What do you think this is?
 

I bought a sewing machine at an estate sale this weekend. They threw in some attachments from another machine that wasn't present. There was a 66 manual, so I assumed they were 66 attachments. I got home and started looking and these aren't low shank attachments. What machine will they fit?

Also, what is the black thingy? All it says on it is Bakelite no/ 50. The photo isn't that great. I may have to take another photo of the black thingy, as it's hard to make out. It was in the box with the attachments.

bkay

Probably a CAM or fashion disc for some machine like a Singer 300/400/500/600 series sewing machine ... think Singer Touch and Sew.

Not sure what the other attachment is?

No it's not a Singer cam, not sure what it is. The other is a back clamping hemmer, have no idea what machine it's for though.

Cari

I do not know of any 66 machine that is a "back clamper" except for the very early Singer 66's (maybe the early 99's as well?) before they went to low shank. As for the bakelite disc, we probably need a better lighted photo to be able to identify. Is there a center hole in the "thingy", is the hole threaded? From the photo view of the "thingy", I do not see any irregular lines or edges a cam follower would trace to sew decorative stitches.

I did a little "googling" on bakelite and found that it was patented in 1907. When its patent ran out in 1927, its rights were bought by the Catalin Corporation that was already manufacturing a similar phenol material called Catalin used in the manufacture of costume jewelery among other end products. Bakelite and Catalin effectively disappeared as manufacturing media in the early '50's with the advent of Lucite. This may give us a range of manufacturing dates for the material used to make your "thingy."

The black disc looks like a cam. if you flip it over, it would be easier to tell. I have a 401 that has cams.

Often things are thrown together just to put "whatever' somewhere. I've gotten boxes and seen boxes with attachments to different sewing machines that should've gone with a machine that was sold at an estate but they tried to make extra money selling them separate.

try google - "bakelite no. 60 inkwell"

try http://treadleon.net/library/topclampingfeet.pdf

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

Yes, it is the "cap or lid" for the little glass ink wells found in the sewing cabinets that were made to be used as a desk also. I have a cabinet that my Singer 15-91 came in (art deco type) and in the left hand drawer there is a hole that holds that glass ink well. Mine was missing the lid when I got it.

That's what it is. If you have the glass part, I'll send you the top.

bkay

The foot is likely for a top clamping machine, such as the White Rotary.

That foot looks like a 66 rolled hemmer foot. I have an early 66 treadle (1908) and it uses back clamping feet that look just like that. Don't discard it! Back clamping feet for those early 66's are rare and hard to find. So much so that people started converting their presser bars to take the more modern side-clamping feet.

I have two boxes of them. I'll see if I can get a photo tomorrow.

bkay

One of Redeyes - a treadle Singer 66 with decals is a back clamping machine. I'm not sure about the e machine. Back clamping attachments are not easy to find!

bkay, I am assuming this post was meant for me and if so, I want to thank you for offering the plastic top for the glass ink well. Yes, I do have the glass part so if you are willing to send this to me I would be very happy to get it. Should I pm you with my address? Also, if you let me know what the postage is when you send it, I will reimburse you for it. Thank you for the offer!

the foot won't fit any Singer unless someone did some modifications to it.

Singer is one of the few US companies that never used the top clamp feet. White, National, Free, New Home, Standard, Domestic, Davis and others used it, but not Singer.

Thanks, Macybaby for that info. I'll get some photos soon (5 more days to retirement). I'm sure you will know what they are and what is the best use of them.

Yes, KLO, PM me with your address and I'll get it in the mail. It's not very heavy and will go in a padded envelope, so no need to reimburse me on postage.

bkay

Don't ship in padded envelope.
 

I've had sewing machine feet crushed by the USPS machinery. The same for a plastic piece like that. It's safer to send it in a small box.