Rare 1903 model Singer 48k Ottoman Hand Crank sewing machine R1354117

  

Rare early model Singer 48K sewing machine in unrestored, untouched, original condition. The machine is well over 100 years old.

This machine was manufactured in Clydebank , Scotland in 1903. The serial number is R1354117. There is a lot of confusion about the numbers made of this machine. Underneath this description you will find a section of the story on the 48K by sewalot.

The machine does show signs of use but is in very good condition. The decal on this machine is in very good condition. The compartment lid is not original but easy to replace. The handle was replaced but again this is quite easy to fix. There is a case / lid with the machine.

There has been some adjustments made to the base as you can see in the photographs. It is not clear why this was done but it doesn't effect the working or appeal of this machine. It runs and is in good working order and is known and used for sewing thick materials. The machine was left as it was found.

So no oiling, cleaning, waxing or polishing has been done. Great machine to display or use. There are two different versions of this machine. Officially a treadle and a table hand crank version.

Now I have never seen a treadle version of this machine but I do come across two different table hand crank versions. One of them is prepared to put on top of a treadle table and the other model isn't. These must be the two models that they mean.

The size of the wooden base is similar but one has holes for a belt. The machine can easily be restored to perfection but that is up to the new owner.

Check out my other items. Be sure to add me to your favorites list. The Singer model 48 is a bit of an enigma so I shall tell you what I have learnt over the years about this beauty. As usual there is no guarantee as to how accurate my information is and there is a raging debate over this unique model which is fascinating. I wish more machines caused such controversy.

The Singer 48 is one of those rare machines where the facts some Internet pages are stating simply don't match up with the figures. Why, when the figures that some suggest point to Singer producing thousands of these machine was there a complete lack of advertising for them in the same years. E all know Singer were the best advertising sewing machine company in the world so it simply does not make sense that they not advertise the 48k unless they weren't producing it! If we are to believe some publicised statistics that have surfaced a production run of nearly 500,000 was started, some say the production run was going to be over 500,000 over a 20 year period. But why was production halted and why do so few turn up?

Even in India they cherish the old machines and they would be there in abundance if they ever existed. I have only seen a handful of these superb machines in a lifetime in the trade.

And to my knowledge only about 100 or so are in collectors hands making it one of the most sought after of all Singer models. The item "Rare 1903 model Singer 48k Ottoman Hand Crank sewing machine R1354117" is in sale since Monday, December 28, 2020. This item is in the category "Antiques\Sewing (Pre-1930)\Sewing Machines". The seller is "shalhans" and is located in Zoetermeer. This item can be shipped worldwide.

1. Maker: Singer
2. Original/Reproduction: Original