Etchasketch, you posted a fiddle base model 15 in the photo section that you said dates 1885. I have been doing some research, and I found there was a Model 15 made in 1879 that was a long beak shuttle with a spoked hand wheel. Is your 15 a shuttle? I would love to see that machine in person as I have never seen a Model 15 fiddle base! I can't find a reference to a 15 fiddle base! So interesting!
Who was it asking about when did the 99 become electrified? As far as I can find out, the first electric 99 was the 99-13 which was manufactured starting in 1924.
Nancy