Singer 24 Chain Stitch Sewing Machine
The Model 24 was Singer’s main product for the chain stitch sewing machine market. The 24 was a single thread rotary hook machine with a width of just 10" and a gap of 5" between the needle and the arm. Although the model 24 was primarily intended as an industrial machine, it was quite uniquely at times also marketed as a domestic machine, and even as a toy machine for children.
Model 24-50 (photo courtesy of Lynn Kenan)
The Singer 24 was renowned for being compact, quiet and with light running qualities. These machines produced a decorative chain stitch, which when used with coarse thread, resembled braid. This made the machine popular for millinery, underwear, neck ties etc, and for applying decoration onto clothing and draperies.
Before Singer switched from using descriptive names to Class Numbers during 1891, the 24 was marketed as the 'Automatic Chain Stitcher'.
The model 24 machines were produced mainly at the Elizabethport, New Jersey factory between 1888 and the 1940’s, although a few were also made at the Kilbowie factory in Scotland. The machines were available with either automatic or plain tension adjustment. In it’s industrial guise, the Singer 24 was available in a number of sub-designs depending upon it’s intended application.
Instead of the regular bright plated cloth plates a few of the later Singer 24 models were provided with painted black plates which were adorned with the Red Berry decals.
Black Cloth Plate (photo by Wolfgang's Collectibles)
Singer 24 variants
| Model | Features |
|---|---|
| 24-1 | DOMESTIC - manual tension, treadle |
| 24-2 | DOMESTIC - manual tension, hand crank |
| 24-3 | Automatic tension, 8-30 stitches/inch |
| 24-4 | 2 needles, 2 loopers, auto-tension, treadle |
| 24-5 | As model 24-3 but with plain tension, treadle |
| 24-6 | Plain tension, 3/16" stitch, treadle |
| 24-7 | Plain tension, 4-12 stitches/inch, treadle |
| 24-8 | As 24-2 with 2 needles , 2 loopers, plain tension and 1/16" - 5/8" stitch |
| 24-9 | Automatic tension, side plaiting attachment, knee lifter |
| 24-10 | Plain tension with power tucker |
| 24-11 | As 24-10 with power tucker, but with automatic tension |
| 24-12 | Automatic tension with adjustable gathering feed |
| 24-13 | Automatic tension with adjustable gathering feed, treadle |
| 24-14 | Automatic tension, driven tuck marker |
| 24-17 | For folding (1/8, 3/16, 1/4) & crimping edge. No stitch mechanism, treadle or hand crank |
| 24-19 | Plain tension for plaiting, treadle |
| 24-21 | Plain tension, 2 needles, 2 loopers, 4-12 stitches/inch |
| 24-23 | Plain tension with ruffler, treadle |
| 24-24 | DOMESTIC - automatic tension |
| 24-26 | Automatic tension, 8-30 stitches/inch, treadle |
| 24-29 | As 24-23 plain tension with ruffler, but 2 needles, 2 loopers |
| 24-30 | DOMESTIC - automatic tension, hand crank |
| 24-31 | Plain tension, 8-30 stitches/inch, treadle |
| 24-32 | As 24-32 but with automatic tension, treadle |
| 24-33 | Plain tension, 4-12 stitches/inch for cap work, treadle |
| 24-34 | Plain tension with driven tuck marker, treadle |
| 24-35 | |
| 24-36 | Plain tension 2 needles, 2 loopers, 8-30 stitches/inch, treadle |
| 24-37 | Automatic tension, 2 needles, 2 loopers, 8-30 stitches/inch, treadle |
| 24-38 | Automatic tension with driven tuck marker |
| 24-39 | Automatic tension, 8-30 stitches/inch for umbrella seaming, treadle |
| 24-50 | DOMESTIC - automatic tension, treadle |
| 24-51 | DOMESTIC - automatic tension, hand crank |
| 24-52 | Automatic tension, 8-30 stitches/inch for umbrella seaming, treadle |
| 24-53 | Plain tension, 8-30 stitches/inch, treadle |
| 24-54 | Automatic tension for picot edging, treadle |
| 24-55 | Plain tension, 2 needles, 2 loopers, 8-30 stitches/inch for caps, treadle |
| 24-56 | For caps, treadle |
| 24-57 | For womens hats, treadle |
| 24-60 | DOMESTIC - automatic tension, treadle |
| 24-61 | DOMESTIC - automatic tension, hand crank, black cloth plate |
| 24-62 | DOMESTIC - automatic tension, with BT motor in case, black cloth plate |
| 24-63 | DOMESTIC - automatic tension, with BT motor, in table, black cloth plate |
| 24-65 | DOMESTIC - automatic tension, with BU motor and Singerlight, in case, black cloth plate |
| 24-66 | DOMESTIC - As 24-62 but with BU motor in case, black cloth plate |
| 24-67 | DOMESTIC - As 24-62 but with BU motor in table, black cloth plate |
| 24-70 | Manual tension, treadle, black cloth plate, long bed |
| 24-71 | Manual tension, hand crank, black cloth plate |
| 24-80 | DOMESTIC - automatic tension, electric, black cloth plate, full bed |
| 24K-1 | 24x3 needle, treadle |
| 24K-3 | 24x3 needle, treadle |
| 24K-4 | Treadle |
| 24K-5 | Treadle |
The Singer 24 machines use a short 24x1 needle (which was also used in early model 20 toys as well as 30K machines) with the flat on the shank fitted to the right, so that the needle is threaded from left to right. A few machines designated 24K1 and 24K3 used a 24x3 needle which was identical, except that the flat was on the opposite side of the needle.
We have a few 24x1 needles available individually. Please contact us for details.
Photos (Courtesy of Lynn Kenan)
24-50 - Front
24-50 - Needlebar
24-50 - Back
24-50 - Drive Wheel
24-50 - Top View