Buying An Old Sewing Machine
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Why?
Well, for a start, you might find it easier, cheaper, and less frustrating in the long run. Or you might be a sucker for a shiny black coat with gold twiddles on, or you may just like the idea of not throwing the old away just because the new exists..Or you may like tinkering...
I have used old machines all my life, and my regular machines - Singer Class 15 treadle, Bernina 700, and Elna Lotuses (more than one...), are all old enough to know how to do it for themselves. My only modern machine now is a big Straight-stitch Juki and I no longer bother with an overlocker - after much experimentation and considerable amounts of swearing, I decided that old overlockers, while charming, are not practical beasties...
Scroll down the page for my machines for sale...
Updated with yet more further deep sighing, frequently, and not everything is on here even so
Blooming things are breeding.. Puppies!
Practicalities
The world is full of old machines, but if you want to use one regularly you need to choose with a little care. If you plan to sew every day or every week it's no good getting something splendid but which has no regular supply of needles, and if you plan to do more than the odd small job, you don't want a Long Bobbin machine (too much bobbin-winding and spares may not be easy to get..) (However, these are great for heavy work)So, you come down to Singer, ideally, and Round Bobbin, absolutely, and the following models:- 15, 66, 99, 201, 185. All take the regular needles, regular feet, and round bobbins which are all still available. This is for a hand-cranked or treadle machine, of course. If you want a machine with a tail (electric) then the big solid mid-twentieth-century machines made by Singer, Jones, Frister and Rossman, Bernina, Riccar, Elna and others may be just the job. If it gives you a hernia when you lift it, it's probably going to last.
Now, don't think I don't like modern machines, I just think that the general selection available is no longer admirable. If you were buying a machine in, say, 1950, you would expect to go to a special shop, pay a lot of money, get some measure of after-sales service, and never have to throw it away. Now you can buy one for about two-pence-three-farthings in Aldi or Tesco (three-farthings in IKEA or John Lewis's; don't go there), and you get precisely what you don't pay for. The bottom-end machines in all ranges are for people who buy them and put them in the cupboard. I teach regularly, and I now have a note on my Class lists that I do not allow "toy" machines in class. They are very cheap, sure, and lightweight, certainly, and they are not electrically safe or usable for sewing at all. Sad, really...
Sadder still, most of the bottom-end-of-the-range machines are only just functional, and none will sew anything as heavy as canvas, denim, or webbing...
So, where do I find a Machine?
Start by asking your friends and relatives. There's one in almost every attic still. Might be free, or very cheap.Next, I would advertise in the local newsagents, local newspaper, Freecycle or work notice-board in your area. Machines are too heavy to post, and you want it nearby. My treadle came from an advert in the Post Office 40 years ago, and the chap delivered it for the (utterly paltry) price...
Then there's eBay, and Facebook Marketplace, and Gumtree... Look for local sellers. Look very carefully at the pictures. Does the machine have all the little plates that cover the bobbin? Is it clean? lit? the right way round? photographed somewhere clean? If not, don't bother to bid or enquire.
Does the seller say "I know nothing about this machine"? If they do, it may be broken, and they are covering their backs. Look at their feedback, and levels of literacy, and what else they sell...
I am always happy to give an opinion on eBay lots and FB postings and the like, providing you send me a link in good time. I don't guarantee the opinion, but I will tell you if something is obviously wrong with the machine. NEVER buy a lot without a picture!
And when you have bought your Dream Machine, do send a picture, and I'll sell you something nice to go with it...
Here's What I Have For Sale
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptionsThis is Why
HOWEVER, I do a lot of travelling in the year, so if you are on one of my routes I will deliver.. (I will be in Birmingham in late July and West Wales in the Autumn of 2026! I also travel regularly to Norwich, Halesworth, and will be at the quilt show in Newmarket in November)
Email me with your desires and location for a heads-up if I'm coming your way) ASK!
If you can collect by appointment from South Norfolk I am happy to sell you something delicious
I am also taking in machines for service
07914 676182 to discuss FIRST, please!
All machines are serviced and replacement parts provided as needed (new belts, bobbin winder tyres etc....) I usually supply a couple of bobbins with shuttle machines and 6 or so with round-bobbin machines. All machines come with a useful collection of feet and needles etc. (according to the machine, this may be a bit minimal) and you can have an "original" attachment set provided at an extra cost if required, or a tailored set to suit your sewing practice can be made up for you..
And a manual, of course..
I now have a few very special Antiques (but working, of course) - see below for a selection according to type...
Typical kit provided with Singer machines is like this, bobbins, needles, a selection of feet, plus 2 sizes of screwdrivers (not shown), cleaning kit (also not shown) and a suitable instruction book...
Other Makes may have an original set or will have something suitable as well.
Treadles
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SM419 Very pretty 1918 Singer 66 "Lotus" in a Pfaff treadle, fully serviced and a good everyday round-bobbin machine. Takes regular bobbins and needles and is easy to maintain
Side-clamp feet, so lots of feet available (it will come with an original or a modern set)
Wonderfully 1920's treadle
Lotus Decals
£175
Sorry, no lid
Collection only...
This will go in my small car, so, it will go in yours
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Featherweights - New Stock Just In!
SM492 Singer Featherweight 221k, from 1952. Ever-popular...
Original bobbin case
And a nice case
£350
All the FWs here will come with a complete kit, repro manual, key, and are serviced and PAT tested and ready to take to your quilt group...
