amgem3.jpg (31396 bytes)

********************
Larry and Carole
        Meeker
         *******************

Internet
Antique Dealers & Brokers

 

www.AntiqBuyer.com


LCM@AntiqBuyer.com

 

530-620-7019

Purveyors and Dealers of American Patented & Mechanical Antiques
 

 

Home

Selling Us Antiques

About Us

FAQ's

 

 $ Antiques $
  $ Wanted $

*Antique Surveying
      Instruments*

Transits
Levels
Compasses
Accessories

*Antique Tools*

Woodworking Planes
Misc Tools 
Leatherworking Tools
Farm
Anvils
Mining
Traps

*Antique Sewing
    Machines*

Early & Patented
Singer Featherweights
Toys
Sewing Birds

*US Patent Models*
*Salesman Samples*

Cast Iron Stoves
Salesman Samples
Patent Models
Washers

*Americana*

Figural Cast Iron
Occupational Photos
Coffee Grinders
Corkscrews
Pressing Irons
Ice Cream Scoops
Sports & Golf
Kitchen
Toasters

*Office Antiques*

Scientific Antiques
Calculation
Slide Rules
Typewriters
Telephones
Toys & Steam
Fans & Electric
Pencil Sharpeners

Patent Date Chart

Wanted to Buy

Links

Contact Us

 

 

Vintage & Antique
Travel & Child Size Toy Sewing Machines

We can help you sell your antique or collectible TSM's or
Toy Sewing Machines!

 We are active, knowledgeable, experienced, and specialized dealers in rare and historically important American patented sewing machines. We deal in both full size and child size travel sewing machines, or early toy sewing machines as well. 

We are always interested in helping you sell sewing machines through the Consignment Program we offer.   Please see the FAQ page and the other informational pages at this site for further info if you have questions, or Contact Us

You are currently at www.Antibuyer.com, our antique buying and general information website about antique sewing machines and other antiques. We conduct our antique TSM Toy Sewing machine sales, and those for antique and vintage sewing machines, including Singer Featherweight 221 and 222 sewing machines, from our sister website www.Patented-Antiques.com. 

Toy Sewing Machine Consignment Sales  

Below are a series of pictures that graphically illustrate some of the types and vintage of antique toy sewing machines (TSMs) we actively deal in.  To get more information and see other examples of desirable and collectible early patented sewing machines, please visit our sister website www.patented-antiques.com, where we conduct most of our Internet sewing machine sales.  There are also numerous past sales results and more information about these types of sewing machines there. 

Many small antique sewing machines were marketed as machines for travel or mending, while at other times they were sold as children's machines.  A few of these small antique sewing machines utilized a shuttle and made a lockstitch, but most of these "child size" antique sewing machines were designed to make a simple single thread chain stitch. This would indicate that their true market was as toys, and this stitch is really not suitable for everyday usage.  

Marketing these as toy sewing machines in addition to their dubious marketing as useful sewing devices for the mender, seamstress or traveling user was a marketing ploy in an attempt to sell more of them to the general consumer.  The simple observation of how many have survived in near mint condition, stored away in the corner of many closets, is a testament to how infrequently most of them were actually used.  Marketing at its finest!

American Hand Patented 1868 Sewing Machine   This is a prime example of theam_hand1.jpg (24502 bytes) type of antique sewing machine that we are actively seek and can help you sell.   It resembles a pair of scissors, and you operate it by squeezing the arms together like you would a scissors.   It is commonly referred to as a "sewing shears-style machine".  Another example of this style machine carries the name Goodbody and was made in Bridgeport, CT.  A third one was patented by a fellow named Hendricks.  These were generally marketed as travel machines and are very hard to find.  Note that similar things are still being marketed today in novelty catalogs and on late night TV for the American consumer withy insomnia. 

 

Patented Hancock Patent Sewing Machine   We are always interested in small antique sewing machines with built-in or integral clamps such as the one pictured on the left.  There are a whole han3.jpg (21617 bytes)series of early patented sewing  machines commonly referred to as "Hancocks"  after the inventor.  The original patent for this style machine was granted in the 1860's.  These sewing machines were sometimes marketed under other names, such as the "Household Pet", Lake Patent, and others that were similar in design that have subtle differences.  They are almost always missing their needle which was an odd design in itself.  

