I don't know much about current asking prices, but for more information
on the machines I suggest you go to the source.  Sears and Roebucks
Catalogs list such items and describe them in great detail.  There are
reprints available from most years in nearly every bookstore I have ever
been in.  If your local stores don't carry them, just ask them to order
them.  They are very inexpensive, and can be most helpful in identifying
many other historical items.
Lynn

>>> <[log in to unmask]> 11/05/95 07:18pm >>>
There are several books on sewing machines available, unfortunately I
don't have the titles in front of me this moment. One is put out by the
Smithsonian, one comes from a collectors group in arizona, and the
British museum has yet another. All can be located through any well
equippped library, though they might have to borrow them. If you need
more specific info, e-mail me and I will dig out my bibiliography and let you
know more.

>Museum is looking at acquiring two sewing machines.  I am researching
>these machines and need more information.  If you know of an expert
on
>sewing machines, sewing machine history, various late 19th century
Singer
>models and their appraisal, or of a good book on the subject, please
>contact me via email.
>
>The specific machines I am looking at are...
>1.  Treadle sewing machine, pat. Oct. 16, 1886, Singer Manufacturing
Co.
>Asking price: $300 (I need to know if this is reasonable) and to get more
>information on such sewing machines.
>
>2.  Cutaway of Singer sewing machine, no. 13080Z13, Diehl Mfg. Co.,
>Elizabeth, NJ. Pat. Dec. 25, 1888 - Nov. 12, 1889, Dec. 17, 1889, Apr.
22,
>1890. I need more information.
>
>
>
>--
>Kerridwen Harvey
>Museum and Heritage Consultant
>Ottawa, Ontario
>email: [log in to unmask]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

  "Motivated primarily by their own inner vision, a desire for riches, and
an unbounded faith in the abundance of nature, they were willing to
simply go out in the field, dig into the earth, and find out what was there"
                                        David Kruase
                        __The Making of a Mining District__




Richard A. Fields
Graduate Student of Industrial Archaeology
Michigan Tech. Univ. [log in to unmask]