Bought a Singer 99
 

Last weekend my DH and I were out antiquing and DH spotted a Singer 99. It seemed in good condition, came with a manual (even if it is for a 99K) and had all of the accessories. They wanted $65.00 for it which seemed reasonable. At the time we knew nothing about what the 99s go for. We got it home, plugged it in to see if it ran and sure enough it did. When we tried sewing with fabric, the thread kept breaking. After changing the needle, the thread-breaking problem went away. The needle it came with was really thick and must have been slicing the thread as it went through the fabric.

We also did some searching on ebay and found a small cabinet for it. The cabinet must be a No. 49 since it looks just like it, except the diamond shape on the front isn't as dark. Well, that arrived yesterday and today my DH set it up in its new home. I know I will use it more if it's in a cabinet. Next it should probably have a good cleaning before I really start to use it. For some odd reason, I have just fallen in love with it. We named her Maggie. Oh, she was built in 1956.

pinkcastle,

You got a sweet little 3/4 sized machine. The 99 and 99K differ only in that the "K" model was made in the UK. Otherwise they are the same.

Before you really get to using it, clean the bobbin area well by removing the bobbin carrier and cleaning everything around and under it. Clean the top tension too. Unless you have problems you don't have to take the top tension apart. Basically just make sure there's no gummed up oil, gunk, stray threads, or lint stuck between the tension disks and that the adjuster moves freely.

The large needle probably had a bur on it or was bent. It could also have been the wrong type needle. The 99s use the standard 15x1 needle or Singer #2020.

I have two of them. The first is named Godiva as in "Lady Godiva", her story is here:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...r-t183512.html
The second is named Rusty. His story isn't finished yet, but there is several posts discussing some of his problems here.

Joe

I don't blame you for loving your Maggie. The 99's are a wonderful machine and I sure you will enjoy her for many years.....

She looks in great shape and price was good too! Do you have other oldies??

Joe, thanks for the advice on cleaning Maggie. DH is going to take a go at cleaning her.

neenee586, yes we have one other oldie - a Singer 9W. I haven't gotten the hang of using a treadle machine so I think that one will be just for show. It's a very pretty machine and so is the cabinet.

Of course the best way to get the hang of the treadle is to actually use it. Hint! OTOH, the 9W has the rather disconcerting characteristic that you throw the handwheel away to get it going rather than toward you which makes it less easy to work with than some other machines. Once it's going, though, it's kind of fun!

I just bought one for $60 and can't wait to start piecing on her! I need to get a 1/4" foot so my seams MIGHT be correct. :D

Beautiful machine! A 99 is on my wish list. Congrats!

I just bought one from Sew-Classic. I haven't tried it yet. Here is the link: http://shop.sew-classic.com/Low-Shank-Feet_c5.htm

Your "Maggie" is in such good condition! My 99K is named "Thomas" for Thomas the Tank Engine, b/c he is so heavy! These little machines are so cute and fun to use! Enjoy!

She is truly a lovely machine! Congratulations!!

It is a great little machine. I purchased a "filagree" 3/4 size up in Illinois in a wooden case. I am having fun refinishing the cases and repairing them. Use brush on lacquer and new decals. They turn out pretty and should last another 60 years. It is so much fun to save them.

I'm so happy for you that you have a Singer 99! They re wonderful machines, even if they aren't that light. I have 2 of them, a 1924 99 and a 1928 99-13, with the knee bar. Maggie is beautiful and will give you many hours of enjoyment.

Congratulatioans. I posted earlier of my good fortune of receiving a 99 from my son. He was checking on a crew doing a job for him with his business. Next door a lady was struggling with this machine and cabinet taking it out of her house. He offered to help and she said 'Do you want it?' He offered to buy it but I think she was taking it to the curb anyway. The cabinet wasn't in good shape...looked like someone had put a house plant on it and it had gotten wet. The wood was buckled so I painted it black. It did have the diamond inlay on the front of the door. I would have prefered natural wood. She's been cleaned and adjusted. The number on the machine reveals she is 80 years old.

Hi all I also got a 99K in a cabinet recently, Have oiled, cleaned, and polished and it sews fine. My question is...is there a place that I am supposed to "grease" this machine with Singer lube grease from a tube, or is just oiling in the spots shown in the manual enough. Thanks for all your help...I have read all I can find on this machine....I think it found me, instead of me finding it. I have a featherweight and love it...will the attachments work on both machines?? The 99K is a 1956. The featherweight is a 1936... both low shank... with lots of attachments.

It looks like grease for the motor might be a good idea. Here's a link to another thread that looks to be related:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...g-t184561.html

HI everyone...I just "rescued" a Singer 99 from Goodwill yesterday!! I was there dropping off a bag and happen to ask if they had any vintage machines and the lady said "just that one OVER THERE!". When I turned to look I saw my "Bella" and knew it was there just for me. Here she is before I brushed the dust off her. Today I am going out to buy oil etc. to clean her up.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]361176[/ATTACH]

Congratulations, nygal! I hope you enjoy your Bella. We also need to get some lubricant to get Maggie cleaned up. Do you have other vintage machines?

[QUOTE=pinkcastle;5499143]Congratulations, nygal! I hope you enjoy your Bella. We also need to get some lubricant to get Maggie cleaned up. Do you have other vintage machines?[/QUOTE

No, Bella is my very first one. I didn't give them much thought until about a month ago when I started to see all the beautiful ones on here!! I said a little prayer that "someday" one would come my way. It wasn't anything I needed just something I wanted so I really didn't do much of a hunt for one. But in the back of my mind I began to wonder when/how/where I'd come across one when I least expected to. Well last night was that time!! It really caught me by surprise. It's a blessing to own one and be able to give her a good home!

