Global Economy And Vintage Sewing Machines
08-31-2015, 07:58 AM
#11
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: San Lorenzo, CA
Posts: 5,361
One of the things that I notice here is that kids in their 20's around here are discovering the "I can do this myself" attitude. My Daughter sews to repair and or tailor her own clothes, and I fugured it was just exposure to my old fashioned attitude about stuff, but she has several friends who do also. I asked a friend one time why she sews clothes and she said she was tired of buying junk.... There is hope.
I think these types are driving the prices up but only on "usable" machines. the price of what i refer to as novelty machines. (cool and fancy, but not necessarily a go to machine) seems to be dropping. Singer 1940-50's industrials rus 300+ all day long here, but beautiful treadles go for 100-300 usually, with pretty examples getting more from time to time.
Also Handcranks are getting harder and harder to find. Portability makes them very popular in todays culture.
.
I think these types are driving the prices up but only on "usable" machines. the price of what i refer to as novelty machines. (cool and fancy, but not necessarily a go to machine) seems to be dropping. Singer 1940-50's industrials rus 300+ all day long here, but beautiful treadles go for 100-300 usually, with pretty examples getting more from time to time.
Also Handcranks are getting harder and harder to find. Portability makes them very popular in todays culture.
.
08-31-2015, 07:59 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 442
Interesting topic. For me it is just summer and I don't have time to indulge in my winter hobby. Machines on craigs list are running all over the place. Industrial machines are going high. Treadles are crazy high and crazy low for really nice looking machines. None of them seem to be moving. Electrics are crazy if they are FW or 200-400's singer.
08-31-2015, 08:45 AM
#13
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: leavenworth, ks
Posts: 3,093
Here, the thrift shops don't even want machines in good working order because they just don't sell. I was hoping to thin my herd that way because nobody's buying them either. Gas is about $2.19/gallon here.
08-31-2015, 08:52 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Sacramento County, CA
Posts: 302
I see what SteveH has said in the prices and his reasons make sense. Which makes sense as he is the next CL area over from mine. 
Now with that said I have finally been able to get the Kenmore features I wanted and that after the ads were up for several days. So whoever is buying the bottom of the market is going from a list of models that is popular and not understanding the features. Which is Ok with me. I love engineering! /takes happy dance to another thread
Now with that said I have finally been able to get the Kenmore features I wanted and that after the ads were up for several days. So whoever is buying the bottom of the market is going from a list of models that is popular and not understanding the features. Which is Ok with me. I love engineering! /takes happy dance to another thread
08-31-2015, 06:28 PM
#15
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,506
It sometimes seems like it is harder to get an inexpensive bargain on the other hand I found a neat Singer 15 yesterday for dirt cheap. I haven't tried to sell anything in a while so I don't know how selling prices are going or if things are moving right now. I've been hearing about doom and gloom for the last 8 or 9 years maybe longer and doom and gloom hasn't happened yet. I have friends that have 30 years of food stored for doom and gloom... Who wants to eat that doom and gloom stuff anyway. As far as sewing machines go they might invest in thread and needles even if they don't have doom and gloom needles and thread come in handy.
08-31-2015, 07:46 PM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millville, NJ
Posts: 1,835
Miriam,
You'll have a goldmine when doom and gloom eventually arrives but you might have to barter. Think I'll brush up on my survival skills by watching some TV.
How many chickens for your Singer 15?
Jon
You'll have a goldmine when doom and gloom eventually arrives but you might have to barter. Think I'll brush up on my survival skills by watching some TV.
How many chickens for your Singer 15?Jon
Last edited by jlhmnj; 08-31-2015 at 07:50 PM.
09-01-2015, 04:04 AM
#17
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Frederick, OK
Posts: 2,031
Speaking of stocking up with food, I thought it was interesting last week during the Katrina Hurricane Anniversary, two mainstream news organizations (BBC & USA Today) had articles online about storing food and water. They were taking the angle of hurricane preparedness of course, but mentioned tornados and other emergencies that might keep you at home without power for a few days. I don’t recall the mainstream media putting articles like those out much before and wondered if the current economic conditions had any bearing on it.
