ruby2shoes

Thanks Mike, I'm actually heading down that way on Saturday so could you give me more specific directions....I'll be coming from Melbourne. That would be great!
Little 99K is now down to $100.00 and is spotless, apart from some light surface scratches there appears to be no damage to the surface, has all its decals, 4 spare bobbins, manual, and 4 or 5 foot attachments in the original cardboard box. The case looks as though it would clean up okay with a bit of detergent or nifty.....it's that cloth veneer type covering you got in 50's and 60's stuff. I had it running this arvo and it runs quieter than my Janome so I'm starting to feel a bit warm and fuzzy about the little guy. He si from a deceased estate and looks like Nana just packed him away yesterday.

ruby2shoes

Picture taken with phone!

ruby2shoes

photo didn't come out too well...machine needs a bit of a dust....head is quite shiney in "real life"!!!!

manicmike

Hi Ruby,
It's certainly a nice looking one. It was made on 29th August 1957, according to http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_...l-numbers.html
(I can actually read the serial number from your photo, so mustn't be too bad).
If you're intent on a 99K and already love it you should buy it, but every time I adopt a new one I fall in love all over again, and frankly I think the machines are starting to suspect I'm a bit shallow :-)
The place is called the Antique shed, and to get to TPH you turn right at lights and it's about 100m down the road. If you don't turn in but keep going, about 500m further will get you to the antique shed. The place has two buildings: On the left is clothing (yes, it's good too) and on the right is the big warehouse. You go in, all the way to the end and turn left (into a kind of annex). Your 201K is about 5 stalls along on the right. The stall is very narrow and you may not spot the machine unless you really get in there. I could draw you a map, or you could just look around. Very interesting place - very much like an American bazaar (or the one in Glen Waverley). Anyway it was there last weekend and on labour day, and is very hard to get to, so you're in with a good chance. Mine was in the main aisle and who knows how long for? You'll enjoy it.
OK, back to sewing (a dress). Have fun.
Mike

ruby2shoes

Thanks Mike for the directions, will let you know if I end up getting down there. Have a good day.

manicmike

Hi again Ruby, I just found the receipt and the place is called "The Vintage Shed".
Mike

ruby2shoes

Hey mike, got down to the Vintage Shed today...didn't buy anything now that I suspect I have serious repair bills to be paid for my poor little Vincent (lesson learnt there!). Saw the 201k...did you see the 1925 66K in the ghastly cabinet that some goose had painted flat white....very badly? The machine was untouched and pretty grubby but most of the decal was there. Not sure that the cabinet was original or something knocked up to "do the job". The seller wanted $220.00, wouldn't negotiate, so that was that. Left scratching my head. Saw a Blue and white Jones...looked about a 60's I think...know nothing about them but this one looked pretty seized up...what's the go with them?

manicmike

My GF has a Jones, but it's much older than that (30 to 40 years older looking at it). Other than that one I don't know them. There's a bit of info about Jones here and a wikipedia article here. I want a serpentine machine, but they're very exy now.
Missed the 66K, thankfully (makes me teary when to see sewing machine abuse). I do recall seeing the whitewashed cabinet. $220 indeed, when lovely Singers can be gained with $25 - $45! I just searched and found this Jones for $64 (incl. postage, assuming you don't want to drive to Adelaide to get it, and assuming nobody will bid on it).
If you want one in a cabinet, I would buy a clapped out, seized up (and preferably ugly) machine in a good cabinet and swap the sewing machine for a nice one. In my experience the portables and cabinet-mounted ones share the same mounting hinges (it makes sense to do this) so you should just be able to swap. Most machines came as portables or in a cabinet (I have one of each for the 319K and the hinges are identical). This will probably be your cheapest option, seeing as the cabinet machines are usually over-priced. Also, I've found that the further away from Melbourne you get, the lower the prices are.
Mike
P.S. Do you have someone to fix your new 99K?

ruby2shoes

Yeah, still smarting over the whitewash cabinet...that's going to make my eyes water for a while longer!!! Yes, I found a really great fellow who does work on all sewing machines including vintage and whilst I've just had the one experience with him...I reckon he's fabulous! I had a lot of trouble getting the tension right on my 127K after I cleaned her...turned out she had a few problems causing it and once he sorted them out, all in the space of an hour while I was allowed to watch and marvel(!) old Gerties' stitches were a glory to behold! I never would've picked the problems myself but now that i've been shown.....I'm that bit wiser. Hmmmmm not wise enough though if you were to ask my poor little 99K! Am not expecting it repaired till after Easter so am waiting with baited breath and open purse! Thanks again for the directions, will definately be making another trip down there...so much to poke around at!