Posted 3 years ago
quirky_enby
(1 item)
My friend was cleaning out her closet to make space, and decided to pass along to me two sewing machines! I don’t know much about this one, and neither does she, but I’m looking forward to finding out more info so this machine can get some TLC and put back to work.
The serial number from what I can see, I THINK is from the g series, G6596414 though I could be wrong due to being vision impaired.
Hi, quirky_enby. :-)
I think you're quite right about that serial number being G6596414.
Per the Singer serial number tables at the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society (ISMACS) website, serial number G6596414 was one of a block of 50,000 consecutive serial numbers (6582171 through 6632170) that was allotted to the Elizabethport factory January 2nd, 1919, and all were destined to be stamped into the beds of model 66 machines:
*snip*
G- 6582171 6632170 66 50000 January 2 1919
*snip*
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-g-series-serial-numbers.html
*snip*
ELIZABETHPORT
G-6,500,000 to G-8,500,000 1919 1920
*snip*
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer_dating_by_serial_number.html
FYI, that allotment date isn't necessarily the manufacture date for any particular sewing machine head associated with the serial numbers in that block. The allotment date is kind of like marching orders from the central office to the factory.
However, it's probably a safe assumption (yes) that all 50,000 were made by the time the next block of G serial numbers for model 66 machines was issued to the Elizabethport:
*snip*
G- 6791271 6841270 66 50000 March 4 1919
*snip*
It was immediately apparent that your machine was a model 66, because of the distinctive Red Eye decal set, which was only ever applied to model 66 machines at U.S. Singer factories.
About the model 66:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/66
The Red Eye decal set:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal10
Your face plate looks like (Simanco 32667), and the back access panel either (Simanco 32561) or (Simanco 32633):
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_faceplates
Your machine also possesses the another distinction in the form of a back-clamping presser foot:
https://oldsingersewingmachineblog.com/2012/11/04/the-back-clamp-singer-66-mystery/
https://oldsingershop.com/collections/singer-66-1-back-clamping-attachments
https://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachineshop/backclampfeet/convertingbackclampfeet.html
I'll give you a variety of model 66 manuals:
https://archive.org/details/Singer661Manual
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/singer-model-66-18-sewing-machine-manual.pdf
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/singer-model-66-sewing-machine-manual.pdf
About the Elizabethport factory:
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/
It sounds like you intend to get this machine serviced/restored, but aren't necessarily going to do it yourself.
Here is some advice from a vintage sewing machine enthusiast for servicing a model 66:
http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-service-and-clean-singer-66-or.html
In case I forgot something, I'll give you my collection of vintage sewing machine links:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-vintage-sewing-machine-help
However, it can be a lot to sift through, so if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask them here in a comment.