Does my Singer Model Really Exist?? Model 66-10
 

I recently bought a Singer machine at an estate sale, and I was able to find the model # by searching the ISMACS database.

It's here if you'd like to view it: http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...l-numbers.html

My serial # is AF470012, so the chart says mine is a model 66-10.

I know a 66 is pretty common, but I can't find anything on this particular sub-model. I have spent hours searching- I've even searched the Singer website and nothing!

Can anyone help point me in the right direction?

It's in great condition, it works, and it has the crinkle or Godzilla finish, made in 1940.

Thanks!

You probably will find something with a bit of time and patience. The 66 went throught a few alterations over the decades but essentially stayed the same machine.

The very first had a different fitting for the presser foot, often called a "back clamp", all the others are side clamp and take the regular low shank foot.

There were a slight change to the bobbin case relatively early o .Originally you had to take out a screw to release the bobbin case and clean under there. At some point they made an easier "lift-up and push to the side" type of lever in stead of the screw fitting.

By 1940 when your machines was made these changes had already happened. The next change I know of was the introduction of the stitch lenght lever with reverse (in stead of a turn knob). It happened some time in the 40s, and I think the US factory was the first one to introduce it. The UK machines with this feature are always of a later date than the US versions, all were made well into the 50s. I haven't been able to pin point the date for the stitch length lever, I'm just guessing from what I have read and the machines I come across. This feature were given the subnumber 66-16.

Additional there were a few alteration to the bobbin winder and the thread guides, as well as the top tensioner (with or with out an numbered dial).

To make it a bit more difficult, Singer used different subnumbers for hand crank, motor and treadle, this can turn up as a third subnumber, like 66-10-1. I think the last one indiciates motor, treadle or hand crank. Others who kno will hopefully fill in with more info. Some have favorite decals with this model, some of of the early decals seem to be popular. The simple black and gold machines are nice too.

Do you have a source or link for that? The Smithsonian has quite a few Singer catalogs online. I pointed to a couple about "Class" and what they called "Variety" on the thread https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...e-t286020.html It seems the modern terminology refers to them model and sub-model numbers.

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

Yes, it does seem to be an oddity. I've done quite a bit of research on 66 machines. I have 2 of 4 of my 66 identified. It started when my brother and I refurbished in 2010 the machine that my sister learned to sew on. I have a list similar to what is listed at http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_...sses-1-99.html and https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...e-t286020.html I'm wondering if they were trying out some new features. as frequently the "Variety" is not listed in the serial number pdfs. Also the serial number pdfs have known to have errors in them.

There was some refurbishing done in the 1940s that put crinkle finish on machines and updated some older machines. Since we are talking about a machine that is almost 80 years old, we don't know what was done to them over the course of their lives. I thought the ones with the metal Singer badges were refurbished machines, There is a 1940 machine on http://www.sewalot.com/singer%2066.htm that has the crinkle finish and metal Singer badge.

A picture would be nice. There is a post at #8 (refers to some other links, too) about how to post a picture.

Maybe Singer was trying out some different features for the 66.

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

We have a crinkle 66. Nice variety. Don't know the model variety. I like the crinkle finishes. They seem
to hold up over time better than the gloss finishes. They were popular with the 128 models.

Haven't seen a 15 class crinkle yet. Don't know if they made any of them.

Welcome.

Oops, forgot the link for how to post picture - https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...y-t289321.html

There are several posts on QB about how to post pictures.

Another possibility would be to join the Vintage Singers Yahoo group. I would imagine that possibly some Facebook groups, too.


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

Thank you for the suggestions everyone. I've attached a few pictures of the machine-please let me know if you see something on it that differs from the other 66 models.[ATTACH=CONFIG]591462[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]591463[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]591464[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]591465[/ATTACH]

Serial number dates the machine to March 1940. Singer did cricle finish in those days, and from other machines Ive seen Singer kept the part that covers the motor belt in a shiny finish (the black part over the hand wheel). Yours looks original; you can look for traces of a possible previous finish under the base where the paint overlap the bare cast iron.

Needlee and presser bar will polish up like new the right stuff. Does it turn smoothly?

The intersting part with yours, is the top tensioner doesn't have a dial, and this late I thought most machines did. Your have the earlier pattern on the chromed plate, I like it a lot. The later straight stitchers were given a hinged presser foot, yours have the earlier one piece metal version. I have it on my 99, it work fine, the same tensioner too. I haven't seen that type of motor before, 66 usually have the horizontal type lamp, yours have the round spot light version. If it still has the glass lens, go for a LED replacement, it's less hot. More than 15W old type incadecent bulb will ruin the lamp.

Mickey, the needle and presser bar turns smoothly, but I ordered a new belt today because it is pretty worn out. The bulb is burned out so that's the next thing on my list to order-thanks for the LED tip. Oh and I LOVE the design on the chrome plate-it's beautiful! As for the motor- maybe that is what makes this sub-type different?

It looks a lot like my 66-18 dated 1950. My machine has the straight lined face plate and back inspection plate. My hand wheel cover is smooth rather than the crinkle on the rest of the machine. Mine has a similar motor and the spot-light. My 66-18 does have the numbered tension dial, but it might not be original. I have a 1948 manual for the 66-18 and it shows the non-numbered tension.

There were other model 66s that had the spot light as well. A couple of parts lists from about 1940 would be http://parts.singerco.com/IPpartCharts/66-8.pdf but it has a different bobbin winder than our machines. It also doesn't include the illustrated plate for the spotlight, but does include it in the list. On page 10 of that pdf it has a chart for the series 4 motors.

The other parts showing the spotlight and some other motors is http://parts.singerco.com/IPpartChar...4_15_18_24.pdf It appears the 66-14 might be a treadle, the 66-15 is the hand crank version as both have the spoked hand wheel. The 18 & 24 varieties have the solid hand wheel and motors.

The 66-8 parts list shows the fancy face plate as does the 66-18 manual. Can't really tell the fancy plate in the 66-18 parts list. I have found some of these are hard to read, but if you zoom way in one can make things, like the numbers, out a little better.

Looks like a very nice machine. Have fun sewing with it.

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