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.

That's all I've seen, too.

I've always liked the "black side" pieces....:)

At first I was kind of disappointed because I think the chrome is pretty. But I love history, especially when you can touch it, and learning about the reason behind the blackside makes me love it now. What a treasure I've found!

I wonder how many black side 201s were made? I look at mine like it's a stately queen. My 15 is an empoverished pauper since it had all that rust. I've seen quite a few 128s though.

Miriam, I can find a lot of info on the featherweight blackside and they talk about how there were only two production runs of them. Of course, the aluminum would make a difference since it'd be used in planes during the war.
I can't find people talking much about a 201 blackside or even the 15. So I don't know if they're more or less rare than the featherweight blacksides.

I sent singer a question. I'm not sure if they'll have any questions but it doesn't hurt to try.

It's fantastic. I'd buy the machine just for that cool, classy faceplate. (Though of course I also want a 201, because 201!)

The face plate & the rest of the black chrome is very special on the 201.
I don't know why but it doesn't feel as special on the 128.

Stealth .................................

The market is established by someone who wants to complete a set of something or by a sharpie who creates a "want" for blackside attachments. They usually want big prices for them and whip up a frenzy to charge more. I have found the bidding very spirited for blackside items. It is all in the eye of the beholder. I find the face plates to be very attractive and nice, really fetching. It depends on how much you really, really want one. I have a 128 blackside Singer, bought for less than $50, so it is anyone's guess. Who knows why people do what they do.