We know of three or four different variations of these sewing machines with different tables or thread positions or body styles.  All are of interest and very collectible.  Other names of  "integral clamp" sewing machines machines that we are looking for have names such as Bartlett, Novelty, Cute, Beckwith, Boynton, Hook, and others.  All of these early patented American small handcrank sewing machines as well as many others are sought for addition to our sales pages.    

 

The Hook Sewing Machine   This wonderful small cast iron sewing machine measures just 4" tall and washook2.jpg (21465 bytes) patented in the early 1860's.  It was only manufactured for a very short period of time.  It is referred to as the Hook and is very similar to the Hardie, another early patented sewing machine which is slightly larger.  This machine also has a built-in clamping mechanism and is another example of a desirable antique sewing machine from the mid 1800's that we are seeking. 

We are always interested in any early patented antique sewing machines that date from this era (pre-1870), whether large or small, and would love to discuss selling your antique sewing machines with you.  This particular example is so small that I doubt it served much of a utilitarian purpose and I imagine was not all that popular or well received, thus partially explaining its rarity and desirability today.  It has a very complicated mechanism to drive it, and incorporated a small and very fragile spring  that goes from the top of the machine down through the body to activate part of the looper below that.  It is clear that this design could never have stood up to regular use.  It is a pretty rare machine, but because of its size and lack of graphic appeal is not as in demand as some others from the same time period. 

Smith & Egge Little Comfort Chain Drive Sewing Machine  This is an example of a mass produced cast iron child size toy sewing lcomfort.jpg (23133 bytes)machine that dates from near the turn of the 20th century.  This is the type that can often be found in near mint condition in their original boxes.  We are interested in other similar super condition cast iron toy or children's sewing machines from this era as well.   These early sewing machines originally sold for a dollar or two, and were sold as both toys / child-size machines and as travel / mending machines through large distributors like Sears & Montgomery Wards. 

Basically this was a marketing ploy to sell as many as possible, and I doubt that many were put to actual use by seamstresses or travelers of the day.  They are relatively common and in todays market on eBay generally sell for under 200 unless mint in the box or a unusual variation.  Other similar TSM sewing machines carry names like Spenser, Universal, Pony, Triumph, Gem, Tourist, F & W Automatic, American Gem, and more.

 

singer_childs1.jpg (33616 bytes)Singer Toy Sewing Machines  Singer made a line of toy or child-size sewing machines starting in the 'teens and continuing through today.   These sewing machines are often mistakenly called "salesman sample sewing machines". 

All of the different Singer Model 20 small sewing machines were marketed solely as real sewing machines or toys for girls, and often given away to help implant the Singer name in the mind of the future sewing machine buyer or junior seamstress of  tomorrow. 

The Singer toy machines we are interested in are the metal-bodied ones produced from the 1900's through the 1950's.  In general, the values for most of these small toy Singer sewing machines runs from under $100 to close to $500 or more for a few of the rare variations / colors that have surfaced, with most falling into the lower end of that range.   We always have a decent selction of these for sale on our sister sales site www.Patented-Antiques.com

 

The next era for collectible toy sewing machines, which generally dates a bit later and spans up into the 1960's or so, are the toy machines which are usually referred to as "tinnies" or sheet steel models.  There are examples of this style machine from all over the world, and while some of them were produced in great numbers others were not and are considered quite rare and desirable.  Please contact us with any miniature or child-size cast iron or sheet steel sewing machines in great condition that you may have that are for sale. 

We are not interested in plastic or battery operated styles of these toy sewing machines that generally date from a completely different and later era.

 


Select Antique Sewing Machines Wanted

*****Click the Links Below***** 

The above sewing machines are examples of the caliber, condition and quality of antique sewing machines that we are primarily interested in. 

If you have quality antique sewing machines similar to those that you see on this page that you want to sell,  please contact us at LCM@AntiqBuyer.com

If you have additional questions about our consignment sales program please see the FAQ page

To see examples of antique sewing machines that we currently have for sale, please go to our sister site at www.Patented-Antiques.com.and visit the sewing machine sale pages you will find there. 

Thank You!

This website is Copyrighted
Larry & Carole Meeker