Posted 2 years ago
diggity626
(1 item)
Hi!
Just got my grandfather's singer sewing machine from my mom and i'm trying to find more information on it. Any help is appreciated!
Here's what I think I've learned so far...
From the serial number it's G series Model 66 so it was made June 15, 1910
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-g-series-serial-numbers.html
I think the front plate is 66k. (https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_faceplates)
Pretty sure the additions were my grandfather's to make his life easier :)
Thanks
Hi, diggity626. :-)
Per the serial number tables at the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society website, serial number "G565186" was one of a block of 50,000 consecutive serial numbers ([G]564001 through {G]614000) allotted to one of Singer's factories (in this case, Elizabethport) June 22 1910.
All were intended to be stamped into the beds of model 66 machines, probably by the time of the allotment date of the next block of serial numbers intended for model 66 machines (October 5, 1910):
G- 564001 614000 66 50000 June 22 1910
G- 763401 793400 66 30000 October 5 1910
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-g-series-serial-numbers.html
ELIZABETHPORT
G-1,000,000 to G-2,500,000 1910 1912
G-2,500,000 to G-4,400,000 1913 1915
G-4,400,000 to G-6,500,000 1916 1918
G-6,500,000 to G-8,500,000 1919 1920
G-8,500,000 to G-9,999,999 1921 1923
G-1 to G-999,999 1924 1924
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer_dating_by_serial_number.html
FYI, the reason I provided the second line of information excerpted from the serial number table is because I'm on a one person campaign to stamp out the idea that any given sewing machine rolled off of the assembly line exactly on on the allotment date of its block. };-)
It's likely that nobody knows exactly when any particular machine was made.
However, barring some problem like factory equipment breakdown, a personnel strike -- or war -- it's probably safe to assume (yeah, I know) that all of the machines associated with a particular serial number block were made by the date of the next block associated with the same model.
Sewing machine expert Alex Askaroff knows of a verifiable case in which a Singer sewing machine with a serial number allotted in 1939 didn't get sold new to a customer until 1946, because of WWII, and Singer's support of the war effort:
https://sewalot.com/dating_singer_sewing_machine_by_serial_number.htm
Yes, your grandfather's machine is a bit unusual in that he seems to have personally modified it using non-Simanco (Singer Manufacturing Company) parts.
It could just be my eyes, but the little compartment where the plug outlet sits looks a bit narrow in comparison with Singer portable bases:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_cases
Anyway, about the Singer model 66 (a model much beloved by vintage sewing machine enthusiasts):
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/66
You correctly identified the faceplate which is described at singersewinginfo dot co dot uk as 66K (Simanco 32506):
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_faceplates
FYI, the "K" suffix on the model number refers to a model 66 made at Singer's Kilbowie plant. It would be essentially identical mechanically to a model 66 made in any other Singer factory.
I do think that particular face plate design (as well as the 66K Simanco 32561 rear access panel) goes very well with the Lotus decal set, which was mostly used at the Kilbowie plant, but a small number were also used at the Elizabethport factory as well:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal09
However, the decal set on your grandfather's machine is called Trefoil:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal17
I'm not quite sure which submodel your grandfather's machine might have been originally, but here are a couple of model 66 user manuals:
https://archive.org/details/Singer661Manual
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/singer-model-66-18-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/
In case I'm forgetting something, here is my collection of vintage sewing machine links:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-help-for-vintage-sewing-machines
However, it's a lot to sift through, so if you have any questions (other than value, a territory where I typically don't tread), just ask them here in a comment on your post. :-)
keramikos, Thank you for the wonderful information and help!!
So, if i'm reading this correctly, our Singer Model 66 was made between June 1910 and October 1910? Or is it 1924?
After talking to a few family members it appears that my grandfather acquired the sewing machine in the late 60s to use in the home. He was a professional tailor working in manhattan so looks like this was used to fix things at home and for neighbors and friends. He gave it to my mom in the early eighties when visiting he learned she did not have a sewing machine. Apparently she covered it up and forgot about it for 40 years!
