1911 Singer 66? ID and Cleaning Help?
 

Hi everyone! I've been reading your forum for a little while and just joined yesterday. I love looking at all of your vintage machines!

My neighbor was going to throw away his old Singer and I have rescued it, but can't for the life of me figure out what it is. It's a total enigma! It has a crinkle finish, has an aftermarket motor/light (I think, it is a Dayton?), and the serial numbers tells me it's from 1911. I think it's a 66? The case is no help since someone has just sat it in a newer type stand/desk, part of it is even plywood where it has been repaired.

Can anyone help me identify this machine? I've looked exactly everywhere with no luck. Was it a treadle machine and electrified later? I've read that some older machines were crinkled and electrified in the 50's or 60's, could this be the case?

Also, I'm sure you can see how rough it is, I've taken it apart and have cleaned the lint out of everything and plan on oiling it eventually, but I'm not having any luck with the plated parts, I have soaked them in WD-40 and tried polishing them with metal polish, but they are still brown-ish colored. I am also totally worried about the crinkle...how do I clean that without ruining it?

Here are some pics to help....so sorry for the long first post but this machine has me totally intrigued.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...r/IMAG2627.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...r/IMAG2634.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...r/IMAG2630.jpg

Thanks so much everyone for looking!

OMyStarz,

Welcome to the Quilting Board.

As you have researched that is a Singer 66- probably 4 machine. Most likely began it's life in a treadle base and was electrified.
In later years Singer had a lot of early machines refurbished at some of their authorized repair centers and they were painted with black crinkle paint.
We've seen 66s, 99s, 127s, 128, 221s, and other with that paint scheme. The thing is, Singer also manufactured versions like that too. This one is a refurb though.

It's a good machine to use as is, or you could put a spoked hand wheel back on it, pull the electrical parts off and put it back in a treadle base. Either way, it's good you rescued it.

Joe

Thank you so much Joe for the information and the welcome! You've solved in just a few minutes a mystery that I have been searching for the answer to for days.

Are you saying it was probably exclusively a treadle and was electrified later? That makes the most sense to me since the motor is not a Singer motor, although it could have originally been electrified and the motor replaced at a later date. I would love to find a treadle base for it, I'll be scouring my local CL trying to find something.

I'm busy trying to help it as much as I can, but I need more information before I move forward. I'd hate to do any more harm to it than need be. I'm really worried about touching that finish and the decal with anything until I'm sure it's the right thing to use.

The electrical parts are scary, I am thinking I may try to find another motor for it if I decide to go that way.

Thanks again, I really appreciate it!

By the looks of the wood it's sitting in that was originally a treadle cabinet someone altered when the machine was electrified.
The motor, light and wiring I can see in the pic look OK. I can't see the power cord or foot controller.
Most likely their will be, or should be a cord block in the system. The power plug wire goes into the two outlet block on one side, the motor and light plug into it, and the cord with foot controller comes out the other side. Very simple and common set up.
How is that one set up?

Joe

OMy, that is a nice machine and you should not be trepedacious about the finish. The crinkle finish is very stable. I would only be careful around the Singer emblem on the arm.

If you look in the tutorials and stickies on the top of the page you should find some ways to clean it. I would suggest EvapORust for the plated parts. They probably have a thin layer or rust or oil.

Good luck. It will make a great treadle if you decide to go that way.