Keep in mind Kygirl, that the allotment date is not the machine's "birthdate". The allotment date is the day that someone from the Singer plant decided that X number of X type of machines would be made, and said machines would have serial numbers from (this number) to (this number).
From what I understand, you can call Singer's customer service and they can tell you the actual date your machine was made. I'm probably going to try that tomorrow with this 201, since it's my first "real" Singer...(I have the 9W treadle machine, but it was made at the old Wheeler & Wilson plant, using a Wheeler & Wilson design, and a Wheeler & Wilson serial number...it's really a W&W with Singer decals!)