1953 Singer
 

What can you tell me about this machine? It is for sale for $45 and runs and looks excellent. Manual comes with it. I know it is a 1953 model. How different is it from a featherweight as far as quality, ect.? thanks.[ATTACH=CONFIG]300627[/ATTACH]

Quality? No difference, really. Weight? It weighs a TON when you compare them. However, for $45, this little 99 in it's cabinet would be sitting in my house! :) Beautiful little machine!

Charlee, you say a ton. Does that mean it is not handy at all to transport? Is it more like taking a machine that I use now-a no bells and whistles Janome? Is this machine only made to set in a cabinet and not have the extra table extension?

...it weighs a ton compared to a featherweight which is around 11 lbs (I think) but they really aren't that heavy and easy enought to move around, I can carry my 3/4 machines with one hand ...it can either be a portable machine in a carry case where it sits in the base on a table while you sew and has a cover when you aren't using it - or it can sit in a table as seen in the pic and fold away into the table. I have not seen a table extension for these machines (not saying they aren't out there) one could easily be made to fit around the base with some plexiglass...and that will probably be added to my "honey do" list! LOL

...I wouldn't hesitate taking a 3/4 machine out to a class, not sure if I would take it in the wooden case mine is in as that just adds more weight, probably see if it would fit in a rolling tote.

Joann

Yep! What Joann said! :)
The machine is heavy compared to a Featherweight, but not unmanagable. Nice straight stitcher, will live forever. I love mine, it's older and doesn't have the reverse stitching, but it's a cool machine!

Yep, the 99s are cute little workhorses. They are heavier than the FW, and you will need some kind of a base to set it in if it's not in the cabinet. The machine doesn't have it's own built-in "bottom" cover like the FW or 301 does, and it won't sit level because of the way the bobbin area is made unless it's in a case or cabinet.

I bought a Singer Spartan a while back and pieced a little quilt for Wilbur my DGS. I fell in love with the Spartan. Then I gave the Spartan to Wilbur's big sister - DGD LOVES her little Spartan. I put a finger guard on it so she doesn't accidentally get vaccinated. She has been making 9 inch doll quilts to sell - she is trying real hard to earn enough money to buy herself a shed of her own.

So. I had to find myself a 3/4 size machine. I found a 99 with a bend shaft for the balance wheel. It now has a hand crank and I just love it. I found a Spartan at an auction and traded some parts with the Singer 99. I also found an Alden which is a 3/4 size Japanese 15 clone. (at the same auction as the Spartan) I think it will do some FM work. I love those little beasts - they don't dance all over the place like a FW. They aren't too bad for weight. Then, last night I bought another Singer 99 AND a Singer 128 (I think) and those two are the prettiest of the bunch.

What I don't under stand... the Singer 99 is little and the Singer 66 is big - shouldn't the big number go to the big machine and the smaller number go to the smaller machine??? Doesn't make sense to me and I get them mixed up.

Not only does the machine look great but the cabinets for the 3/4 machines are hard to come by. I already had several 99's in bentwood cases but when I saw one on Craigslist in a cabinet I bought it right away. My 185j can also fit in the same 3/4 cabinet. $45 is an awesome price for that!!

One of the things I like about the Singer 99 is that the bobbins will interchange with my Singer 403 which I love.