Value of Used Sewing Machines

Antique sewing machines can be valuable in many ways.

Used and antique sewing machines are passed down through family generations, available at antique shops, sewing shops and garage sales. While the value of some used items are determined solely on one or two factors, used sewing machines have several complex factors that affect what they sell for. Keeping these factors in mind will help you to better determine what the market value of your sewing machine is likely to be.

Age

How old your used sewing machine is will greatly impact its value. A used machine in good working order that was bought two years ago may go for just under the price you paid for it retail, while pricing the treadle machine your grandmother used 80 years ago is much more difficult. If it was manufactured by a large retailer, it probably does not have a whole lot of value, but a rarer antique could be worth a lot of money. Sewing machines with particular historical value can also be worth a good deal of cash. Any reputable antique dealer with experience in selling sewing machines should be able to tell you what you could expect to get for your machine. For best results, have more than one dealer appraise your sewing machine before deciding to sell it.

Brand

Certain sewing machine brands, like Singer, Viking and Featherweight, ring the bell of familiarity. These well-known brands are likely to bring in more money in mainstream online auction markets than off-brand sewing machines. To better understand what you could get for your sewing machine, go to sites like eBay and search for your sewing machine make and model. You should be able to see what others are paying for your machine by looking at the ending price of these auctions.

Parts

Some used sewing machines are no longer in working order, yet have several parts that could be useful for repair on other machines. Contact your local sewing machine repair shop to find out how much they would pay for your machine. Alternately, if you are familiar with how to remove the parts from your sewing machine, you can sell them separately at an online auction house. To determine how much you will get, check out how much the various parts have sold for in the past.

Aesthetics

Some antique sewing machines are appealing simply on an aesthetic basis. Whether or not they're working, metallic scrolls and designs can compliment an elegant decor or round out a collector's display. What your machine is worth from an aesthetic point of view will largely depend on finding the right buyer, whether at auction or in an antique store. Clean and polish your machine ahead of time to highlight its elegant design and attract the best buyer possible.

Sentimental Value

Some used sewing machines are of little or no monetary value from any perspective. Your mom's old Singer may bring back memories of her sewing dresses for the holidays, but it no longer works, isn't pretty to look at and can't be used for parts. When this is the case, the machine has only sentimental value. You can choose to keep the machine and display it in your own home, give it to another family member or even have it restored so that it can once again be used for sewing.

References

• ISMACS: How Much is My Sewing Machine Worth?
• Patented Antiques: Sewing Machine Information