Singer Sewing Machine

My friend Melissa has an antique Singer Sewing machine that her parents gave her. She didn't know how old it was, so I looked it up based on photographs and the serial number. It looks like it was manufactured in 1906. It is very beautiful, and makes me think whimsically about all the obsolete items of the past. Just think of all the time someone sat at this sewing machine. What did they make? How many hours did they work? I wonder.

It also has the original catalog folded up in the drawer. Very interesting to see all the different kinds of sewing machines. The days of advertising had begun!