Posted 2 years ago
realityisa…
(1 item)
I purchased this stunning machine from a garage sale just the other day and am trying to find more information about her. Looking at the serial number, I've found that she was possibly made February 1, 1906 and is classified as a model 62, but she doesn't seem to match any photos of the model 62 and appears to better resemble a model 66 (66-1 / 66K possibly?). I've also seen her decal style referred to as "Lotus".
For enduring quite a few years of drinks and clutter being set on her as a kitchen accent piece, she's in pretty good condition. Besides the coat of red paint and a detached belt, she has all of her original hardware and appears to be in working order. I'm hoping to clean her up and get her looking her best again!
I don't know much about antique sewing machines, but would love to learn more! If anyone out there has more information about her or recommendations on how to care for her and would like to share, I would greatly appreciate it!
(I apologize for the sideways photos, I cannot seem to get them to rotate)
Hi, realityisahoax. :-)
You really scored. Yes, that is the much beloved Singer model 66 with Lotus decals.
Your problem with the serial number table was that you dropped a digit. The serial number is not H131676 but rather H1316769. The pertinent lines in the H serial number table:
H- 1307601 1332600 66 25000 May 14 1907
H- 1542301 1567300 66 25000 August 6 1907
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-h-series-serial-numbers.html
The first line translates to: a block of 25,000 consecutive serial numbers ([H]1307601 through [H]1332600) was allotted by the central office to one of the factories May 14 1907, and all were destined to be stamped into the beds of model 66 sewing machine heads.
FYI, I extracted that second line of information from the table to give you an idea of when your machine might have rolled off of the assembly line, i. e. sometime between the allotment date of the block of numbers to which yours belongs, and the next block of numbers destined for model 66 machines. Probably some time between May 14 and August 6 1907.
The famous Lotus decal set (which was only applied to model 66 machines, and mostly at Singer's Kilbowie/Clydebank factory:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal09
Your faceplate, which I think complements the Lotus decal set very well, is Simanco 32506:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_faceplates
I can't see the rear access panel, but in that same gallery of faceplates pictures are pictures of rear access panels.
Your cabinet is Cabinet Table No. 2:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/cabinet_table_no_2-3.html
About the model 66:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/66
I spy a back-clamping presser foot on your machine, so I'll give you a link to a soft copy of an operator manual for a model 66-1:
https://archive.org/details/Singer661Manual
About that feature:
https://oldsingersewingmachineblog.com/2012/11/04/the-back-clamp-singer-66-mystery/
Here are links to parts and adjusters manuals:
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/154170/Singer-66-1.html
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/364587/Singer-66.html
Here is some advice on fitting a treadle belt:
https://www.quiltingroomwithmel.com/2017/03/replacing-treadle-sewing-machine-belts.html
The belts tend to wear out before anything else, being leather. If yours is badly worn, you can actually get replacements at Amazon and Walmart, but I don't know about the quality. Here are a couple of reputable vendors:
https://www.vintagesingerparts.com/products/treadle-sewing-machine-leather-belt-3-16-x-72-part-p60013
https://singer-featherweight.com/products/belt-treadle-leather-for-antique-singer-machines
Here is advice on restoring your machine:
http://ismacs.net/sewing_machine_articles/a_tricky_woodwork_restoration.html
http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachineshop/cleaningmachines/cleaningmachines.html
https://tashamillergriffith.com/2015/11/22/satisfaction-restoring-a-treadle-cabinet/
https://mermaidsden.com/
The International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society (ISMACS) doesn't have any factory information for the H serial numbers:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer_dating_by_serial_number.html
However, because it has Lotus decals, it likely was made at Singer's Kilbowie/Clydebank factory.
I'll give you links for the history of both the Kilbowie/Clydebank and Elizabethport factories:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/kilbowie
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/elizabethport
https://www.ericwilliamsblog.com/left-behind-in-elizabeth-the-singer-manufacturing-company-part-1/
https://www.ericwilliamsblog.com/left-behind-in-elizabeth-the-singer-manufacturing-company-part-2/
In case I'm forgetting anything, here is my collection of vintage sewing machine links:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-vintage-sewing-machine-help
However, it's a lot to sift through, so if you have any specific questions, just ask them here in a comment. If I don't know the answers, I'll go back out into the wilds of the Internet, and try to find them. :-)
See, I knew I'd forget something.
The reason most of your pictures are sideways is probably that the Collectors Weekly Show & Tell software doesn't play nicely with all photo sources, especially some smart phones and tablets. :-(
A lot of times, it can be fixed by editing copies of your pictures on your local device. Just trim a little bit off of the long sides of the rectangular images, then edit your post and replace the sideways versions with the edited versions.
