If your grandma likes or liked sewing perhaps it’s a good idea to clean up your basement and look for an old sewing machine.
Willcox & gibbs Various models information book not instructions which machine suits the buyer various models including 505-E52-210/223EH/KS, 504-E52-180/223BT 022, 514-E52-181/323BT 052, 514-E52-133/363AT 054, 504-e56-190/233, 504-E56-231/123, 515-E32-420/213KH 051, 515-E32-450/335KH 003, 515-E32-542/253, 515-E32L 401-E22L 504-2L, 504-4-180/223BT 024, 514-4-61, 515-4-26KS, 504-4-25KS, 514-4. Willcox & Gibbs Chain Stitch Sewing Machine. A nice example of the classic Willcox & Gibbs chain stitch sewing machine with automatic tension. These machines are as stylish today as when they were made and are amazingly quiet and smooth to use.
Serial #A296632. Courtesy of Fay. Automatic refers to the automatic tension (earlier machines had glass tension discs). The machine has J.E.A. Gibbs patents June 2-57, July 14-70, April 16-61; Willcox and Carleton June 27-71, July 14-71; and Chas. H Willcox May 31-62, Mch 22-64 and Oct 8-61. Filed in February 24 (1906), the WILLCOX & GIBBS S.M. CO covers SEWING-MACHINES AND SEWING-MACHINE PARTS AND ATTACHMENTS WILLCOX & GIBBS S.M. CO Trademark - Registration Number 0052926 - Serial Number 71017320:: Justia Trademarks.
Why? Well, because it’s possible that you own an antique sewing machine without having the slightest clue about it!
Pay special attention if someone close to you, a relative, possibly grandma worked as a seamstress or any other similar job that could have anything to do with sewing!
If it somehow happens that you find an old sewing machine but you’re not sure about its real value I’ll try to help!
I’ve already told you a little something about the beginnings of the sewing machine. You can research here and find out some basics that can be helpful in this situation.
Like with everything there are some factors that can help you determine whether your newly discovered or long ago found sewing machine is worth trouble!
Basic factors are:
- Age
- Manufacturer
- Type
- Current condition
Age factor
People mostly throw away old stuff. The same thing happens with old sewing machines.
If you were among the lucky ones and you still have an old sewing machine determine when was it made.
If it was made before the 19th century it’s considered to be an antique!
Most old, or better said older (than the 19th century), were lost! That’s why it’s hard to find them and if you find them you should know they cost a lot of money!
Manufacturers and most popular types of sewing machines
Singer machines are among the most popular and the most expensive sewing machines. That’s why I dedicated an entire article to tell you how to identify old Singer sewing machines!
Willcox & Gibbs is the company founded in the 19th century (1857). They’ve made terrific industrial machines as well as machines for domestic use!
Wheeler & Wilson is also an old company that became famous for its hem – sewing machines. They also made a machine capable of making 100 buttonholes per hour in 1860.
White is one of the most selling sewing machines in the United States, just after Singer! Their praiseworthy is the White Family Rotary sewing machine produced in the period of the 1890s – 1950s.
Condition factor
Basically, almost every old sewing machine is worth some money. The question is how much?
If you have an old machine with its original parts which is still working, you’ve hit a bullseye! This sewing machine can really be valuable.
If, on the other hand, you’ve got an old machine that doesn’t work properly, or doesn’t work at all, it can still worth something! It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worthless! It will probably worth less than in the first case, but it will still worth something!
How old is my White sewing machine?
White sewing machines are old, produced and used since the 1800s (second half).
It’s a good thing to own this machine since it can worth much!
These machines were commonly used since the 19th to the other half of the 20th century. They were quite popular among seamstresses.
White Sewing Machine Company produced a lot of these machines in periods, from 1858 – 1880, and from 1930 – 1950.
If you own this type of machine than you probably want to know how to find out how old it is!
Search for:
- A serial number that should be written on your machine. It’s a stamped number on the outside part of the machine. Your White sewing machine has to have that number. The place can be different so make an effort and find it!
When you have the serial number go to the Husqvarna Viking page and find the option Contact Us. Check with the company about the year of production, machine’s value and everything else you want to know!
How old is my Montgomery ward sewing machine?
The identification of the real age of the Montgomery sewing machine can be trouble!
No matter you have the serial number and the seller; it can be a problem if you don’t know who made it!
Why is this? – You need to know who manufactured the machine in the first place!
Montgomery Ward Company used more than one maker. They were all well – known but they all copied each other style. The next thing that messed things up, even more, is the switch made between the old and the new company!
