How to dress a naked Singer
 

How I dressed a naked Singer.

12-9-11
A couple months back on another forum I asked a question: How to set up a naked Singer 99K?

I got a lot of suggestions and considered them. Several to make it into a hand crank machine. That was interesting, but considering my lack of coordination when using my treadle machines I figured I needed that hand for other things so I best put it back to electric.

So this is going to be a photo essay with some text:

Here is the machine basically as it arrived to me, although by the time I took the photos I’d already replaced the missing spool peg, foot and foot screw:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Ka.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kb.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kd.jpg

The foot, screw and round top case came from the local sewing machine shop.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kc.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Ke.jpg

The spool peg, motor kit, light and belt came from Sew-Classic,
(http://www.shop.sew-classic.com/ ).
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kf.jpg

Alright, let’s get started.
First I needed to amputate about 7” of extra cord from the light. It comes pre-wired
for use with an outlet block, but I wired it directly into the junction block on the motor bracket.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kg.jpg

Then strip about 3/16” of insulation from the wire and remove the insulation from the ring connectors.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Ki.jpg

I do a double secure connection when I do my electrical work. First I crimped the connectors, and then I solder them. Very secure. ( I forgot the soldering iron pic.)
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kj.jpg

Now we come to connecting the two light wires to the junction block. There is one small problem though. The junction block has three connectors, but only comes with two screws. That doesn’t make much sense to me, and although Jenny at Sew-Classic had told about this ahead of time I still had to make the rounds of the local hardware stores till I found one that had this size screw in stock.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kk.jpg


The OEM screws are M3 X .50 pitch X 4mm, very small. The shortest ones the hardware store had was M3 X .50 X 5 mm. So what I did was move the screw on the right connector to the center where there would be only one wire, and put the longer hardware store screw on the right where there was two connectors. Worked like a charm. And for the record, I bought extras.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kh.jpg
(NOTE: Since this photo essay was first posted Sew-Classics has been adding the third screw to the connector block for their customers.)

Then I carefully bent the heavier light wires to conform to their new location and to avoid breaking the plastic block, then replaced the back to the block and screwed it back on to the motor bracket. Then I attached the light and motor to the back of the Singer using the supplied chrome placed universal screw. I call it universal because it’s a hex head machined for a flat blade and a Phillips screwdriver.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...ics/99Kl-1.jpg

Next I put on the pretty pink cogged belt, making sure that I didn’t get it too tight.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Km.jpg

Then I plugged in the connector for the foot controller and power cord.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kn.jpg

WOOOO HOOOO it works! No smoke or flames either!
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Ko.jpg

After that I took the Singer upstairs to test it. No room in the work shop area.
I sat down in front of the computer, just enough room and I’m multi-tasking again.
That’s a fancy PC word for doing too many things at one time.
Plugged it in and got a bobbin, a class 66 for those that might not know what size a 99K uses, and some purty red thread.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kp.jpg
I leaned way back to take this pic as the bobbin was winding. If you look close you can see the thread is out of focus and the belt is spinning, can’t see the cogs.

After that I sewed a bunch on a scrap.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...0pics/99Kq.jpg

Paint me thrilled, this machine is in great shape and sews up a storm. And all my assembly work went without a hitch too.

Eventually I’ll make something with it. I’ve already got an idea. But that’s going to be down the road a bit as I have several projects in queue and I’m trying to get them done.

I know the parts I used to put this machine back in operation were not Singer parts, but they do the work and were a lot easier to find. Perhaps someday I’ll trip over an extra OEM set up. Until then I’m going to enjoy using this little machine.

Hope you enjoyed this pictorial.

Joe

Wow, great job Joe!!!!!!!

Thanks for taking the time to post all the pics.

Excellent presentation! Thanks.

Very pretty machine.. I have a 99.. Mine only goes forward, but she is a pretty one,, too.
Barri

I have some other picture essays in the works too. "The resurrection of Mrs. Franklin" and "The RedEye Express treadles again."

Maybe I'll post 'em some day.

Joe

Is this the girl the motor I sent you was supposed to go on? Darn USPS!!!

Great job! One question - did it come with the base and the bentwood top? If not where did you find them?

No, the motor I used on this 99K was brand new from Sew-Classics. It was finished long before you sent the motor. The USPS busted all to heck one is still in it's box in a zip lock bag. Maybe someday I'll find an otherwise complete machine that needs a motor and all the peripheral parts will work.

