So I sold the Tan 201k today
#11
#12
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Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 670
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Outer Space
Posts: 9,319
I sell those that I don't bond with or have multiples of. Typically I make money but it works out to about $1 an hour. LOL. But, for me, I enjoy repairing and learning. I don't need to pay for classes this way. It's all hands on and learning by trial and error. I tell myself that if I keep one I need to part with one, and it just doesn't happen.
#14
Very interesting replies. I will continue to try to get cheep old Singers fix them up and then try to sell them. I love rescuing them from oblivion as a door stop, or as horrible as it sounds.. a garden ornament. I guess its a hobby and selling them for a bit more than I paid will help me continue this hobby for years to come hopefully.
I don't have a basement, or big house, but I have this image of a room with refurbished treadles lining the walls and hand crank machines on antique desks and a group of women gathering together and sewing. That would be my idea of a great time.
I don't have a basement, or big house, but I have this image of a room with refurbished treadles lining the walls and hand crank machines on antique desks and a group of women gathering together and sewing. That would be my idea of a great time.
#15
I've only sold one, the Kenmore 117.959 that my sister gave me. Her MIL had bought it at a garage sale for $10, thinking my sister could use the cabinet for her plastic singer. After a complete cleaning and servicing, restoring the cabinet with the Howard stuff, and finding an online manual and printing it, I sold it for the grand amount of $35. I don't think there is much possibility for profit around here but you wouldn't know it for the prices people want. Space and time are going to keep me from accumulating many more. Except for the 301s that seem to keep finding me cheap - and I do plan to sell two of the 3 301s I have (but they will sell to the quilting crowd). Not that that will keep me from looking!
Last edited by Skyangel; 10-10-2013 at 08:49 AM.
#16
With all my machines, I clean, service and test them and even then it's hard to sell for more than I paid! The 99k is a good example. I paid $50 (considered it a bargain), it's almost in mint condition with the original accessories and I still couldn't sell it for $90 (less than the cost of just a service)!
So the best way to make money with these skills is to also offer to fix, clean and service. It's the same with cars: Better to fix them than buy, fix, sell.
What's it like where you are?
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SC
Posts: 1,909
I have a total of 17 machines, a mix of old and new...FW, 99K, (2) treadled 128's, black 301, Janome 6600P, Janome 350E, Singer Futura CE-200, Bernina, Singer Confidence, Singer 27, Singer 99 clone, Singer Athena 2010, BabyLock and a couple more. I don't sell them because I don't want to, at least until circumstances force me to. And I definitely understand about the quilting remark...that's another thing people want you to do for little or nothing....doesn't matter if you have $300 invested in fabric, batting and thread...they want to give you $50! One of my favorite stories is about my CPA who wanted me to make him a double wedding ring quilt. He asked how much and back-peddled quickly when I told him...again, he charges $100 to do a very simple return...but doesn't want to pay for a labor-intensive product! So I guess the more the circumsatnces change, the more they remain the same...
#18
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 255
I totally agree with you on this and I also dearly love the old Singers. I have sold three in which I made a little money but I got them for nearly nothing. I got a little black Spartan for $10 and sold for $80 (one of my better deals), I got a brother for $7, sold for $25, got a 201 for $30, sold for $85 but these are definitely an exception to the rule. Mostly I buy the machines because I love them and not to resell them. I am currently looking for an acqua colored machine. I just recently acquired a pink/grey brother, a blue sewmor, and a beautiful green Spartan. I will post pictures of the Spartan when I get them off the camera.
#19
Gee, Redsquirrel I live in the Peterbough ON area and I would have loved to pay more for that 201 . I check Kijiji sometimes but I usually see the back of machines or ridiculous prices because it is an antique. The only machine I have wanted to finish my collection but use is a 201. Only saw it in black. What area are you --Canada is huge--???
The only ad I answered to Kijiji the owners never replied but kept lowering the price and my friends tried for me too and I would have driven 3 hours for it. A bummer.
Many ads do not say a model # or a serial number either.
The only ad I answered to Kijiji the owners never replied but kept lowering the price and my friends tried for me too and I would have driven 3 hours for it. A bummer.
Many ads do not say a model # or a serial number either.
Last edited by Mornigstar; 10-11-2013 at 05:40 AM.
#20
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