Singer 99K
 

A Singer 99K is being sold for $100 nearby where I live; says it works great. Is this a good deal? Should I jump on it?

It would have to be pristine with a lot of accessories for me to jump on it. Cabinet? Handcrank?

If it's in very nice, clean shape, complete with accessories, maybe additional extras like zigzagger, buttonholer,..., then it's a good deal. Cabinet or case? If it's missing this or that it's not a good deal. If you keep your eye out and have a bit of patience I guess you will find one at half the price.

Exceptional condition (almost like new), complete with pedal / kneelever, box of accessories etc. doesn't turn up that often and expect to pay a bit more. A fix up machine (nice conditon, complete but needs a good cleaning and new motor belt is often the best buy. It's a bit more work but the price will be lower.

A clean, fully working machine like model 99 is well worth $100, but like most things vintage and second hand, you can always find a better price. It depends upon how picky you are regarding a DIY fixup, repair, any signs of age and use. It's a common model and should turn up now and then in your area. This model is usually very easy to get stitching again and will last you a life time.

A 99 is a 3/4 size straight stitcher, sews nicely and will stitch through anything you expect of a domestic machine; layers of denim is now problem. The later version had a stitch length lever with revese, the earlier had a stitch length knob and no reverse. If you make jeans, jackets and larger items it can be a bit small. On the other hand it's the size that made it popular, and it's just as capable as a full size machine. Maneuvering large bulks of fabric is easier on my 201 and it can be found at much the same price. I think I payed arond $80 for my 201, it's in a small table, and needed a few replacement parts to work again (crumbling motor belt, missing spool pin,...). I have never regretted spending a bit of time and money on it.

Thanks to both of you. I haven't seen it yet, so I have no idea what it contains, but your advice helps in knowing what to look for when I view it this weekend. And, Mickey2, I appreciate all your input as to what is and isn't a good buy. I was going to look this Sat, & I'll let you know what I find. I REALLY want a new machine w/needle down, drop feed dog, etc., abilities, but right now I can't afford one. Thought I'd get this old one to just use for basic sewing, but I may also save my $ for a newer machine. It's just sometimes old ones are so much heartier & made better! Thanks, thanks! :)

I think many of us here would say "Don't buy a new machine." ( after all we are on the vintage page) But seriously if you have a wish list of features you want, you might start a separate post of "What should I get?" Many older machine can do wonders and are likely to outlast new stuff. And if you get a 99 it will do a bunch of stuff. I have several. Most ( all?) 15s have drop feed dogs. You will also have a chance to learn about your machine. Also, check the cord carefully before you plug it in. Some wiring is dangerous. Oh and if it is a 99 in a bentwood case with the hole for a knee control, make sure the control is there.

My 99 has a feed dog cover I slide over the throat plate and it works well. There are various kinds, I have a screw-on cover too, it works just as well, it came with a buttonholer. 99s can't drop the feed dogs, but a few vintage straight stitchers can. All 201s have this feature, as well as the later style 15 (with the stitch length lever and reverse).

I took my 201 to heart and it has been my favorite machine since I bought it four years ago (I can't remember exactly). It was rather a chance buy, but I can recommend getting an old straight stitcher. I keep a freearm zigzagger too, it has lots of stitch patterns to choose from. If money is an issue keep an eye out on a local auction site or charity store, I'm sure something will turn up at the right price. Models like 99, 66, 15, 201 are very safe buys, all parts are easily found, replacement bobbins and needles are standard as well as feet and accessories (I buy mostly used ones I find on the web). If they look like they are in reasonable shape under layers of dust they will clean up nicely. Old machines from the 1920s and 30s almost always need rewiring if they haven't already been replace. It's rather expensive to have it done, 1950s models and younger tend to have better wiring.

The very first extra machine I got was a 20$ 99. Nothing came with it but, I love it.

Thanks! I had thought about starting a post of "What should I get?" but am afraid I would get swamped w/SOOOO many suggestions, my head would spin! LOL Altho I MAY get people near me willing to sell a newer one. Thanks for advice about cord and knee control. Also when you say 15's have drop feed dogs, is "15" a diff type of Singer? Little confused.

I thought I was responding to Leon. So sorry, not sure how to use this. Am not computer savvy. :thumbdown:

Mickey2, when you say you slide the feed dog cover over, is that the way you are able to free-motion quilt? Money is an issue in spending $600 on a newer machine that has all I'm looking for.

This is a Singer model 15. It was in production a very long time and were subject to improvements and a few alterations along the way. Around 1930 (maybe 1928) it was given a stitch length lever with reverse, this one can drop the feed dogs too. The other variants don't have this ability in general. Notice the difference in for the stitch length setting.

This is a 201, all of it's variants can lower the feed dogs. It's a nice machine.

Here's some info on the 99. Only the later one with stitch length lever has revers stitching. Mine is from 1934 and it has the stitch lenght knob. It's a nice machine and I can recommed it for anything but making jeans and jackets, hemming jeans is easy work on it, and I have made a shirt on it and it was a joy to work on. It all depends on what you want to do. You will manage on a 99, but my 201 has luxurious space under the harp for larger bulks of fabric. The advantage is it's smaller size, easier to move around (15s and 201s are heavy). It's very easy on the user, threading, drop-in bobbin case...

Model 66 is the full size verision of a 99, much the same machine but a bit more space for maneuvering larger pieces of fabric.

There are lots of other worthy models and brands well worth taking a chance when they turn up at the right price, but I will not confuse you any further. These are common machine, you will sooner or later bump into one if you keep an eye out. They are easy to get stitching again and pretty much indestructable.

Model 15 is a favorite among quilters, but that said, I have come across several who have set up a 201 for free motion quilting, one person free motion embroidery (with out a hoop). There's info on this on the web. I have manage to free motion on my 201, but I hardly do this type of work and I'm not the one who should give any advice ;)

This is the cover I have for my 99K. It was among the accessories. It's luckily pretty common. I don't know if a 99 is the first choice for freemotion but it's possible. It's all about getting the tension right, so far I have managed to darn pretty well with a spring type presser foot. There's an equivalent for the older 15s (with out the drop feature), but I think it's slighly different shaped.

Thanks Mickey2 for helping her out. Bluerooms, I find usable machine in my area for under $40.00 fairly regularly.

Dashboard models ( think 50's car dashes with knobs and levers) an be strong machine and give you zig zags ,drop feet and LC needle placement. You might look at the thread on pink machine for a few examples.

I had my grandmother’s 99 which I loved. I passed it on to my niece and she has made curtains, cushions, aprons, lots of things on it with no problem.