My primary interest is figuring out how to clean it up for display at home, what to do about the motor, broken light, and case? and basically, how *not* to mess it up! Is this DIYable or should I engage a professional? I view it as an important family heirloom given that my grandfather was a professional tailor which is how he and my family survived WWII in Siberia (fixing boots and jackets for soldiers) and later how he made enough money to immigrate to America.
Thanks again!!
Dave
diggity626, You're very welcome. :-)
I did wonder whether your grandfather was a tailor, but he was a tailor in Siberia? Wow.
Looking more closely at the information I linked about the "G" prefix serial numbers from that dating page at ISMACS, I can see how you might be confused. The year 1910 isn't even mentioned!
Part of the problem is that the "G" prefix group is huge. Pulling that table into Excel, and counting the lines in Excel shows 1873-1874 allotment blocks (one block seems to have been split between two different model numbers at the St. John's factory), and a total of 10,999,998 serial numbers. Almost eleven million sewing machine heads -- and that's just the ones with G" prefix serial numbers!
It starts off well at serial number "000001," and increments normally up to "9995230," and then it seems to go a bit haywire. It looks like Singer wanted to stretch the G" group just a little bit further, and sort of 'reset' the counter to take advantage of seven digit serial numbers that start at "0000001."
I probably should stop linking that one ISMACS page about dating, because it looks like it's in dire need of editing, and of late, ISMACS seems like a ghost ship.
Anyway, insofar as anybody knows, your grandfather's Singer sewing machine head is of 1910 vintage.
As to spiffing it up, here is some general advice:
https://ismacs.net/sewing_machine_articles/a_tricky_woodwork_restoration.html
https://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachineshop/cleaningmachines/cleaningmachines.html
Because your grandfather's sewing machine has been modified post Singer factory manufacture using non-Singer parts, you might well want to consult a professional, but I hate to tell people to spend potentially a lot of money if it isn't necessary.
You might want to consult the users at one or more forums dedicated to vintage sewing machines. Many of them are very experienced in restoration, parts replacement, adjustment, etc.:
The Facebook group is reportedly very knowledgeable, but they're essentially a black box to anybody who isn't a member, and I'm not a member:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VintageSewingMachines/
Unfortunately it's kind of the same thing with the ISMACS group (a black box to non-members):
https://groups.io/g/ISMACSDigest
You can read leatherworker forum posts and get a feel for them. As their name suggests, their primary focus is machines that can sew leather (primarily industrial machines, but some domestic ones); however, they are very knowlegeable.
I'm really loving them lately because one of their members uncovered a Singer serial number chart for the Bridgeport factory. That's pure gold:
https://leatherworker.net/forum/forum/50-leather-sewing-machines/
This group is about vintage sewing machines of any kind (albeit more domestic machines than industrial ones), and they're very knowledgeable. You can read their posts to get a feel for them:
https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/
This group is also about vintage sewing machines of any kind (again, more domestic than industrial). They are very knowledgeable, and their genesis is as an offspring of the quilting board forum.
Their founder came up with an Excel calculator tool for finding Singer manufacturing dates as an intellectual exercise. };-) You can read their posts to get a feel for them:
https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/
Believe it or not, SIMANCO parts are still available for many Singer models:
https://www.vintagesingerparts.com/
https://www.singeronline.com/
Whatever you do, I hope you post "after" pictures of your grandfather's sewing machine. That truly is a family heirloom worthy of tender loving care.
Hi again, diggity626.
In poking around at the victoriansweatshop forum, I got some confirmation of my impression of the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society website (ismacs dot net) as a ghost ship:
https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1333285901&postcount=24&forum=501752
The gist of it is that with the recent deaths of some of the founders (most notably, Graham Forsdyke on July 1st, 2022), and the desire of another to retire, ISMACS might be going away after putting out a Christmas 2022 issue of the ISMACS magazine.
The website itself doesn't appear to be in danger of disappearing any time soon, because it isn't due to expire until late 2026:
https://www.whois.com/whois/ismacs.net
Perhaps some enthusiasts at the victoriansweatshop and/or other vintage sewing machine forums will step in and revitalize it. OK, I can hope, anyway.