Treasure in the A ic

We recently found this Singer sewing machine in my grandparents’ a ic. I’m not sure whether it’s worth much but it’s certainly a nice piece. We have a feeling it dates from around 1912. Lowri Scour eld, via email

The Singer Sewing Machine Company was founded in New York in 1851 and was the !rst to mass-produce sewing machines for domestic use, producing over 1.3m machines annually by 1900.

All Singer machines bear a serial number and the one on yours dates it to 1910. With its decorative gilt decals and arched bentwood case it appears to be an early, hand-operated example of model number 99k. As a more portable, three-quarter-sized version of the earlier 66k, it became popular for home use and remained in production until 1958.

Although some machines with unusual mechanisms, or of an earlier date, can be very collectable (values can be upwards of £300) many models, such as the 99k, were produced in huge quantities. Consequently they are of modest value, and would typically make £20 to £40 at auction. LL