I found this old Singer yesterday and have no idea which one it is but it was only $5 so I thought I could not go wrong.

I took some before pictures then started cleaning it with only dish soap and warm water. However I don't know if I am cleaning off dirt or the decals!!

Can someone please advise me

Wonderful! Great find. I think when the red is shaped like that it is a red eye machine.

don't use soap and water.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-45983-1.htm


good luck

It'll be a true beauty when it is cleaned up!

That is a red eye and Singer 66. Wow $5? What a great find.

Wow! It's beautiful!! :D

Thanks for the link to Billy. I will really have to think about this for awhile. Not sure I am ready to tackle complete break down. How would I ever get it back together.
I am glad to know that I probably did not hurt the decals as I am sure the kerosene could be much more damaging than the dish soap.

It is safe to use baby oil or sewing machine oil on a cotton ball to clean the machine. Wipe on, leave for awhile so it can loosen the dirt, then wipe off.

I have a red eye too I'm thinking I need to clean up nut scared!!

Wow! What a great find! Good luck cleaning her up.

What a steal - looks like it will clean up good!!!

This is a Singer 66 Red Eye, not quite a full-sized machine.
You paid only $5.00 - WOW!! It may be one that has been converted from treadle to electric.
If you send me the serial numbers, I can date it for you - PM & I'll check it out right away.

Yes, you are correct. The model you have is a 1919, based on the serial number G7394208. 50,000 were allotted on 9/19/1919 - interesting numbers. "Allotted" just means production of that many 66 Red Eye sewing machines began on that date - may have taken months to get the 50,000 made. It was produced in Elizabeth, NJ at the Elizabethport Singer Factory.
I did get my 66 in a treadle base - just what I wanted. You said you wanted a treadle - if you have or can get a nice base, I believe they can be converted back to treadle - I'd check with Billy on this site about that.
Have fun with it - looks like a deal you couldn't pass.

I love it!!!

Follow my tutes on cleaning the machine and you will have it looking like a new one! But your right for $5 you cant pass up a deal like that.


Billy

For $5 you can't go wrong.

Great buy for sure! Follow Billy's cleaning instructions, they're the tops!

Singer fan group "Treadleon" reccommends using TR3 automotive restorer/refinisher..... no scratching, leaves a hard resin finish. Cleaned my machine like new!

How lucky you are---and for only $5.

What a lovely machine and you can't beat the price! Careful, careful, careful with the cleaning!

What a great find for only $5! How does she sew?

Welcome to the 66 redeye club! I love mine! In case you need it (because I'm guessing for $5 <awesome price by the way!> it didn't come with it's manuals) I posted the instruciton and the timing and adjustment manuals for this machine on page five of this thread:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-129482-5.htm

Billy's tutorials are great for cleaning! It's easy to convert back to treadle if you want to- just take off the motor drop her in a cabinet and add a belt! Have fun with her!

I cleaned my cousin featherweight with tuffstuff that I purchased from an Auto store. I think Wal-Mart carries it as well. Did some looking on the internet and found the Tuffstuff recommendation The featherweight must have been owned by a smoker, because the of film that was being removed by the Tuffstuff. It took several applications, but turned out nicely.

I also have one of these red eye machines, but the inside gears are so rusted that I've not tried to clean it yet. So I can't be sure. I know that most books and articles say to use white kerosene to clean the gumming build up.

On p.109 in the book "Featherweight 221 The Perfect Portable, the author tells you how to clean the inside. On the outside of the machine she states that her husband used a carnauba car wax and just lets it go at that. She also says that it is just the car wax, not the combination of the cleaner/wax. Unfortunately, this would not have cleaned the featherweight that I was cleaning.

For the plates on the machine don't use steel wool. The tuffstuff cleaned the plates or you can use a silver polish.

Man!!! Love your machine. Still searching for my good find. Enjoy.

Congratulations, she's going to be a beauty! ENJOY!

Cleaning it is MUCH more scary than it is difficult. These machines are so simple that it's hard to go wrong. If you can follow a quilt pattern you can follow Billy's tute, and if you can put quilt pieces together you can put the machine together. If you are really worried about it, take pictures of each step before you take those pieces apart, then look at your pictures to see where the parts belong. Your machine looks like it's in good enough shape that it really won't require a full take-apart to clean it; just open things up and use a q-tip dipped in alcohol and some light (sewing machine) oil. You got a steal at $5!

Only sewing machine oil. I only use sewing oil to clean my machines.

Since you have lots of crackles in the glazing or shellac, I suggest only using sewing oil to clean the black area (japan) and decals. I read numerous blogs from folks that restore machines and some only use sewing oil to clean the machine.

No soap and water, use only sewing oil! Singer oil!

Looks like you're got a Red Eye..looks just like mine which is a model 66. Be careful what you use to clean the head. TR-3 Resin Glaze is awesome to clean the machine with...it's an automotive product and it will not tarnish the decals...kerosene is great for cleaning the inner parts but I wouldn't put it on the outer finish for fear it would tarnish the decals.

Great buy on a good machine. I have through all the posts and noticed one thing. It uses back clamping feet so if you want more than your basic presser foot, you'll need to find them. I understand they can be found on EBay but am not sure. Congrats on your new baby and use only sewing machine oil, not baby oil, if you use oil to clean her up.

Beautiful great find.

lucky you

Great find. A pretty girl.

$5.00 Holy Cow - what a find....and most of us think $100 is a good price....She will be a beauty..

I love it, but can never find any thing like it.