Understood, but is there any problem with just leaving them on other sites to link to? It seems to me that serves the purpose just fine. But if it's a forum rule, that's fine, I'll edit my post.

The 27, Sphynx decals, is a long bobbin machine, and takes modern class 15 needles. Just like the 115, if you treadle the handwheel the wrong way, you will get thread jams.

The 66, round class 66 drop in bobbin, class 15 needle.

Manuals are available for both, free, online, at ismacs.com. The manual has a clear diagram of oiling and lubrication points (lube=suitable grease), as well as how to thread, etc.
Other than a missing slide plate, not much can go wrong with the old machines, and repros are available. Leather belts are available . You can also use screen spline, O2 tubing, aquarium tubing. You'll need 72", and a clip/staple yo join the ends. Expect to cut a wee bit off, then test. You'll want the tension on the belt as loose as possible to make treadling easy,. But not so loose the belt slips.

​​​​​​Both machines remove/install the same way. "Throw off" the belt (odd doo hickey at the right near the drive wheel), tip back the head. Locate the hinge pins. Now, on the casting, there is a set, or grub screw, that secures the head to the pin. Loosen the screws, slide off the head.

Dismantling the legs is something I've not done before. If you rent a car, get an SUV, and bring along moving blankets to cushion it. Wrap a towel around the head and secure in seat belt it in the back seat. You do NOT want a 30# projectile flying towards your head because you had to slam on the brakes.

​​​​​​As far as "too much varnish" I'd guess not. Perhaps freshly polished, or fed. Howard's Feed n Wax is a great product. Usually, issues to the wood are due to moisture, being used as a plant stand, or stored in an unheated building.

Pick one of the machines based on the prettiest drive, or great place to stop for lunch. Either machine is a winner. Do let us know!

I agree with WIChix. I did notice that the 66 was a back clamp and I couldn't tell for sure about the attachments in the drawer. Usually, one only uses the regular presser foot, but sometimes a special attachment comes in handy.

I'm glad you checked with Sandman's as it is indeed a 66 as that was the only machine with those decals.

I see you happened across one of the mistakes in the Singer serial number database. "G" numbers are tricky, partially when someone leaves out a number when looking it up or not looking far enough as the "G" numbers start over with a "0" in front of them.

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

Ok, but the other one is 27 and not a 127?
I think all things being relatively equal, that we're gonna go with the 27. It's just so much nicer all around and I think we'll kick ourselves later if we don't. What a great first vintage Singer to have. We love the sphinx decal. I have to imagine from everything I've read that there is no potentially missing piece, slide plate included, that we can't pick up somewhere online like ebay or something. It concerns me a bit that the photos show nothing under the missing slide plate. Hopefully it's not an issue. So for the sake of giving a lovely machine a home that will care for it and learn to care for it like our other antiques, we'll get that one. And we'll eventually learn to get it to working condition.
Anyone have any clue how I can find out the actual dimensions of the table, without machine, or closed up as though the machine was put away? We want to get a sense of what kind of interior we should rent in a car. We'd like to avoid a SUV moneywise if we can.
Thanks!!

Modern bobbins are available as are the slide plates. Replacement slide plates have a different finish, but could possibly get both front and back so they match ??

You wouldn't believe what I have gotten in a 1986 VW Golf hatchback, which I unfortunately don't have any more. You definitely want to take the sewing machine out of the cabinet like WIChix said. I used to carry straps and bungee cords to strap things together. If you run a strap around the top so the lid doesn't flop, you can probably turn the base upside down in the back seat and maybe use the safety belts. That is what I did with my sister's machine, but it was in a SUV and traveling about 1600 miles.

If someone hasn't gotten the measurements, I'll go measure mine. Actually, the measurements may be found in some ebay or facebook ads and also some are given at https://www.cottagecraftworks.com/am...achine-cabinet which should be close.

Oh, I forgot. I'm wondering about the 27 being a 127 as the bobbin winder is up by the handwheel rather than down the pillar so it can be used with the treadle belt. The singer.com manual for the 27-28 shows the high bobbin winder.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)

Good catch, Janey! I do believe it is a 127.

This is a Singer boss with the hole labeled for a motor or a handcrank to fit. There were two options for machines without bosses but they are both rare. ( and only for motors)

ooops

https://www.quiltingboard.com/member...738-582790.jpg

Right, but the 127 isn't gonna have that, right? Only the other one.

As I mentioned before about "G" serial numbers there are some errors and also it is easy not to get the serial number correct. According to ISMACS. It looks like the end of 1912 and beginning 1913 there were 27s mixed in with the 127s.

If that number (G304778) is correct it looks like it may be 27
G- 279001 329000 27 50000 March 16 1910
whereas if there is a digit missing it would be it could be a 127
G- 3043801 3068800 127 25000 June 26 1913
and if it has a 0 in the front of the 3 and digits different or transposed it would be a 127
G- 351301 386300 127 35000 September 25 1923

It does look like it does have a motor boss. From some of my research, it appears that American made machines put motor bosses on all machines right around 1910 (give or take a bit). There are some earlier 27s that do not have a boss, but the 127s would have.

Just an FYI the dates are the days that the Serial Numbers were allocated, not the day they were actually manufactured.

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