Whilst there have been many variations of the sewing machine through the years, credit is generally given to Elias Howe. Elias Howe was employed in a machinist's shop, where he had the opportunity to experiment with inventing a sewing machine. He successfully demonstrated his first sewing machine in 1846, and patented his lockstitch sewing machine on 10 September 1846 in New Hartford, Connecticut.Howe faced a legal battle after Isaac Singer invented the up-and-down motion mechanism, and Allen Wilson developed a rotary hook shuttle, both filing for patents. After winning one suit, the three inventors pooled their patent rights in the Sewing Machine Combination. It was under this patent that the sewing machine was then successfully marketed.There have been a number of other dates and places when variations of the sewing machine have been developed. They include:English inventor and cabinet maker, Thomas Saint, who was issued the first patent for a complete machine for sewing in 1790. It's unclear if he ever built it or just patented it in lieu. A replica built from his plans failed to work.In 1810 German inventor Baltasar Krems invented a machine for sewing hats. The lack of a patent means the true facts of dates will never be known.In Austria, Josef Madersperger was granted patent rights in 1815 for a machine he had been perfecting since 1807. In 1841 he was awarded a bronze medal for his sewing machine, but no manufacturer was prepared to develop it. He is still regarded by Germany as the true inventor of the sewing machine.The first functioning sewing machine was invented by the French tailor, Barthelemy Thimonnier, in 1830. Unfortunately like the riots of the Luddites in England the French Tailors rioted and burnt his factory to the ground.In 1834, Walter Hunt built America's first successful sewing machine. Singer in the 1850s, built the first commercially successful machine using the lock stitch which was already patented.
$500 to $600
I am assuming by manual you are talking about a non-electric sewing machine. These are the old treadle Singer sewing machines. They are good for their purpose. If you live in a community where the power goes off, obviously you can still sew when you can't do much else. An automatic or electric machine is far superior for what it can accomplish. If you are asking about electric machines, but are talking computer generated machines versus plain electronic machines, it is definitely preference. The computer machines are amazing, but can cost as much as an average car. They require a fair amount of training, but then the results can be very professional. If you are a garment sewer or a quilter, the computer may not be of as much use to you. A zig-zag and straight stitch are basically what you need with perhaps an overlock stitch. Even my old Kenmore from 1960 has attachments that will allow me to do rolled hems and gathering. You need to weigh the costs versus what you want to accomplish.
I just bought a Kenmore 1218 in a plastic carrying case in excellent condition for $100 in Washington State. It did not come with accessories or a wood cabinet, it did have its original manual.
How much a Singer 401A sewing machine sells for depends on a couple of factors. The first being it's general condition. A machine that's in superb mechanical and cosmetic condition will sell for much more than a tired, dirty, and biffed up one. The second factor is, what is included with the machine? Does it come with an instruction manual? Attachments? A carry case. Extra items? Also, consider shipping cost if you are buying from a distant seller. Currently a 401 in reasonably good condition, with no case, attachments or manual is selling for around $100.00 or more on eBay, plus shipping. A fine condition 401 with case, manual and attachments, around $250.00, plus shipping, and a 401 with loads (and loads) of extras recently sold on eBay for $450.00. I purchased a mint condition Singer 401A with Mint -in -box buttonhole attachment ,various fancy attachments (ruffeler, and some others,blindhem etc) instruction manual and tan sewing box with extra parts for $750.00 from eBay just over 3 years ago.
$100 each
its around $30-50 dollars depending on your model
The Singer Confidence is an extremely versatile sewing machine which is capable of performing many different tasks. There are no other machines which pack so many features into one package, so if you feel as though you'd require the additional flexibility, this machine is still a great bang for your buck.
It depends on the quality grade you are looking for. A Singer Quick fix is $59.95 at Target. The hand-held battery-operated one is $10.47 at Walmart. See links below. They also have a couple of higher class ones at Walmart as well.
Yes
Isaac Singer improved on a patent by Elisha Howe to create the modern sewing machine. Equally important, he created the lay-away installment plan by which customers could pay small amounts over time until they had paid off the cost of the machine, and could take their purchase home.
By some estimates, sewing machines reduced the cost of manufacturing simple ready-to-wear clothes by as much as 80 percent.
Sewing machine lubricant (oil) is usually between $5 and $10, depending on the brand and the size. A small (under 5 oz.) bottle of sewing machine oil at your local sewing supplies store (such as JoAnn's) costs about $4.
They can cost between $120 up to $200 depending on the brand and use
The first Sears sewing machine appeared in the catalog in the spring of 1899. The machine sold for 5.95 without a cover and 7.95 with a cover.
In 1923, with a down payment of $4 down ($48.49 in today's money), one could buy a Damascus Vibrating Shuttle sewing machine on a $4 monthly installment plan until it is paid off at a price of $29.95 (that's $363.08 in today's money). If you were able to pay in cash, the price would be only $27.95 ($338.83 in today's money). The machine was manually powered by the large pedal at the bottom.
The buyer could find a cheap one in the $300- $500 range, but for a nicer one expect to pay at least $1,000- $4000. Industrial computer controlled sewing machines can cost up to $60,000.