Does Muriel have machine record all sewn up?
WHEN Muriel Jone’s sewing machine was ‘born’ Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire, the Boer War was raging and the world had just left the 19th Century behind.
Now Muriel, 55, is claiming that, at 114 years old and still going strong, it’s the oldest working machine in Scotland.
She inherited it with a sepia tinged receipt and fading instruction book.
The receipt says the singer machine was bought for £4 on September 23, 1932, from Gilbert Logan, Sewing Machine Shop, Larkhall.
But when Muriel checked the serial number with Singer to see if they could value it, they told her it was made at their now demolished Clydebank plant in 1900.
Muriel from Blackwood, South Lanarkshire, revealed her ancient machine during a radio phone-in on BBC Radio Scotland’s Morning Call programme.
Host Louise White was trying to find Scotland’s oldest working household item.
Businesswoman Muriel inherited the ancient Singer Vibrating Shuttle Sewing Machine when her gran Jane McRae died around 30 years ago.
Muriel said: “I was astonished Singer told me it was made in 1900.
“All these years I thought it was made in 1932. I can’t believe it lay in that shop for 32 years waiting to be sold.
“My gran must’ve bought it second hand from the sewing machine shop.”
She added: “I don’t use it much myself. But it’s a lovely looking machine. It’s had to have the odd repair over the years but it’s still in good working condition.
“They certainly knew how to build things in those days”.
Singer confirmed the machine was built between July and December 1900 in Clydebank.
They could not confirm if it was the oldest working one in Scotland.
A spokesman said: “We’ve no record of one in Scotland that is this old and still works. So it is possible it’s the oldest working one in Scotland or even the UK.”
The huge Singer plant at Kilbowie, Clydebank, was opened in 1885. At its height in the 1960s it employed 16,000 people.
Do you have a household item older than Muriel’s sewing machine? Call our news desk on 0141 567 2776 or email mail@sundaypost.com