It's just possible to post these but you must have a secure delivery address and they need to be sent fully insured. And, your risk...
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SM490 Singer Featherweight 221k, from 1951. Ever-popular...
Case
Original bobbin case
Detail
£350
All the FWs here will come with a complete kit, repro manual, key, and are serviced and PAT tested and ready to take to your quilt group...
It's just possible to post these but you must have a secure delivery address and they need to be sent fully insured. And, your risk...
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Hand Cranks
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM500 Chapman in manly brown hammered finish. Heavy as a baby elephant. Practical, everyday machine which takes regular needles and bobbins. Will sew the bumper back on your Lada
Detail
Case
£70
Made in the 1950s...
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM496 Singer 28k (pre-1900) in a post-war-refurbished frock. Solid, useful, easy to keep. Suitable as a first machine. Easy to find needles, feet.
Post-war, possibly home-made heavy wooden case
I will fill the box with suitable tools
Seagull!
£60
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM478 Singer 66 hand-crank with side-clamp feet and nice domed case
Detail
Detail
Detail
And the case...
£120
Made in 1927...
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM476 Singer 99 with reverse, in practical "crocodile" box
Detail
Detail
Detail
Case
£125
Made in 1962...
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM475 Singer 28k from 1892, refurbished into a shiny new coat and case after WW2
Detail
Detail
And the case...
£70
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM480 Singer 99 in practical "crocodile" box
Detail
Detail
And the case...
£120
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM479 Alfa, as heavy as a baby elephant, in stunning two-tone-turquoise. A Singer 15 clone, very solid and useful
Detail
Detail
Case (Quite the best card-lid case I've had in a long while...)
£95
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM470 Singer 99k from 1948 in practical "crocodile" box, with all the usual doings, serviced and ready to use every day for many many years
Detail
Another detail
Nestling nicely...
£120
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM463 Jones "Empress" in suitcase. Practical, heavy as a baby elephant, needles still available...
Detail
Detail
Case
Difficult to date, possibly late 1940s
£65
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM452 Wheeler and Wilson 9
Sophisticated for its day, this round-bobbin machine was the height of usability. Later taken over and the designs re-made by Singer as the Singer 9W, this is so nice to use...
Detail
Detail
Detail
Case
£110
Probably around 1905
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM417 Chapman hand crank - post-war engineering at its most robust!
As near as anything, a Singer 15 type, with all that entails in terms of usability and toughness, plus a most delicious charm and drop-feed capability
£85
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM422 Singer 99k with "Crocodile" case, practical hand-crank round-bobbin machine with all it needs in the way of tools, manual, bobbins, needles, and ready to use...
Case and detail
£120
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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Portable Electric Machines
"Portable" is relative, of course.. All (mostly) heavy...
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SM477 Electric Singer 66, post-war refurbished (originally a Lotus design and still has the nice nose plate...)
Detail
Detail
Detail
And the case
£120
Made in 1927...
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM390 Singer 275 in solid case, all sorted, PAT tested and ready to go. SS only
£85; with tools, needles, etc..
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM389 Jones zigzag free-arm machine in ugly but functional suitcase. PAT tested and all the usual stuff
£90; with tools, needles, etc..
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM236 Viking 12 Straight-stitch machine with green "Godzilla" finish and nice leather-look suitcase
Nice quiet, fast machine with great charm, extension table, original tool tin and booklet. Rewired
£120; PAT tested, of course..
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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Collectables - Not For Everyday Use!
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SM471 "New Ideal" in tin domed case. Takes 12x1 needles; the feed is from the foot. Chain stitch. Finicky and delightful by turns, cast aluminium, probably 1918...
Another view
Lid
Detail
Another detail
this one is actually light enough to post, but will have to go with insurance
£175
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SM401 Tailor Bird
Not one of my favourite machines, takes an obscure needle and not, to be honest, well-made. A nice curiosity for the completist collector...
£60
Case, which is also the base. This is the best one of these I have had, which is not saying a lot...
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM497 "Improved Eclipse" in a pretty nice box. Nice, I haven't serviced this one yet but I will
Detail
Case
Detail
Detail
Detail
£85
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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Oddities
Interesting or Incomplete, not guaranteed... For you to play with
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SM499 "Paw-foot" - no maker's name visible
Detail
Detail
Detail
Detail
With shuttle + 1
£75
COLLECTION ONLY - I don't ship or allow "courier collection" - no exceptions
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SM498 Wheeler and Wilson, possibly a number 3, incomplete
Detail
Detail
£35
This one I could post...
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Toys
Horrible, not guaranteed, but I have had these working. NOT for children, unless you really want them to suffer...
On the other hand, these CAN be posted. Come with a repro manual
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SM495 Singer Little Touch and Sew
Crank or batteries. I haven't tried it with batteries but it does sew, if you have the right swears
With box
And case...
£40
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SMQG009 Vulcan
Takes regular needles!
Repaired box, instructions...
£25
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SM386 "Zig-zag" toy (I can't work out how, as it doesn't appear to have anywhere for the needle to swing)
Needs further work, but I have got it to stitch nicely without the batteries..
Instructions and box...
Herewith the underneath...
£30
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Helen Howes
Helen Howes Sewing Machines
1 Castell Farm Cottages, Thurlton Road, Raveningham, Norfolk NR14 6NY. UK
07914 676182
Email me here - helen@helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk
I prefer that you email me (at any time), or phone between 3 and 6 (UK time) most days