Information on Red Eye Antique Sewing Machines

About 1910, American manufacturer Isaac Singer introduced he Model 66 Red Eye sewing machine, with distinctive designs and colors that pleased sewing enthusiasts. This Red Eye model featured Singer’s earlier invention—the mechanism that allowed the sewing machine needle to operate in an up and down motion using a foot treadle, which replaced the hand crank.

Name origin

The Red Eye name of the Singer Model 66 was dubbed by collectors and refers to the machine’s red decal pattern. According to Alex Askaroff’s Sewalot website, this model's decorative pattern resembles exotic eyes.

Fashionable and competent

Considered a classic sewing machine, the Singer Red Eye boasts swirly designs in vivid colors of red, green and gold. The needle on the motorized version of the Red Eye sews through heavy fabrics with ease, adding to the machine’s appeal.

Increased ease of use

A hand crank and treadle belt, along with presser feet attached to a back clamp, are found on earlier versions of the Singer Red Eye sewing machine. Later Red Eye models contain a foot treadle, and still later versions include a motor that runs on electricity.

Value

As with all antiques, the Singer Red Eye sewing machine’s value depends on the price a collector is willing to pay, with the machine’s condition being the most important factor. Specific details, such as the Singer Red Eye’s elaborate and colorful designs, may add to the desirability of this antique sewing machine.

References

• University of Rochester: 19th Century Scientific American Online
• Sew Muse Company: Singer Sewing Machines
• Sewalot: Singer 66
• Karen Tiede Studio: Singer Red Eye 66

Resources

• Love to Know: Antique Singer Sewing Machine Value
• Grandmother's Sewing Machine: Singer Model 66 "Red Eye" Treadle
• Greta's Threadworks: Singer Red Eye Sewing Machine
• Love to Know: How Much Is My Singer Sewing Machine Worth to a Collector?