If you don’t know what to do, find an expert. He or she will probably ask you a manual (an instruction book). You’ll find the date on the first, or the last page.
This is the best way to determine how old your Montgomery sewing machine is and according to it what its price is!
How old is my Brother sewing machine?
Brother sewing and embroidery machines can be both mechanical and computerized. The company was started at the beginning of the 20th century and expanded a lot since that time!
They produce machines of great quality, long-lasting. The first Brother sewing machine was manufactured in 1928. In 1971, they produced their first electronic sewing machine. They are newer than for example Singer machines but still very good.
If you want the best possible answer to “how old is my brother sewing machine” is to go to their website and consult an expert!
How much is an old sewing machine worth?
I’ve already mentioned some most important factors that affect sewing machine prices. You can search them in the text above. But I think it is ok to mention them one more time.
To determine how much an old sewing machine is worth you need to pay attention to its type, age, manufacturer and condition!
If your machine is old, then it is probably worth something. You just need to find out how much!
My advice is that if it’s an old family sewing machine, you should first check with your family members if they would like to keep it or redeem it from you.
It is possible that this type of sewing machine has sentimental value and you don’t want to offend someone!
If you’ve checked with your family and no one wants it, you’re free to search for an adequate buyer!
The price really depends on the factors we’ve already mentioned. It is not grateful to talk about the exact price without knowing all the facts about a certain machine!
Perhaps your machine is very pretty but it’s not working! If you want to sell it, then you have to find a collector who is really into the looks of the machine.
If your machine is old, pretty and working you won’t have trouble selling it and at a good price!
But, if you can’t find a proper buyer, you can sell your machine parts! This is one more good way to earn some money!
Just like I’ve mentioned at the top of this paragraph, there’s always a way to sell an old sewing machine so you don’t have to worry about it!
As far as some exact price is concerned, I’ll have to tell you that it varies from approximately 20$ to 5,000$ and more.
It really depends not only on all the factors we talked about but also how lucky you are on the selling day!
How much is an antique sewing machine worth?
Now, you probably wonder what’s the difference between an old and an antique sewing machine.
We often say that ten – year – old things are old. Yup, sure they are, but not in a way to be considered antiques.
So, how to determine whether our machine is an antique?
Not just the age, but the type and manufacturer are important in determining this!
Also, some sewing machine models were produced for one period of time and then stopped being produced. Therefore the number of such machines is limited. They can’t be found at each corner.
Real fans of sewing machines pay a lot of money to own such things so if you have one of these you can cash it nicely!
If you’re not sure how to specify your machine (is it an antique or not) there are places to inquire. At these places, you can find everything you want to know and what’s probably most important for most of you the answer to how much is an antique sewing machine worth!
Search for people in your town who are possibly collectors or appraisers. They will check out your sewing machine and tell you the approximate value! This is also a good place to sell your machine!
If you don’t have anything similar you can find all the information you need on International Sewing Machine Collectors’ Society or search further on the Internet.
If you have all the necessary information (age, manufacturer, type) you won’t have problems defining the amount you are going to ask for!
The price depends on all four factors I’ve mentioned above. Your machine can be cheap and cost like 20 bucks but this happens rarely if we talk about real antiques.
Well preserved and still – functioning machines worth much more money, several hundred to several thousand dollars.
Old sewing machine brands
Today, there are many different brands of sewing machines but here I dare to abstract some of the oldest sewing machine brands.
Singer sewing machines certainly deserve to be found in the first place. These are one of the oldest and most selling models. They’ve produced their first sewing machine in 1851 (see history of the sewing machine).
The White Sewing Machine Company produced a rare Gem – brand sewing machine in 1887.
Jones & Co. made an extraordinary hand sewing machine in 1869.
Willcox & Gibbs made metal sewing machines on a wooden base. One of these machines costs around 500$.
Bernina International produced their first sewing machine in 1932 and continued its production until 1945.
How much is an old Singer sewing machine worth?
We can spend hours talking about how valuable Singer sewing machines are. They are probably the best sewing machines money can buy.
If you have an old Singer machine you can sell it no matter how old or in what condition it is.
Let’s just see some of the models and their prices. I hope you’ll find this information useful!
Like with all other sewing machines their price varies and depends on age and current condition. But, to repeat, independent on all it can be sold, it’s just a matter of price!
- Fiddle – base Singer machine from 1887 can be sold for about 50-60$
- Singer machine manufactured in 1874 is worth somewhere around 170 – 200 dollars
- Singer Model 28 can be sold or bought for approximately 300$
- Singer BZ 9 – 8 can be found for 60 dollars
- But a rare Red S Singer Featherweight is worth over 2000 dollars
It is a fact that there isn’t the exact price for the exact model. Many things influence the final price.
