Posted 2 years ago
LVyles
(1 item)
Like so many, I inherited this Singer from my mother when she passed. It was her mother's and I can remember my father using it multiple times throughout my childhood. I have a worn and tattered instruction manual along with accessories. It has a serial number on the base and is housed in an art-deco-style cabinet. I have looked online and cannot seem to find one with the style of the cabinet I have. The front of the cabinet has 2 drawers (1 is missing) and a storage space that tips out. The legs of the cabinet have floral medallions on them. I would love to know what year and model it is.
Welcome to CW. Kera is our sewing machine expert. She will tell you everything you want to know. Great looking machine..
Hi, LVyles. :-)
So you inherited your grandmother's vintage Singer sewing machine that was used not only by her, but by your father. Good on your father. };-)
Per the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society website serial number tables, serial number G0802602 was one of a block of 50,000 consecutive serial numbers ([G]0776076 through [G]0826075) allotted by the central office to one of its factories, and all of them were intended to be stamped into the beds of model 66 sewing machine heads.
Your mother's sewing machine head probably rolled off of the assembly line some time between the allotment date of its block (April 8 1924) and that of the next block of serial numbers intended for model 66 sewing machine heads (July 8 1924):
*snip*
G- 0776076 0826075 66 50000 April 8 1924
G- 0921586 0956585 66 35000 July 8 1924
*snip*
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-g-series-serial-numbers.html
About the Singer model 66:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/66
If I had to guess (and I guess I do have to guess), I'd say that the minor model is 66-6, because of the screw-style stitch length mechanism, and the solid balance wheel.
Your decal set is called Filigree:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal04
I can't see the faceplate, but here is a gallery of faceplates and rear access panels for you to browse:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_faceplates
The cabinet is version 2 of the style 40 Deluxe Library Table, identified by Jim of SteelSewing (and let me tell you, if Jim doesn't know the answer about a vintage sewing machine, it's possible that nobody does):
*snip*
Version 2
Three Drawers, Medallions, 50/50 split drop leaf. The earliest second variation type 40 dates from January of 1923 (casting date of machine) where the foot rest part of the cabinet may have been discontinued leaving a simple crossbar.
*snip*
https://steelsewing.blogspot.com/2018/04/four-variations-of-type-40-deluxe.html
Your cabinet was probably made either at Singer's Southbend, IN or Cairo, IL factory:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/southbend
https://orangebeanindiana.com/2019/06/12/south-bends-singer-sewing-machine-company/
All G prefix serial numbered sewing machine heads were cast and assembled at Singer's Elizabethport factory, with a few exceptions noted in the comments column of the G serial number table, such as those assembled at the St. John's factory.
About the Elizabethport factory:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/elizabethport
I'll give you some links for various copies of manuals for the model 66.
Here is a free soft copy of a 1929 user manual for a treadle-mounted model 66 with a spoked balance wheel, but it has the screw-style stitch length mechanism:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/singer-model-66-sewing-machine-manual.pdf
Here's a non-free hard copy for the 66-6:
https://www.bonanza.com/listings/Singer-66-6-Manual-Sewing-Machine-Owner/6138262
Here's another non-free hard copy at eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/234848134883
FYI, I see an allegedly free copy of a user manual at manualslib dot com, but that site seems to be frequently infested with malware, so I'd steer clear of it.
Here's a free soft copy of model 66 service manual:
https://archive.org/details/singer-66-service-manual-en
Here is a parts list for models 66-4, 66-5, and 66-6:
http://hensewfiles.com/PDFs/SINGER%2066-6.pdf
The accessories/attachments, left to right:
Singer (15x1) size 14 needles:
https://millardsewing.com/product/singer-15x1-needles-3-pack-vintage-size-14
FYI, those vintage ones at the Millard Sewing link are pretty spendy. Any 15x1 needles at your local sewing goods store would do.
A ruffler attachment:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/simanco/120290
You have two different styles of bobbins. The one with four holes is a newer style for the 66:
https://oldsingershop.com/collections/singer-66-sewing-machine-parts/products/new-singer-sewing-machine-class-66-bobbins-lot-of-8-model-66-99-101-201
The ones with ten holes look like they're for the model 15:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/simanco/2518
A seam guide sans the thumbscrew (this is a non-essential attachment, so I wouldn't get too worked up about it):
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/simanco/25527
That doodad to the right of the seam guide is a mystery attachment. I couldn't find it in the parts list, and searching for it using Google Lens didn't produce anything likely.
Just beyond the electrical plug looks like the belt for the balance wheel (SIMANCO 193077, Listed on Page 62 of the parts list as SIMANCO 193077)
So that's about it. In case I've forgotten 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 questions (other than value, which I don't do), just ask them here in a comment on your post.
LVyles, A few more tidbits.
On the theory that the mystery attachment came from a Singer model 15 sewing machine (because of the presence of class 15 bobbins), I tried looking for it in a model 15 parts list. No joy.
It might actually be a Singer tuck marker missing a few pieces:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/simanco/36583
Here's one in an Esty listing with more pictures at different angles:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/959192477/singer-tucker-simacno-36583
You could examine the back side to see whether it has a SIMANCO part number engraved on it, e.g.:
https://i.etsystatic.com/32617629/r/il/89c045/4455167495/il_1588xN.4455167495_pf5h.jpg
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1348308420/vintage-singer-tuck-marker-attachment
It looks like there is some thread wound on one of the ten-hole bobbins. I don't know whether somebody tried to use it in this particular sewing machine, but if they did, it was inadvisable.
The Singer model 66 sewing machine takes a class 66 bobbin, not a class 15. Fortunately, class 66 bobbins are widely available (it became a popular industry standard), although with a vintage model 66 machine, it's advisable to use vintage class 66 bobbins.
I don't know whether you are planning to restore/use this machine, but if you are, and you aren't particularly handy, you might want to consult a local sew & vac business for some assistance.
Good luck. :-)
OK, I think we have a winner.
I asked dav2no1 to have a look at it, and he found an eBay listing for a SIMANCO 36583 tuckmarker that has a picture from a fortuitous angle:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hc0AAOSwLfhizJGZ/s-l1600.png
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/265776042316
So, yeah, it sure looks like the mystery attachment is a tuckmarker with a few pieces missing.
Thanks, dav2no1. :-)
No, apparently I can't stop. };-)
I noticed that the tuckmarker is incomplete in more than one way. In addition to some movable pieces being missing, the ruler markings are missing from the rivited center piece. Was this a factory second, or what?
In its current state, the tuckmarker's only possible use might be to cannibalize it for the remaining thumbscrew to use on the seam guide. With any luck, it might be the same size thumscrew.