Posted 3 years ago
Bunty-Babe…
(1 item)
I have a few antique/vintage sewing machines at home ..this one was donated to me by my sister from her friend & was in this slightly rusty condition ...
I've been trying to research it , I think its dated 1922 .. if anyone can shed any light on this model it would be much appreciated ....
Anyone know how I can effectively & safely clean it up to get the rust off ?
Hi, Bunty-Babes-Bazaar. :-)
Determining the age of your Singer is best done by looking up the serial number in the Singer serial number tables at the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society (ISMACS) website:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-sewing-machine-serial-number-database.html
Unfortunately, I can't read the serial number in your pictures. It's not that serial number on the motor, which pertains solely to the motor. It's this one in the little bronze-color cartouche located on the sewing machine bed in front of the upright arm/pillar, e.g.:
https://www.singermachines.co.uk/pub/media/upload/image/model_5.jpg
If you could take a clear picture of that, and add it to your post, it'd be much appreciated.
Your machine seems to be some flavor of model 66, but it's difficult to tell precisely which minor model number, because it looks as though the motor is either a replacement for the original, or an add-on. That is to say, perhaps your machine was originally a hand-crank, or even a cabinet-mounted machine head. That portable case is a bit unusual-looking, and possibly even home-made (but well-done if it was home made).
It doesn't look like a Simanco (Singer Manufacturing Company) motor, but I can't quite make out the name of the company.
Anyway, about the model 66:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/66
Here are a couple model 66 manuals:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/singer-model-66-sewing-machine-manual.pdf
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/singer-model-66-18-sewing-machine-manual.pdf
Your decal set looks like Filigree:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal04
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/decals/domestics/filigree.html
Your face plate looks like 66K (Simanco 32667):
https://d33wubrfki0l68.cloudfront.net/1d735598186739adb61e143e8e4d152b16763adf/64ac7/images/gallery/gf66k-240x360.jpg
Your back access panel looks like 66K (Simanco 32633):
https://d33wubrfki0l68.cloudfront.net/aaf1e9a0eb677f9ebeaf2f7c5b926d4e45bd7023/82484/images/gallery/gf66kpanel-240.jpg
I think it likely that your machine head wasn't made in Great Britain, because those ones usually have that information in the decal set applied to the top of the horizontal arm. Yours was likely made at this factory (but identifying the serial number would help to narrow down that as well):
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/elizabethport
As to removing the rust from the chromed parts, here is some advice:
https://www.quiltingroomwithmel.com/2017/02/cleaning-chrome-vintage-sewing-machine.html
http://vssmb.blogspot.com/2011/07/get-that-silver-shiny.html
As well as some general advice for restoring vintage sewing machines overall:
https://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachineshop/cleaningmachines/cleaningmachines.html
http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-service-and-clean-singer-66-or.html
Here's a collection of vintage sewing machine links in case I forgot anything:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-vintage-sewing-machine-help