Singer 66 with blacked out chrome
 

I found a singer 66 at a thrift store. The needle plate and the stop motion screw on the hand wheel are both black rather than chrome. Has any one seen this before? The nose plate and the cover plate just above the motor are both chrome. The serial number dates it to December 17 1945 just after Pearl Harbor.

Yes. Singer manufactured some parts in "blackside," and older machines will vary in how much, if any, blackside parts were used. Attachments could also be all or partly blackside.

Some say the blackside was due to a shortage of certain metals during WW2. My 1951 128 crinkle finish is all blackside, except the foot. (No attachments.)

I know there are a few odd black face plates and covers on some models. I have noticed it on machines made around WWII, and I think there are a few earlier and later examples too. I don't know the details, but some are particuarly looking for black side Featherweights and are willing to pay for it. I have seen dark presser feet and accessories, black iron oxide finish in stead of the shiny chromium. Early singers had nickle plated shiny parts, but some time after 1920 chromium became the standard. The general info on this is that Singer turned to alternatives when chome either became hard to get hold of or was seen as and unnecessary an excess in those days. I think it was a fancy too, since they turn up later when chrome was more accessable again. Here is a bit of related info on a 128.

I haven't seen this before. Great info thanks.

BTW, WW2 for USA began 12-7-41 - not 1945. My mom (12 y.o. at the time) was with her family on the way to church that Sunday morning when they witnessed the beginning of the Pearl Harbor attack. My grandfather quickly returned home with the family and then went on to Hickam Field to command his shore artillery battery's defense of the airbase.

I think the wartime chromium shortage was due to its use in hardening the inside of gun and artillery piece barrels.

John Thomas in NC

oops. I meant to type December 17 1941. The 5 was a typo.

My 1952 crinkle finish 128 was a blackside machine - everything except the presser foot was dark. I sold the little boat anchor. Too heavy to deal with.

My 201 is heavier than a 128, a Pfaff 30 and 130 are even heavier. I think part of the reason the old cast iron machines are favorites is because they are heavy, makes them very sturdy, smooth running and capable machines. They just aren't as portable as more light weight machines. My 201 came rather randomly and I kept it. A 66 is nice though, it runs lighter than my 201.

Several of my machines are heavy - maybe it was the smaller size that made that one feel so heavy. It was as cute as can be, but not a favorite. I like shiny.

Yep. 221, 127/28 models and 66. There's a rumor that a few 15's were also crinkle blackslide, but they are so crazy rare that I've only ever seen pictures of 3 different ones.

Attachments were sometimes all blackside, sometimes part blackslide. This includes some of the screwdrivers and 66 bobbins as well. I have a small collection going. =)

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