Sorry Link may not work. When I tried to edit post, I did not do it in time and lost all changes , so here is info:
Singer Manufacturing Company
Company Name: I.M. Singer & Co.
Title: [Directions for using Singer's Patent Straight Needle, Transverse Shuttle Sewing Machines]
Imprint: [Between 1850 and 1920]
Pages: 2
Notes: Format: Manuals
Model represented: Letter A.
Descriptive Notes: Photocopy of original directions for oiling, operating the treadle, and setting the needle.
Smithsonian Location: NMAH. Archives Center. Warshaw. Box: 3 ; Folder 3 (about locations)

Display Scanned Item: No images available (about image availability)

Record Number: 4915

I have seen machines with the unusual thread guide-spring-tension thing on top; at least similar. I'm also guessing the early type models with open turing wheel for the needle bar was improve by placing it behind a face plate in the body; less chance of getting hair caught in there. I can't see any take up lever?

I'm totally fanscinated, I havent' seen or heard of this model before. Does it still turn and stitch? I have read model 12 was the first easy to use machine, I usually take info like this with a pinch of salt even if theres' some truth to it.

Singer's 1st machine was the model 1, made for comercial sewing, followed by the #2 and #3

Singers 1st domestic machine was the "family" (also known as the turtleback) It was SO BAD that Singer offered 100% trade-in value and melted down the ones he got back. (REALLY HARD to find these days)

The Letter A or Model A was his first successful machine.

The horizontal bar in the last picture with the hole in the left end is the take-up. the big spring in the back controls how hard it lifts.

Maria - THANK YOU! Now to figure out how to get to SEE that...

http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollect...082.1501267288

First, congratulations on getting such a unique, complete beautiful machine. That is really super fantastic.

As you well know, there aren't many images of the "letter "a"" machine and particularly one like yours and threaded. The couple that I have seen, look to have the thread from the spool go higher than yours is threaded. That is just a guess/impression that I have gotten.

I don't know if these links will work. I have been using a few different computers and think I'm searching for the same thing and keep getting different results.
try http://catalog.mwa.org/index.html then quick search for "I M Singer" without quotes http://catalog.mwa.org/vwebv/search?...ype=2&sk=en_US

Numbers 3 & 4I also searched by name but had to jump through some hoops, but basically came up with same, but the link didn't work when I tried that. I've also done some searches site specific and didn't get the same results.

http://www.worldcat.org/title/singer...e/oclc/8657263
http://www.worldcat.org/title/letter...oclc/855827946
http://www.worldcat.org/title/letter...oclc/950928848

A couple of patents that might have some similarities
https://www.google.com/patents/US13687
https://www.google.com/patents/US34906

Again, congrats and enjoy.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Thanks I wrote to the Smithsonian and they have already replied!

"While you found the record for this Singer manual on the Libraries’ website on sewing machine trade literature, the manual is actually held at a different Smithsonian unit, the Archives Center at the National Museum of American History. We have forwarded your query to the Archives Center staff, so they should respond directly to you with further information."

Anxiously awaiting the next reply!

Yes indeed, I have requested it and they sent it within 3 hours!!!!!

I cannot seem to post the PDF here, so it is on my forum site under the manuals section
Thank you so very much for getting me on this path!