The wide range of styles and makers make antique stitching machines a fave collectible. Thanks to the quality craftsmanship and heavy materials of the early machines plenty of the antique stitching machines are still working models. The antique stitching machines will generally be made from forged iron and feature the patent info in an obvious location. The machines can have a hand crank or a treadle, which was a flat pedal for both feet to supply the motion for the stitching mechanism. The treadle machines would be mounted onto their own table or cabinet, whilst lots of other machines would be in a case and the machine would be put on the kitchen table. Tiny , antique sewing machines are a selection of the most fascinating, as they are smaller working models that served as salesmen's samples, used whilst traveling or for fixing. These tiny machines doubled as kids's stitching machines specifically to be used by young girls, since they were predicted to find out how to stitch. Machines that were meant to be marketed as a kid's machine were frequently painted in a different color or have floral motifs painted onto the body of the machine. Over the last 2 centuries many stitching machine firms were successful for a period before closing operations, making for the large range of machines to be found.

Many firms were not in a position to survive having their producing facilities converted for wartime use, but also lost to post-war Japan's capability to supply inexpensive products. Vocalist is the 1st stitching machine company and continues to have antique sewing machines that are the most recognizable and most well-liked by collectors. The Vocalist Featherweight model 221, known as the ideal Portable, remains a favourite of quilters.