Black scroll plate?
 

This is on a Singer 201-2. I didn't know they came in black. What does it mean?

it means that is not a great picture. it's not black, it's just the lighting. Very common for the photos to show like this.

I'm looking at it in person. It's black. I've polished it thinking it might be tarnished. Now it's shiney....and still black.

There are some machines that are what we call "black side" in that they have blacken surfaces instead of chromed. Some say it was an effort to cut costs during WW2, but I don't know if that is true or not.

Usually it's the needle and slide plate, and sometimes other parts. Singer simply put those parts on as they used up the old stock, so you'll find an assortment of combinations on machines. It was more often with crinkle finishes, but again, it was a time frame issue. Attachments were also made "black side" at the time, and some have a mix of black and chrome - quite interesting to watch for. I don't recall seeing a 201 with any blackside parts, I've seen several 66's and 128's that have them.

Here is the head plate next to the silver side plate.

Blackside or blackface- doesn't matter the term. Some machines have everything that is normally chromed blackened, others have bits and pieces. I've read that due to shortages of chrome during wartime some parts were not plated, and the spare parts were used til gone. it was Not due to preventing reflections so enemies didn't see the machines glistening- a common myth. Personally I like the look.

It is black chrome. I have three of them, a Singer 201, a Singer 15 and a Singer 128. The 201 is most a spectacular barely used machine. The black chrome does not show up in a photo very well at all. The 15 was a rust bucket but cleaned up just fine. I can't see any rust now except in a photo. Strange how they photo. They seem to have a shine to them even though black. The 128 also has Godzilla finish. My 201 also has a black chrome buttonholer and small attachments. I have some black bobbins, too.

Does it change the value at all?

Search on eBay for something sold.

I didn't find any with the black. The only thing I found was someone who sold the black scroll plate for $125.