manicmike

I bought a 206 industrial on eBay last week. It's a centenary and didn't come with a manual. I'm very well versed with 306s, 319s and 320s and could have found my way around a domestic 206 but this machine is one of the industrials. Here's where my ignorance will be obvious: It has that extra lever setup at the back. I need a manual for this particular model, since some of the extra industrial bits are disassembled.
Serial number is EF964835.
If this message seems familiar, I also posted it on the vintage singer group
Here are two pics:
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miriam

The machine looks just like a 206 to me. The front byte works just like a regular 206. The lever in the back is to raise the presser foot. It is raised and lowered by a knee lift mounted on the industrial table.

ThayerRags

The parts manual for Singer 206K10_11_18_19 lists two different knee lift complete assemblies, but it doesn’t show how they go together. They’re the same except for the lift rod, and are distinguished by the thickness of the table that the machine is in.

I’ve never seen one, and it’s different than a knee lift on a Singer1200 (201 with knee lift), but I wonder if it’s assembled similar enough to a 1200 to help with parts placement? I don’t have a 1200 either, but there may be more 1200s out there than 206s with knee lifts.

CD in Oklahoma

manicmike

Yes that's just what it does (I checked after reading your post). So the machines listed as industrial 206 are regular ones with presser bar lift? How disappointing if there's nothing special about it.
Still, pretty good value for $6.25.

miriam

It may have a heavier needle bar - maybe not. It maybe heavier else where or not. Maybe the machining works inside it is a bit more tolerant, but I doubt it that much. I have a 206 and it is really heavy duty. It was mostly babied. Good machine but it sure does make me wonder if I could put a nose plate from a 66, a heavy motor and a heavy hand wheel on it and watch her fly!!!!!!!! There is something about that machine... I doubt if it was an inexpensive machine when it was new and there is nothing cheaply made about it... I'm thinking it is a bit shorter than my 241-13 but I wonder if it would go on that motor - might have to move the motor... ew... sorry just speculating.

manicmike

I think you're right. This one came with an industrial Singer motor (possibly from new - it looks like it might be) and was well used. It also came with a set of industrial treadle irons (without the benchtop). I'll almost certainly try her out with both the motor and the treadle (just have to get rid of two cabinets from the lounge first - yes I know I have a problem).

CD, the knee lift assembly is probably still in my car with the treadle irons. I can photograph it for you and/or take measurements. Just ask.

ThayerRags

There’s surely something different between the knee-lift/no knee-lift machines. I have a couple of 206 machines, and unfortunately I can’t get to them right now, but I don’t recall either of them having the knee-lift mount cast into the side of the head. The castings would be different, wouldn’t they?

I wonder why they didn’t give them different model numbers like they did with the 201 and 1200?

CD in Oklahoma

ThayerRags

The parts list in the link I provided above shows spoked hand wheel #15282 in the parts plates. That’s the common 9-spoke Singer wheel.

CD in Oklahoma

ThayerRags

I would be curious as to whether the knee-lift pivot mounting is cast into the arm, or welded onto the arm.

I don’t see any signs of a rod hole in the bed in the photos that I have of my 206s, but they both have lights on them that block my view of the back side of the arm in my photos so that I can’t see the area in question.

CD in Oklahoma

miriam

Maybe they drilled holes in the bed for the lift and welded the back or bolted it on somehow?
Here is a pic of mine on the dark corners of my shelf in the shop.
I wish the pictures could be side by side.
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