01
Vibrating Shuttle Mechanism
Employs Singer's reliable oscillating bullet-shuttle movement with dual metal bed slide plates for bobbin access.
Curio Gallery
01 / 04
01 / 04Singer Model 28 Hand-Crank Sewing Machine — photograph 1
Highlights
Why this object
still matters.
A late-19th to early-20th-century Singer Model 28 three-quarter size sewing machine presented on its original wooden table base. It features cast-iron construction with black japanned enamel, ornate gilded Victorian floral decals, and an embossed rear access plate. The unit is fitted with a hand-crank drive mechanism, spoked balance wheel, and vibrating shuttle mechanism with dual sliding bed plates.
02
Hand-Crank Drive
Equipped with a geared manual hand crank and spoked flywheel designed for independent operation without treadle or electricity.
03
Victorian Decal Scheme
Finished with classic gold-leaf Victorian scrollwork flanking the traditional Singer company arm lettering and pillar cartouche.
04
Embossed Inspection Plate
Features an ornate relief-engraved pear-shaped metal access plate on the rear upright casting.
05
Cast-Iron Construction
Heavy-gauge solid cast-iron body finished in high-gloss black japanned lacquer built for multigenerational longevity.
06
Hardwood Portable Base
Mounted directly onto a contoured solid timber base originally fitted with lockable bentwood case clasps.
Specifications
The useful facts,
clearly recorded.
Measurements, construction, identity, and seller-supplied details are kept together for direct comparison.
Reviewed · Curio catalogue
Maker
The Singer Manufacturing Company
Origin
United States / United Kingdom (Clydebank, Scotland)
Year
1895
Department
scientific-instruments
Packed shipment
4 kg · 40 × 30 × 25 cm
Manufacturer
The Singer Manufacturing Company
Model
Model 28 (Vibrating Shuttle)
Drive Mechanism
Hand crank with geared spoked balance wheel
Shuttle Type
Vibrating shuttle (bullet shuttle)
Decal Pattern
Victorian floral scrollwork in gilt
Bed & Base
Polished hardwood bentwood-case base
Details
Close inspection,
recorded in photographs.
Detail № 01 · Singer Model 28 Hand-Crank Sewing Machine — photograph 2
Detail № 02 · Singer Model 28 Hand-Crank Sewing Machine — photograph 3
Heritage
A traceable life,
carefully recorded.
Provenance documentation was not supplied for this specific Singer Model 28 Hand-Crank Sewing Machine; this listing is based on the supplied photographs only.
Industrial Craftsmanship
Gilded Victorian Elegance
The elaborate floral decals and brass emblem shown on the black arm reflect the late Victorian era, when utilitarian domestic machinery was crafted as an ornate centerpiece for the household parlor.
Mechanical Engineering
Manual Precision Operation
Visible from the flywheel view, the hand-crank assembly allowed dressmakers and households worldwide to produce precise, reliable lockstitches long before electrification reached standard domestic environments. That specificity gives the buyer a traceable, emotionally resonant piece of United States / United Kingdom (Clydebank, Scotland) design history rather than a generic decorative substitute.
Timeline
An object in time,
one continuous story.
1885
Model 28 Introduced
Singer introduces the 3/4-size vibrating shuttle Model 28 as a portable domestic companion to the full-size Model 27.
1890s
Victorian Decal Series
Intricate gilded Victorian floral scrollwork becomes one of Singer's most celebrated factory finishes across export and domestic markets.
1910
Global Hand-Crank Production
The Kilbowie and Elizabeth factories produce millions of hand-crank machines for global regions without household electrical grids.
1914
Transition to Model 128
Singer updates the platform into the Model 128, modernizing shuttle ejection mechanisms and bobbin winder geometry.
Condition
Honest wear,
documented clearly.
The machine shows authentic age-appropriate patina and cosmetic wear across painted and metal surfaces. The black japanning displays moderate crazing, chipping, and wear along the arm and edges, while the gilt decals show partial rubbing and fading. Mechanical brightwork exhibits localized tarnishing, surface oxidation, and patina, and the wooden base displays typical abrasions, edge wear, and faint paint transfer.
✓
InspectedDecals & Japanning
Gilt decals retain substantial luster with localized losses and rubbing along the top arm and base; the black japanned enamel has minor edge chipping and age crazing.
✓
InspectedBrightwork & Metal
The embossed pear-shaped rear plate, faceplate, and hand-crank components show visible oxidation, surface patina, and mild spot corrosion consistent with antique age.
✓
InspectedBase & Woodwork
The hardwood mounting base displays surface scuffs, small dings, worn finish along the corners, and remnants of vintage marking or residue near the front rim.
✓
InspectedMechanical Assembly
Hand-crank drive, balance wheel, spool pin, tension assembly, and slide plates are intact in place; front bobbin slide plate sits slightly recessed/open.
Logistics
Inspected, insured,
door to door.
Step 01
Delivery
Inspected, photographed, and packed with its condition report.
Step 02
Shipping
Custom-fit protective packing with tracked, insured courier service.
Step 03
Returns
Return requests are accepted within fourteen days of confirmed delivery.
Step 04
Dispatch
Prepared for courier handoff within three to five business days.
Acquisition
Make it part of
your collection.
Contact the seller for more information or to discuss this object.
✓ Insured Shipping✓ 14-Day Returns✓ Condition Report✓ Reviewed Listing
Singer Model 28 Hand-Crank Sewing Machine