Singer Sewing Machine Retail Prices
#1
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Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 5
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So, my wife and I found a Singer 401 at Goodwill for $35 a year ago with EVERYTHING. I probably posted here about it. I just picked up a DeWalt radial arm saw from 1959 with the original receipt of sale of $242. I adjusted for inflation to almost exactly $2000. Of course these machines are built very similar to the Singer's of that age (like tanks). Come to find out the 401s were made right around the same time. So, I was wondering, about how much would a 401 have gone for during that time period? I have a feeling it cost more than this massive saw that I bought. This is sort of a competition, but I think I'm going to lose.
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,393
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I wish I could find the show that I saw about 8 years ago, it was the history of the sewing machines. And the one bit of information that really stuck with me prior to the 1950's the sewing machine was the second most expensive item bought for a family, the first was the family car. My mom's parents gave her a Singer 15-91 in the cabinet with the matching seat for a wedding present in 1950. They were considered a necessity. I don't know what they paid for it. They didn't buy a TV until 1952.
#6
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I think we paid about $350 for the machine with all the cams. We also got all the feet available. This was in late 1963, and our rent in our apartment was $75 a month, we bought ground beef 3 pounds for $1.00 with a coupon. The machine was a surprise from my husband and it was very touchy with tension. The repairman came to my house to adjust it monthly.
#7
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 2,606
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Sears Kenmore model 158 with cams for both decorative stitching and buttonholes, buttonhole attachment and chain stitcher, several presser feet, hard plastic case came in at $188 in 1968. Only machine I ever bought new and I wrote the amount on the back page of the manual. Still sews beautifully, husband rewired it once when the cord became damaged due to user carelessness, has never needed professional servicing. Weighs a ton, plastic case has discolored with age and the handle on the case bit the dust. I still sew on it for heavy duty projects.
#9
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 551
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My Singer 401A was purchased in June 1959 -- cams, feet, case, square wood table (same size as a card table) with cutout for machine -- cost $425 well worth the cost as far as I'm concerned. What would it cost today?
#10
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 32
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Here's a link to a really simple inflation calculator so y'all can convert from purchase dollars to today.
http://www.dollartimes.com/calculators/inflation.htm
http://www.dollartimes.com/calculators/inflation.htm
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