$10 find
 

This followed me home yesterday. I almost didn't buy it. I looked at it a while, there was no price listed. I started to walk out then asked about it. The guy wanted $12. I told him it was worth every penny but I'd have to pass, it was pretty rough and I wanted a runner. We talked a little more then he said $10. I'm weak. I admit it. For $10 I couldn't leave it there. IIRC the serial number makes it a Singer 99 that was made in 1929. Anyway here it is:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]468091[/ATTACH]

I wiped the machine down with oil. the clear coat is pretty much history. I've also been oiling the machine since I got it home yesterday and it's starting to loosen up. Before it would barely turn now it alternates between barely turning and running at full speed, pretty much randomly. It still feels a little stiff. I did make a few stitches by hand and that seems basically ok. It just needs a little more fine tuning after things have loosened up a bit more.
It also came with the ruffler that's sitting on the bed. It was as dirty and rusty as the machine, I oiled it too but it could use a little polishing to look decent again.

I do have a question. This machine has a striped faceplate. When did Singer stop the floral or scroll patterns and switch to the Deco stripes?
Rodney

$10 makes all kinds of machines follow me home. I'll bet that one works great in a short period of time.

My 15-91 has a striped faceplate but it's a centennial. From 29 could it be a replacement?

Wow, great deal. For $10.00 I would take it home even if there was no hope in getting it working, it just would be lovely to look at , it seems that you are on your way to getting it working again... good luck.

Wow, I would certainly let it follow me home for even more than $10. Great find.

You won't be sorry. What a great little machine.

Good it went to a good home; you'll bring it back to good working condition, I'm betting. I've finally realized that a 1950 something 99 had to be what I learned on. Sadly, I don't have my Mom's machine. Let it go on the auction after she passed. It was a good working machine. Some day (perhaps) I'll get one for the sentimental attachment. (don't really need one).

The only Singer 99 machines that I have or had (10 of them) that have the striped faceplate are/were mid-1950s Singer 99K31 models.


CD in Oklahoma

Good work! You got a bargain, IMHO. The 99 is one of my very favorite machines. It's small enough to travel with and stow away, but it sews like a monster...great stitch too! I think that quilters shook have a second look at these machines, compared to the highly priced FWs. No, they don't do FMQ well, bit most quilters that I know don't really want to do that anyway.

~ Cindy

For what it's worth, my 1928 Model 99 has a scroll faceplate. Of course, it also has cord block stamped "Made in Japan" so the faceplate may not be original to the machine.

Thanks everyone. I'm still playing with it. This morning the machine is now spinning freely like it should so the oil finished it's job overnight. I'm still working on getting the tensions adjusted correctly. I think the oil still needs a little time to work on the bobbin area. There's still small catches from time to time. I did take the bobbin case out and clean it more than I could in the machine and that helped. I think a little more oil and run time will smooth things out. I'm also using a new metal Singer branded bobbin. I don't think that is helping. They don't fit the bobbin winder because they're too narrow and the quality control on them is suspect at best. You would think that Singer would sell the correct bobbin for their machines. We have 4 machines that use class 66 bobbins now. I really need to order some good bobbins from SewClassic.
Rodney