain stitch, hardly suitable for mending or
regular use.
This would indicate that their true market was as toys and that the rest was marketing ploys.
American
Hand Patented 1868 Sewing Machine
This is a prime example of the
type of antique sewing machine that we are actively seek and can help you
sell.
It resembles a pair of scissors, and you operate it by squeezing the arms
together like you would a scissors. It is commonly referred to as a "sewing shears-style machine".
Another example of this style machine carries the name Goodbody and was
made in Bridgeport, CT. A third one was patented
by a fellow named Hendricks. These were marketed
as travel machines, not toys and are very hard to find.
Note that similar things are still being marketed today
in novelty catalogs and on late night TV for the
American consumer with insomnia
Hancock Patent Sewing Machines
Any antique sewing machines
with built-in or integral clamps such as the one pictured on the left
are good. There are a whole
series of early patented sewing machines commonly referred to as "Hancocks"
after the original inventor / patent holder. The patent was
granted in the 1860's. These
sewing machines were sometimes marketed under other names, such as the
"Household Pet", Lake Patent, and others that were similar in design. They are almost always missing their needle which was
an odd design in itself.
We know of three or four different variations of these sewing
machines with different tables or thread positions or body styles.
Other names of "integral clamp" sewing machines machines
are Bartlett, Novelty, Cute,
Beckwith, Boynton, Hook, and a few others. All of these early patented American
small handcrank sewing machines are sought for addition to our sales pages.
The
Hook Sewing Machine
This wonderful small cast iron sewing machine measures just 4"
tall and was
patented in the early
1860's. It was only manufactured for a very short period of time. It is referred to as the
Hook and is very similar to the Hardie, another early patented
sewing machine which is slightly larger.
This machine also has a built-in clamping mechanism and is another example
of a desirable antique sewing machine from the mid 1800's. Although functional,
it would hardly be useable. That is one of the reasons they are so rare and sought after.
Smith &
Egge / Little Comfort Chain Drive Sewing Machine
This is an example of a mass produced cast iron child size toy sewing
machine
that dates from near the turn of the 20th century.
This is the type that can often be found in near mint condition in their
original boxes. These early sewing machines originally sold for
a dollar or two, and were sold as both toys / child-size machines and as
travel / mending machines through large distributors like Sears & Montgomery Wards and the like.
Double marketing was a ploy to sell as many as possible. They are relatively
common and in today's market on eBay generally sell for 200 unless
mint in the box or a unusual variation. Other similar TSM sewing machines carry names like
Spenser, Universal, Pony, Triumph, Gem, Tourist, F & W Automatic, American
Gem, and more. Harder to find variations include round models in both wood and metal.
Singer Toy Sewing Machines
Singer made a line of toy or
child-size sewing machines starting in the 'teens and continuing through
today. These sewing machines are often mistakenly called
"salesman sample" sewing machines.
All of the different Singer Model
20 small sewing machines were marketed solely as real sewing machines or
toys for girls, and often given away to help implant the Singer name in
the mind of the future sewing machine buyer or junior seamstress of
tomorrow.
In
general, the values for most of these small toy Singer sewing machines
runs from under $100 to $500 or more for a few of the rare
variations / colors that have surfaced. Most fall into the lower
end of that range. We currently have a good selection of these
for sale on our sister sales site
www.Patented-Antiques.com
German Toy Sewing Machines
The next style of
toy sewing machines, which generally dates a bit later, and spans up into the
1960's or so,
are the toy machines which are usually referred to as "tinnies" or sheet steel
models. There are examples of this style machine from the US and all over the
world. Some of them were produced in great numbers and are
quite common, while others are considered quite rare and desirable.
Many of these were made in Germany prior to and after WWII.
There are hundreds of different variations and many are pictured and
discussed in the now out of print books by Glenda Thomas.
The leading manufactures names were Casige, and Mueller. Both of these companies also
made Cast Iron toy sewing machines, some of which are considered to be the rarest and
most desirable of all TSM's that can be found.
The above sewing machines are examples of the
caliber, condition and quality of antique sewing machines that we are primarily interested in
and can help you sell.
Past sale archives for many
early sewing machines can be viewed by
clicking the links. Past sales results for other antiques can be
seen from links in the right column
If you have quality antique sewing
machines similar to those that you see
on this page that you want to sell, please contact us at
LCM@AntiqBuyer.com
If you have additional questions about
our consignment sales program please see the FAQ
page
To see examples of antique sewing machines that
we currently have for sale, please go to our sister site
at www.Patented-Antiques.comand
visit the sewing machine sale pages you will find there.
Thank you!!
Larry & Carole
Singer Toy Sewing Machines