Joe

Nope, it came just as the first couple pics show. Just a naked machine. I got the case from the local sewing machine shop. He had three, so far I've bought two.

Joe

Thanks for posting pictures.

Joe, you have a beauty there. Nice work converting it. Loved the essay and pictures explanation of what you did. I'm not very handy myself so that was very interesting and thorough. Thanks. I hope you spend many happy hours together.

Joe, I loved your tute. What is an OEM?

Good job....love seeing things back together and working again. Beautiful machine. Thanks for the step by steps.

Well dress
 

Joe,I have a 99K without the wooden case. Did your machine come with the case??? if not can you let me know where I can get one. P.S you did a great job :cool: dressing her up.

Nice job! I just resurrected my great grandmother's 99 from the closet where I had it stashed. I sewed on it all through college and until I was about 30. That was 20 years ago. It was a great machine, and the old girl really needs her original wiring replaced, a good cleaning and probably some adjustment. I have the original case, but it's seen better days, so that needs some attention too. Hmmm, that sounds like me.

We are moving in a week, and taking care of my old friend is going to be my first project after the sewing room is set up. My father recalls his grandmother sewing a quilt top I currently own on that machine and he also sewed on it, so it's got some pretty nice family memories.

Thanks so much for the great photos!!

Laura

What a lovely machine! But I have to say, Joe, when I read your title I was expecting some kind of wild paint job with bells & whistles. ;o)

Nice job Joe.

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer


I gotta check my original text, I was sure I said where I got that case. The bent wood case came from my local dealer. He had three, two 3/4 sized and one full sized cases. I've bought one of each so far.


Laura,
If the wiring is the original, with the original connectors, it's not that hard to replace it. There are several places on line that sell replacement wiring harnesses for these machines. Sew-Classic is first on my list when looking for them.
My 99K had nothing left so I started from scratch.

I have a number of Japanese made machines in the old cloth covered wooden cases. Many, most of the cases look pretty bad. I've glued three or four of them back together and am in the process of completely rebuilding and recovering two of them. At $20.oo + each I can buy a lot of clue, sand paper, and cloth and redo them.

Joe

great work Joe. Thanks for sharing it with us. Makes us appreciate the DEAD naked machines we do come across. There is hope and life for them!

Jacquie,

Yep there is. Plus it's a challenge and a learning thing for me. I learn more by doing than by studying.

Joe

Some wiring has been replaced and some is original. It was probably my dad who did the repairs. I think I'll just go ahead and put all new wiring on it. I am not worried about doing it; I have rewired many an electric appliance. The fun part will be cleaning it, fixing the case and using it again. I just wish there was some way to release all the family memories and history she has stored inside!

Great job and thanks for sharing this info in such a clear manner.

That is a great looking machine and well worth the dressing up.

Thank you for posting. Great information.

Great post- though I was expecting some discussion of leg garters and lace. Seems you have quite a rescue addiction going! Your tutorials are fantastic, and the pics really help me understand the process. Thank you very much.

Leg garters and lace, hmmmm, I'll have to work that in one of these times. :D

Joe

Very nice job! Love seeing the whole process in pictures. :)

Thanks for showing us what you did to the machine, now if I run into a lonely little 99, I won't be afraid to grab it.

Joe is good with the cute responses--perhaps you saw his answer to my jumping up and down fit when a friend of mine GAVE me a Singer Rocketeer a month or so ago......hahahahah. And BTW, I almost have it running, even though not fixed. Too complicated for the likes of me. Just sewing is enough for me.

JoAnn,

A year ago I thought a Singer 66 treadle machine was a demonically inhabited piece of black magic and you needed a exorcist on retainer before you could look inside one. What I found out is that "most" of the old machines are incredibly simple.
The 50s and 60s ZZ machines are simple too, but not like the old SS machines. You've just got to take the covers and plates off and play with the controls as you watch what they do. Eventually you'll get the idea of what pieces do what when you move which control. Oh yeah, each thingy will usually have about three functions.
The ones that really get complicated are the ones with built in cams. In those each thingy usually has four functions.

So you just gotta grit your teeth and jump right in.

We've got over 30 .... or 40 machines and I have only one I haven't been able to diagnose yet. Well, two, but one is being a cranky old Kenmore and the other one has been messed with by someone with a cabinet screwdriver and a case of stupids. I'll get 'em figgered out eventually.

Joe