BackgroundThe story
The 27 grew out of a design by Robert Whitehill, a Scottish immigrant who patented an improved take-up arm in 1885. Wikipedia says his prototype beat Singer's best machines in a factory trial, and Singer bought the rights. It was Singer's first use of the vibrating shuttle, and singersewinginfo says the VS2 was renamed the 27 in 1891.
The 127 was the modernised version. It added the shuttle ejector button (invented in 1910), a high-mounted bobbin winder, lugs for a motor and an automatic tension release in place of the old spoon-shaped manual one. Wikipedia's production records for the 127 run from July 1912 to May 1941, though many records were lost in the Second World War. Machines were built at Elizabethport, Kilbowie and St Jean, and Sears and Montgomery Ward sold look-alike clones from other makers.
These machines are all steel and cast iron, and were built to be repaired rather than replaced. That is why so many still turn up on treadles, hand cranks and motor conversions today.
ReferenceSpecification
Specification plate
- Years made
- Model 27: 1891 to 1913. Model 127: July 1912 to May 1941 by Singer’s production records (Wikipedia; the shuttle ejector it introduced dates from about 1910; singersewinginfo says the VS2 was renamed the 27 in 1891).
- Factories
- Elizabethport, Kilbowie (27K, 127K) and St Jean, Canada.
- Size and bed
- Full size, flatbed, low shank. About 27 lb (Wikipedia).
- Shuttle and bobbin
- Vibrating shuttle with a long, bullet-shaped bobbin. Wikipedia pairs shuttle 54505 with the 127 (54504 is the 28/128 shuttle) and says the 27 and 127 shuttles are not interchangeable; some parts sellers list shuttle 8301 for both.
- Needle
- 15x1.
- Drive
- Treadle, hand crank or add-on electric motor; 27K/28K pillars were pre-drilled for small motors.
- Stitches
- Straight stitch only.
IdentificationHow to recognise a 27 / 127 Sphinx
The 27 has a 12-spoke plain steel wheel. The 127 has a lighter 9-spoke nickel-plated wheel.
On the 127 the winder sits high on the balance wheel guard and runs off the wheel near the treadle belt. Earlier machines have it lower down.
On the 27 the Singer badge is at the bottom of the pillar. On the 127 it moved to the middle, so it no longer covers the decals.
The 127 shuttle has a dimple on its gliding surface to hold oil, and cut-outs that make it lighter and quieter and let you see how much bobbin thread is left.
Both the 27 and 127 have the stitch-length control on the pillar, not on the bed.
A round cover plate held by a thumb screw sits on the back of the arm. It gives you access to the parts inside.
In detail27 or 127?
The 127 has an automatic tension release and a bobbin ejector button; the 27 has a manual thumb-plate tension release and no ejector (singersewinginfo). Both have a round, nickel- or chrome-plated stitch plate with two split slide plates.
In detailSphinx and other decals
The Sphinx decal (also called Memphis or Egyptian) appears on the 27 and the 15 from the 1890s into the 1950s. On the 127 there is one Sphinx on the bed and one on the pillar under the bobbin winder. The 27 also carried Tiffany/Gingerbread, Scrolls and Roses, Rococo, Pheasant, Peacock and Ottoman Carnation decals (ISMACS).
VersionsVersions and sub-models
| Version | What sets it apart |
|---|---|
| 27-3 / 127-3 | The standard treadle version; the '-3' is often left off (originally numbered -1). |
| 27-4 / 127-4 | The standard hand-crank version (originally numbered -2). |
| 127-12 and 127-14 | Treadle (-12) and hand-crank (-14) versions without a take-up lever cover. |
| 127-13 | Factory fitted with a BT or BR add-on motor and a Singerlight. |
| 127-23 | Fitted with a BY17 or BZ17 motor and spotlight, for mounting in a cabinet. |
| 127-24 | Fitted with a BY18 or BZ18 motor and spotlight, for mounting in a portable case. |
Parts and accessoriesBobbins, attachments and the parts it takes
Part 8228, about 33 mm long. The same bobbin fits the 27, 127, 28 and 128.
Vintagesingerparts sells shuttle 8301 as fitting both the 27 and 127. Wikipedia says the 27 and 127 shuttles can't be swapped and will skip stitches if they do fit, so check before you buy.
15x1, sized to your fabric following the table in the manual.
The 127-3 manual lists a foot hemmer, adjustable hemmer, binder, tucker and ruffler. Singer sold attachment sets in numbered 'Style' boxes 1 to 14, and low-shank attachments such as a zigzagger (160985, 161102) and blind stitcher (160616) also fit.
Add-on motors mount on the 127's lugs. The Singerlight (part B428) was a long lamp designed in 1921; spotlights were an alternative but ran hot.
MaintenanceLooking after it
The 127 manual says to oil daily with constant use and occasionally with moderate use, at every point its diagrams mark.
If the machine runs hard after standing, the manual says to put a little kerosene in the oil holes, run it fast, wipe it clean, then oil it.
Gunk under the tension spring is a common cause of tension problems. Take the unit apart carefully to clean it if it seems stuck.
Restorers clean decal areas with light finger pressure rather than rubbing with cotton wool, which can lift worn gold.
The motor belt has about a quarter inch of adjustment. The 127's bobbin winder tyre can't be adjusted, so replace it when it no longer grips.
General advice from the sources listed below. If in doubt, follow your machine’s Singer manual.
Before you buyWhat to check on a used 27 / 127 Sphinx
In-person checks
QuestionsFrequently asked questions
Where do I get bobbins for a 27 or 127?
They take long ‘bullet’ bobbins, not round ones — make sure the listing names your model, as the 27 and 127 shuttles differ.
Who designed the Singer 27?
Robert Whitehill, a Scottish immigrant, who patented an improved take-up arm in 1885. Singer bought the rights after his prototype beat their own machines in a factory trial (Wikipedia).
What does 127-3 mean?
The number after the dash is the factory version. A 127-3 is the standard treadle machine and a 127-4 is the hand crank (Wikipedia).
Can I use a 27 shuttle in a 127?
Sources disagree. Wikipedia says the shuttles can't be swapped, while vintagesingerparts sells shuttle 8301 as fitting both.
How fast does a Singer 127 treadle sew?
Wikipedia says one full down-up motion of the treadle makes exactly four stitches.
Will modern presser feet fit a Singer 127?
It is a low-shank machine, so standard low-shank attachments fit.
ReferencesSources
Where sources disagree we show each figure rather than choosing one. Spotted an error? Tell us.
- ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer-class-127-sewing-machines.html
- www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/28
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer_Model_27_and_127
- www.manualslib.com/manual/153814/Singer-127-3-And-128-3.html
- vintagesewingmachinesblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/17/whats-new-in-singer-127
- pungolivinghome.com/2020/05/29/restoration-of-a-1925-vintage-singer-model-127-1-sphinx
- www.vintagesingerparts.com/products/vintage-original-shuttle-long-bobbin-fits-singer-model-27-127-8301
- www.vintagesingerparts.com/products/singer-long-metal-bobbins-6-pack-vintage-27-127-28-128-part-8228
- www.vintagesingerparts.com/products/original-singer-vibrating-shuttle-simanco-part-54504-fits-models-28-128
Last reviewed October 2026