I have the same machine only with 3 draws on each side of the cabinet. My serial number Y3690512 which comes up as Model 66K made in November 1925. I am restoring it as I post.
Coachcaptain, Cool. :-)
Yes, yours probably rolled off of the assembly line some time between November 1925 and July 8 1926 (the allotment date of the next block of consecutive "Y" prefix serial numbers destined for model 66K sewing machine heads).
Please do post some before and after pictures when you're done restoring it.
Thanks keramikos, I like your answer to the first post here so informative and some great links to help with restoration stuff. I have learnt a lot from the info and am now able (I hope) to do the job needed. The lacquer and decals are in bad condition so I am wondering if I should strip the lacquer off and start from scratch with the machine? The cabinet is in good condition so that's not a problem to strip back to the veneer and start from there.
Coachcaptain, You're welcome. :-)
Learn from my mistakes, too. In reading back, I see that I told the OP that their machine probably came from the Kilbowie factory because of the Lotus decals.
D'oh! I can't believe I wrote something that stupid a mere three months ago.
If it had come from the Kilbowie factory, then the model number listed in the serial number table would have been 66K.
The Elizabethport factory did apply the lotus decal set to some model 66 sewing machine heads; however, they much more typically used the Red Eye decal set.
Anyway, as to stripping off the old decals and japanned finish on your machine: deep breath.
Not only is that a big job, it's controversial. Many die hard vintage sewing machine enthusiasts are adamantly opposed to it. Some might reluctantly agree that it's okay if the finish on your machine is completely thrashed.
This is where you might benefit from asking advice from a forum that is dedicated to vintage sewing machines, such as one of these:
https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/
https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/
https://leatherworker.net/forum/forum/50-leather-sewing-machines/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VintageSewingMachines/
https://groups.io/g/ISMACSDigest
One of the members of the leatherworker dot net forum claims to be a neophyte when it comes to japanning sewing machines, but has a lot to say on the subject:
https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/73078-first-try-at-japanning-on-a-restoration-project/?tab=comments#comment-479264
If you don't want to attempt something as arduous as japanning, you can take techno-renaissance man Wayne Schmidt's advice (there seems to be almost nothing he can't do). At around the 13:35 mark, he explains that he's going to have to put a new black base coat on the machine:
How To Restore An Antique 1875 Biesolt & Locke Sewing Machine
Sep 8, 2020
How to restore an antique 1875 Biesolt and Locke sewing machine. Since publishing this video, I've discovered that the recommended clear coat can react with Rustoleum enamel under certain conditions. I now recommend Design Master Gloss Black spray paint. It will not blister when sprayed with Design master Clear Finish Gloss.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpQ2mAGlHNY
New decal sets can be bought from this outfit:
https://www.singerdecals.com/model-66/
Here is some advice on applying decals (this is actually for a Singer Featherweight, but I expect the process would be similar for any model):
https://singer-featherweight.com/blogs/schoolhouse/how-to-apply-decals-to-the-singer-featherweight
Truly, I don't want to steer you wrong, so I highly recommend that you consult one or more of those dedicated vintage sewing machine forums I listed above.
Good luck. :-)
Thanks keramikos your advice is welcomed and sound. I have to get new decals as the ones (Lotus) has all but disappeared so no option there. As for the re-coating I don't want to as I know it's a very big job and may not work, but I can't see any other way to finish the job. Is there any way I can post pics on here? I will search long and hard for other solutions and as you suggest consult others that have gone down this road before and seek as much advice and help as I can. I must say that you are a fantastic start with things Singer restoration, so you are going to be a hard act to follow. I thank you.
Coachcaptain, Whoops, ya snuck another comment in on me while I was busy with something else. };-)
You're welcome, and thank you. :-)
I don't think I've mentioned this to you before, but I'm really not a vintage sewing machine expert. I'm just an old Internet surfer who's developed an interest in vintage sewing machines over the last few years.
I mostly try to point people who come to CW S&T looking for vintage sewing machine help in the right direction. Sometimes that means referring them to another online forum where there are people who might have the particular expertise that I lack.
As to posting pics: you can't add pictures to somebody else's post. All you can do on somebody else's post is comment, and perhaps link to images that are hosted elsewhere. Failing that, you have to create a post of your own.
If you're logged in, go to your user profile. There should be a pick called "Post an Item." You can create a post with up to four pictures.
Hi keramikos, I have posted a new thread as you suggested with pics so thanks for that info.