Thank you and yes the serial number does begin with mg. 153M-27617. I saw a YouTube video where the man said his machine was from 1947. I'm unable to find anything that definitive tho. I know it's easy with Singer but I'd love to know when this one was made. The man I bought it from had not idea. He knew it was from a relative but didn't even remember who had given it to him.
the crinkle finish has some flaking but not bad. I need to find a bulb too! It looks like a Christmas trees bulb in design but I know it's not. My main concern is just to get it useable without hurting it.
so I think, it will get oiled at the manual approved points and see where we go from there!