I'm going out today to buy some Singer oil from Joann fabrics if they sell any. My dh is good with machines so he will be the one to redo all new wires. The originals were on it but they were in very bad condition. So he will have as much fun fixing her up as I will.

Do you have more than one vintage machine? I can see where its like eating a potato chip...bet you can't just "want" one!!:)

[QUOTE=nygal;5499492
Do you have more than one vintage machine? I can see where its like eating a potato chip...bet you can't just "want" one!!:)[/QUOTE]

Oh how right you are! In the three weeks since we bought Maggie, we have acquired five more vintage sewing machines, including another 99 which has a scroll faceplate. It's kinda crazy since before Maggie we weren't even thinking about vintage machines. We will post pictures in the next little bit in a new thread.

Oh good I can't wait to see the pictures!! While we were out today we saw someone was having a garage sale and as we drove by my dh and I turned our heads to see if there was a machine outside. lol I have room for my yarn stash and room for my fabric stash...but I'm not so sure I have room of a vintage machine "stash"...but if I saw one and had the money I'd probably buy it fast!!

I am loving this thread as I too have a 99. One that my neighbor's mom had. I looked up th e"born" date and have a picture of her mom in the cabinet's little drawer.

piney

Make that six sewing vintage machines since that first 99 (two of which are still on their way.) Might be time to take a break :) When we get back to it I'm thinking hand crank machines since they take up a lot less space that treadles and they have more 'cool' factor than electric (personally speaking.)

csharp, both your 99 and 221 are short shank and the attachments for your featherweight will work on your 99. You can even get new ones that will work on them. The main thing to look for is that they are short shank attachments.
I found some Singer Lube at one of the area Joann's. Not all Joann's carry the lube. I just got it and haven't used it in my motors yet.

Quite right, the JoAnns here in Springfield doesn't carry it. I've got several tubes, but some it is quite old and some the tube split open, and some the grease has separated and all that comes out of the tube is oily stuff.

So, perhaps next trip to Indy we'll make a side trip to the JoAnns in Martinsville.

Joe

So, perhaps next trip to Indy we'll make a side trip to the JoAnns in Martinsville.

Joe[/QUOTE]

Joe, there might be some Joann's closer to Indy that have the Singer Lube. Miriam might know. I had called a sewing machine place in Greenwood to see if they had some, but they were out when I had planned to go there. I ended up going down to Bloomington this last week, (I'm between there and Indy), and got some at the Joann's there. I got 2 tubes just to have some extra. The Greenwood Joann's said they don't carry it, and the sewing machine shop in the store doesn't have it there either. Joann's in Bloomington is a smaller store and just has the Singer machines and Singer items on a wall. There are several Joann's around Indy, I know there is one in Avon, but don't know if they have it either. Good luck finding it in a store. I had thought of ordering some from sew-classic, but found it first at Bloomington instead. But you are welcome in Martinsville anyway. It's just a small town here, and not as exciting as Indy.

Source for manuals: http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_...e-manuals.html

Janis,

Several trips ago to Indy we went through Martinsville looking around. We have a friend from another forum that lives near there. Didn't see him as he's a Dr in Indy and was at work, but did like what we saw in Martinsville.
Found an antique store and found some shuttle bobbins we bought.

The Singer lube is I think a dying product. It's the only lube for the old Singer motors and I'm sure Singer would just as soon see all those old machines die. It wouldn't surprise if sometime in the future they discontinue it. Those of us that use the stuff would be well advised to lay in a life time supply for our Singers.

Joe

Joe, just how many tubes should I buy? I have 2 and now have 5 vintage Singers that use the lube. Who knows how many more just might tell me 'take me home with you.' Maybe I'll get one for each machine and put them with the machines. That way, I might not run out of it. I think I even used a 40% off coupon on them!!! I love the coupons from Michaels, Hobby Lobby and Hancocks that I can use at Joann's. My hubby calls me the 'Joann coupon queen'. I buy very little there that either isn't on sale or with a coupon.

She is very pretty. Congratulations on the new addition to your family.

Last time I checked,Joann's carries the singer lube on their website. My local Joann's stopped carrying it about two months ago - they put it on discount and I bought their last 3 tubes. Check their website if you can't find it anywhere else.

It looks like Sew Classic has it as well:
http://www.shop.sew-classic.com/Sing...ease-S2129.htm

You and my wife both work the coupons and sales at JoAnns. Their prices are too high to start with and the coupons just make them a bit more affordable.
I have a bunch of Singer machines that need the lube, and more tubes than I know. If used sparingly as it should be the tube of lube will last a very long time. I've got a couple of the old metal tube of the lube and it's better than the current stuff.

When I find it, I buy it. If need be you can always use it for barter material. But each machine should have it's own tube as far as I'm concerned.

Joe

Joe, I'm glad that you said that the old metal tubes of lube are still good. I got one a while ago just to have with my machines, but didn't think it was good any more. I've heard that the oil gets bad and thought that the lube did too. Now to find where I put it....
I've also got a good bunch of attachments,mostly short shank, but unfortunately some of the Singer button holers didn't come with the cover plate. I'd forgotten that they needed them, and hadn't looked for them when I got the button holers. Anyone have extra plates that they would like to part with?