As to the economy, I’m curious how new sewing machine sales have been going. I’m not into that, so I don’t have any information about sales, but I would be interested in knowing if sales are up or down over the past decade. Then, I would have to guess whether or not that had any effect on prices and sales of used sewing machines. I’ve always wondered when seeing vintage sewing machines suddenly appear for sale at high prices, if the owner was selling off a family heirloom when finances got tight. I guess it could be the case in some instances, but just as likely that the younger generation that it was handed down to has no interest in sewing machines in our high-tech world.
When it comes to bartering, I’d feel lucky if I got a couple of chicken wings for some of my machines....
CD in Oklahoma
As to the economy, I’m curious how new sewing machine sales have been going. I’m not into that, so I don’t have any information about sales, but I would be interested in knowing if sales are up or down over the past decade. Then, I would have to guess whether or not that had any effect on prices and sales of used sewing machines. I’ve always wondered when seeing vintage sewing machines suddenly appear for sale at high prices, if the owner was selling off a family heirloom when finances got tight. I guess it could be the case in some instances, but just as likely that the younger generation that it was handed down to has no interest in sewing machines in our high-tech world.
When it comes to bartering, I’d feel lucky if I got a couple of chicken wings for some of my machines....
CD in Oklahoma
09-01-2015, 05:39 AM
#18
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Location: Somewhere
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09-01-2015, 07:30 AM
#20
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: North Central, NC
Posts: 2,741
Very interesting discussion for sure. Machines in my area on CL are certainly not plentiful and mostly over priced I think. I really missed out on a Singer 66-18 in a nice cabinet and said to be in good working order and newly wired. (Here's hoping someone tells me it was not worth getting.) I am still regretting that I didn't just buy it and then try to find a place for it but my head is starting to explode with the amount of "stuff" I have. The older I get, the more I want less in my living area. Still, I am now yearning for Superman to turn the world back around on it's axis so I can buy the machine. I'll get over it and won't be stressed because I got it.
A handcrank is on my "want to buy" list but have not found an affordable one locally yet. I do have two treadles so no problem for "doom and gloom". Plus I am sure I (we all) will have more on our minds than looking for a machine if that ever happens.
Don't know how or whether shops are selling much in the way of new machines but of course presumably there will always be people with money who want the latest and greatest so they will buy. That's good news for people who buy their traded in ones for less than they were new. I got a new machine back in the 70's from my DH as a Christmas Gift. Have not had a new one since. I do have two computerized machines that we bought second hand and they are mostly what I use.
So great to hear from SteveH that there are younger people finally realizing that there is so much junk out in the shops and that they are now doing things including sewing for themselves. Hope that attitude carries across the country. Wish my Dad were still alive because kids could learn so much from him but that can probably be said about a lot of people who grew up in and around the depression. I know I should have paid more attention to what he had to say and do.
Gas here is about $2.25 to $2.30 by the way.
A handcrank is on my "want to buy" list but have not found an affordable one locally yet. I do have two treadles so no problem for "doom and gloom". Plus I am sure I (we all) will have more on our minds than looking for a machine if that ever happens.
Don't know how or whether shops are selling much in the way of new machines but of course presumably there will always be people with money who want the latest and greatest so they will buy. That's good news for people who buy their traded in ones for less than they were new. I got a new machine back in the 70's from my DH as a Christmas Gift. Have not had a new one since. I do have two computerized machines that we bought second hand and they are mostly what I use.
So great to hear from SteveH that there are younger people finally realizing that there is so much junk out in the shops and that they are now doing things including sewing for themselves. Hope that attitude carries across the country. Wish my Dad were still alive because kids could learn so much from him but that can probably be said about a lot of people who grew up in and around the depression. I know I should have paid more attention to what he had to say and do.
Gas here is about $2.25 to $2.30 by the way.
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