Age and Value of Domestic Treadle Sewing Machine?

An old treadle sewing machine. This was my grandmas sewing machine on the farm in Iowa. The instruction book says it is a model D. Unsure if the cover should lie flat when opened but dont want to break it.

What is value of this piece? Its in fair condition: some molding missing; missing knobs on drawers but we may have a couple of the attachments for fancy stitching.

The top of an old treadle sewing machine.

The bottom of an old treadle sewing machine.

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cybergrannie
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June 13, 20220 found this helpful

Best Answer

There does appear to be damage to the veneer (this is very difficult to repair) and some rust. The pictures are not good enough to really tell very much about the overall condition of the machine, cabinet, or the treadle but probably 'fair' condition is pretty accurate.

As a general rule, treadle machines are very heavy and sellers generally list them with the stipulation; local pick up only.
This means the final value of your machine will depend on the overall condition (is it working?) of the machine as well as the cabinet/treadle and also your location.
In my location, a treadle machine is only worth whatever someone will pay for the treadle - usually about $40 or less.
Your location may be better so if you can clean it up and get it in good working order you could try listing it on Craigslist and Facebook marketplace; start the price higher (to test the market) - maybe $250 with offers considered. Leave it posted for several weeks and if offers then lower the price and wait again.
You will need a lot of good pictures.

The market fluctuates; as an example, this beautiful machine sold for less than $200:
www.ebay.com/.../394029989740?hash=item5bbe047f6c...

You can also look at eBay's sold listings for all brands of treadle machines to just get an idea of what treadles are selling for and check out the pictures and the location of pick up.
www.ebay.com/.../i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524...

www.thriftyfun.com/Finding-the-Value-of-a-New-Domestic...

WorlDA

June 30, 20220 found this helpful

Best Answer

This sewing machine was made by the Wm. A. Mack & Co., starting in 1861. They received a patent for its version of the sewing machine in 1863. Wm Macks brother joined the firm after serving honorably in the Civil War in 1866 and began selling the Domestic sewing machine from a wagon.

When the Mack brothers left the company, Domestic stopped being the leader of the industry and started to copy the Singer model 27. The name of this Domestic model was King. It is not quite clear what the early models were named. The company used at least one number, the No.3, which was sold in the 1880s. Machinesif No.1 and No. 2 were made between 1861 and 1879 approx. After the numbers came to the models with letters- A. B. C... which would have debuted sometime in the 1870s or 1880s. 1884 was the first-named model and it was called Reliable. After that and about 1890 give or take a year or two, the company produced the New Domestic. Then came the King which as you have already read, was a clone of the Singer 27 sewing machine. sewingiscool.com/.../

Models with a wood cabinet, no name but with serial 469723 may have been produced after 1924 and before the companys demise. On average for the machines with cabinets in good condition worth between $175 to $225. sewingiscool.com/.../

Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts

June 13, 20220 found this helpful

I have seen these asking in the $200 range on eBay.

CDC
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June 14, 20220 found this helpful

This Domestic sewing machine & cabinet are listed for $150:
www.ebay.com/.../154208662242?hash=item23e78d72e2...

Chipmunk

June 30, 20220 found this helpful

The Domestic Sewing Machine Company was established in 1861 by N. S. Perkins and William Mack in Norwalk, Ohio. The first complete machine was introduced in 1864. They moved the main office into an iconic building on 14th and Broadway on Union Square in New York City. The company did not survive the Great Depression in the 1930s. mearto.com/.../antique-domestic-sewing-machine

Value of similar sewing machine in good condition is $250-400 mearto.com/.../antique-domestic-sewing-machine

bronly

June 30, 20220 found this helpful

I found a discussion of a similar "Domestic" Antique Treadle Sewing Machine:

www.collectorsweekly.com/.../18845-domestic-antique-treadle-sewing...

Value is about $100-150.

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