This is a 1969 Sears Maruzen sewing machine (I believe from my research.) Model# 158.17540. It still works like a charm! It has tons of extras with it.
I just want to know how much this is potentially worth.
Thank you in advance!
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You have a very nice Sears Kenmore model 1754 from 1969. From your photos, it has many extras indeed. I only saw 1 of the green cams that goes in the top for different stitches. Are there more?
I have a 1969 Kenmore also. It is a model 158.960 (booklet calls it a model 96). My parents gave it to me for college graduation in 1976, and it came in a nice wooden cabinet. It's button holer is a bit different than yours, and mine came with 14 of those green cams for all kinds of decorative and utility stitches.
Those older machines like yours and mine, are almost all metal and real work horses. I can even sew thinner leather with mine, and repairing heavy blue jeans doesn't even slow it down !!! I still have mine after 44 years of use, and all I've ever done to it other than cleaning and oiling it, was replacing a couple of belts and light bulbs, and of course needles don't last forever. It is the only sewing machine I have or ever want. You couldn't PAY me to own one of the new computerized machines. They are VERY pricey to buy and to repair, and there isn't one out there that will last as long as a good old Kenmore like ours.
I found a couple of Kenmores very similar to yours on Ebay, with an asking price of $80.00. But, I've also found SOLD listings for them for between $175 and $300, depending on condition and extra goodies for the machines. So, I hope that gives you an idea of value. But in my mind, these old all-metal sewing machines are worth their weight in gold...and they are pretty heavy !!!!!
Oh awesome! Thank you for responding! Those are all the extras that came with it and it does still work. I just dont sew. It was given to me. I agree with you about quality, the older things always seem to outlast anything new now a days. I may have to get an eBay account because I am trying my local selling apps but no responses so far.
Have you tried craigslist? Almost everything under the sun can be bought and sold on that site.
It's never been used my mother brought it for my sister and she never used it and I have it now it's on perfect condition
The first Kenmore sewing machine appeared in 1913. Sears had a lot of different companies manufacturer their Kenmore sewing machines. In the early years the company producing them was American. White was based in Massachusetts and moved to Cleveland later on. Sears tried a German company and then Japanese. Their most recent sewing machines were produced by the same Japanese company that made Singer sewing machines. Sears stopped selling the Kenmore sewing machines years ago and went to selling Singer, Brother and Janome.
The best way to find out when your Kenmore sewing machine was made, is to find the model number.
Your model 17540 (158.17540) was made in 1969-70 in Japan www.searsarchives.com/
The price depends on the make, model and year it was made. Here is a model like yours 17540 was sold at auction for $ 30 www.shopgoodwill.com/
These go for $50 at most in my area.
Oh no! Not what I wanted to hear haha. But you are most likely right. Id have to have that one special person that knows these and loves them to buy it for more than $50.
This is a nice vintage machine but if you do not sew and never plan to, then selling it sounds like the way to go.
When selling something this heavy you are correct in offering it as pick up only. The problem with this type of sale is that what type of area you live in will dictate the final value. Some areas may be 'into' vintage sewing machines while another area they can be found on the curb for free. If you have yours listed on local sites and getting no response it could mean that your price is too high or that your area does not support vintage machines.
Posting on eBay is good but it doesn't really mean that you will have better luck as many of the people looking on eBay are also looking on local sites because you will list this is 'pick up only' so some of the same people would have already seen your machine on a local site.
I do not know what sites you're using but these are good sites for pick up only:
Craigslist, USA4Sale, Nextdoor.com, OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace (very good), LetGo
You can list your machine on all of these sites but be sure to remove it should your machine sell. Start at a higher price - $250 maybe - write in 'all offers considered' and leave it for a few weeks. Sewing machines are usually not fast sellers.
If no offers received, lower the price and wait again - there really is no other way other than a yard sale.
Show good pictures and good description.
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