What did I buy?
 

Please help! My husband bought me matching singer treadle machines in cabinets off craigslist and am now trying to figure out exactly what we have. One cabinet included a brochure for a 15, but the machines are both red eyes (and in amazing condition - completely untouched at this point). More mysterious is that the serial numbers appear to have too many digits and I can't read any letters in front. I know that Singer didn't make machines with serial numbers in the 80-millions. I have scoured the internet trying to solve this mystery. Any ideas about what we bought and when they were made would be much appreciated.

YOu have a pair of 66s Well done. Welcome abouard. Don't use anything water pased to clean them or the decals will go silver. Sewing Machine oil is your friend.

Thanks! I hoped that might have been the case given the decals.

Any idea what to make of the serial numbers?

I have no idea about this serial number anomaly. It has been discussed before, however. https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...r-t215285.html

bkay

Interesting. I’m new to the board.

What I find odd is that I got 2 that are mislabeled. I thought about a counterfeit but it seems like a lot of effort to go through for $35 in cabinet.

I love the machines. Was just curious about their history.

I've got a lot of vintage singers, and those serial numbers look like they've been altered. Red Eye were made for about 20 years, between about 1904 to the mid 20's.

You are right that they don't look like any of my other serial numbers either. Who alters serial numbers??? Super annoying.

I had a vintage colored decal machine restored and kerosene was used to clean and shine it at least that is what I was told. Take it to a reputable restorer that is bonded.

The one sn plate looks to have some type of newer glue or adhesive around it. The other sn plate, the numbers are widely scattered up and down, I've not seen that much variation in alignment before.

Singer 66s were made from 1902 to 1955.

On the second one the number 6s are different! Definitely strange. Sorry no answer for you.