Singer 66-16, or is it?
 

I have a Singer mdl 66, serial number AF 727967, dates to December of 1940.

It's painted with black crinkle paint. Has the vertical stitch control with the back tak reverse. And at some point someone, or the factory has put a shiny black belt guard / bobbin winder assembly on it.

Now, one just like it but painted with normal shiny black paint is a 66-16.

So, my question is: Is Mr. Crinkle still a 66-16 or what?


Joe

Yep. The finish has nothing to do with the sub-number... :) There are a few decals that are specific to certain models, as in the Redeye decals only being on a 66, but they can be on a 66-1 or 66-3.. I don't know what other submodels they put them on, but they only put them on the model 66. The Gold Wing decals are exclusive to the 115...

So if Mr. Crinkle is identical in every mechanical way to a 66-16, then I'd say he's a 66-16.

Charlee,

Thanks for the confirmation. I was thinking so, but just wasn't sure.

Joe

Hi Joe,

The black crinkle finish was used in the 1940s on the model 66-18 machine. The belt guard and hand wheel on these machines were the glossy black “Japaned” finish instead of the crinkle. Usually, the foot control and motor housing that came with one also had the black crinkle finish.

CD in Oklahoma

Where and/or how does one go about finding out what the sub-numbers to the various machines are? I'm trying to find specific machines to fit into a restored cabinet that I have which specifies which machines, with sub-numbers, will fit but I can't find a place to find out the sub-numbers for the various machines I'm finding. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

CD in OK,

The machine in your pic is a twin to mine.

Is there anything other than the finish that makes this different from the 66-16?

I haven't set Mr. Crinkle and my 66-16 side by side yet as the 66-16 is in a cabinet and burried under and behind a bunch of things.

Joe

Not that I know of. As far as I know, the “dash 18” simply indicates the finish type.

I customized the machine in the photo for my SIL that likes the color of flat black. I used a rattle-can paint called “camouflage black” to repaint an old belt guard, old spoke wheel, surplus rusty cover plates, and an aftermarket hand crank to make him a “Stealth 66”. I didn’t paint anything on the original machine.

CD in Oklahoma

CD in OK,

I'm more awake now. Just noticed the red bobbin winding tire. I want one, any ideas where to look?

I've wondered what an all black machine would look like. Pull all the chrome off and have it satin black chromed and then paint the rest of the machine a mat black.

How does yours sew with the hand crank?

Joe

That red BW tire was broken, and I haven’t found anything but black replacements.

CD in Oklahoma

Yeah, that's typical I guess. I've run across quite a few different colored ones and most have been rotted or cracked and broken. All were replaced with black ones.

Joe