Willcox And Gibbs Sewing Machine Serial Numbers
The name can sell the machine!
But again, it can happen that you have a worthy Singer sewing machine in great shape and not being able to sell it decently! All have to fit in!
Just take the advice that you should ask around to find out if your Singer sewing machine has value and don’t go under the price. It happens quite often that people don’t inquire well and lose their money.
To get the best price, gather all the information, search the Internet well and then determine your final price! Respect that price and be patient. The buyer will find you if you don’t find him!
You see now that it’s not easy to determine the real price of an old or antique sewing machine. This article was pictured as 911 for those who want to sell their old sewing machine and don’t have the slightest clue about its possible price.
Consider everything I‘ve told you here, search for similar or even the same models of the sewing machine and then decide how much money you should ask for your antique!
The Willcox and Gibbs Sewing Machine Co. (New York) was formed in 1857 by James Willcox and his son Charles, of Philadelphia and James E.A. Gibbs of Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Gibbs patented his first practical single thread rotary twisted chain stitch machine for domestic use in 1856. Willcox was a forward thinking businessman and was in charge of production. He hired the services of the Providence, Rhode Island company of Joseph R. Brown and Lucian Sharpe, who undertook the manufacturing of the machines.
Work began early in 1858 with the local New England Butt Company casting the frames. J.R. Brown and Sharpe were beset with problems and it was 8 months before the first 50 Willcox and Gibbs machines, of the original 100 commissioned orders were finished. Luckily the machine was in instant success and soon the orders were rolling in.
Willcox & Gibbs Silent Automatic
A few years after starting the company Willcox & Gibbs opened its London Offices at 135 Regent Street. Prices for the machines ranged from £8 to £15. All the machine heads were built and shipped over from the United States, but some handwheels and wheel mountings were cast at the Coalbrookdale Company in Shropshire. The Coalbrookdale works near Telford, was in Victorian times, famous for producing high quality ornate iron castings and the wheel mountings made here carry a registration mark for 1869. A special Willcox and Gibbs hand crank mechanism was produced for the European market, but the overall shape of the machine remained the same for the whole of its production life.
Early models used a thread tensioner with glass discs, and some of these have the Willcox and Gibbs badge on the back of the casting and a deeper wooden base than later models.
Willcox & Gibbs Glass Tension
In 1875 the glass tension discs were replaced by an automatic tension device which ensured that the tension did not get out of alignment and which adapted itself to different thicknesses of fabric. These were marketed as the ‘Silent Automatic’ sewing machine. Listed on the cloth plate of all Willcox and Gibbs machines are the patent dates along with a very clever mechanism to show the number of stitches to the inch.
Around 1871 the company’s chief European offices were opened at 150 Cheapside, London. After 1885 the offices were moved to 94 & 96 Wigmore Street and then a few years later to 37 & 39 Moorgate Street. After 1907 the head offices were based at 20 Fore Street London, E.C. and the Willcox and Gibbs Sewing Machine Co.Ltd was founded with branch offices at Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds, Leicester, Luton, Glasgow, Belfast, Paris, Milan, Brussels and an agency at Dresden! They advertised ‘repairing departments’ at all offices and a ‘certified agent’ in most towns.
Machines for the domestic market were sold as either hand or treadle versions but with the arrival of electricity, the machines could have an electric motor attached to the right hand side of the machine in place of the hand wheel.
Willcox And Gibbs Sewing Machine Serial Numbers
Willcox & Gibbs Electric
Willcox And Gibbs Serial Numbers
In addition to the domestic market, the company also produced a wide range of industrial models. Between 1878 and 1884 industrial machines were introduced under the names ‘Straw’, ‘Bag’ and ‘Handstitch’ machines and in 1889 a 2 thread ‘overlock’ machine which was able to produce 3000 stitches a minute. In 1889 the first Willcox and Gibbs lockstitch machines appeared on the market. In 1912 a ‘Flatlock’ machine designed for seaming knitted underwear was invented, followed by a ‘Feldlock’ machine designed for seaming tubular garments.
Brown and Sharpe continued to produce the Willcox and Gibbs chain stitch machine in its original shape until 1948. Towards the end of the production the serial numbers changed from the ‘A’ prefix number to ‘B’ prefix numbers and the machines had scalloped bases.
Willcox And Gibbs Serial Number Location
The Willcox & Gibb company finally closed down in 1973.