The Sewing Place

Machine Talk => Vintage Machines => Topic started by: Bogwoppit on March 31, 2019, 15:01:40 PM

Title: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Bogwoppit on March 31, 2019, 15:01:40 PM
I did a speculative bid on a well known auction site and a little singer came to live with me. Yesterday my husband helped me sort out the bobbin winder and get the bobbin cover to sit flat, today I had a tinker with the top tension as it wasn't doing anything useful at all.

Still needs some adjustment but worked well enough for my eldest to have a go. He said it was very calming.

I'll be watching more YouTube to improve it.

Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: snoozi soozi on March 31, 2019, 16:53:29 PM
Oh that's gorgeous, it's the one my mum had  :loveit:
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Lilian on March 31, 2019, 17:42:19 PM
Great machine. I have one  :) :vintage:
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: KayK on March 31, 2019, 20:29:30 PM
Lovely little machine, perfect stitches and lots of attachments available to play with - have fun!
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Manuela on April 01, 2019, 10:23:12 AM
Oooohhhh @Bogwoppit exactly the same happened to me few weeks ago. She was delivered last week and I named her Arabella, still need to take a pcture, gorgeous little machine.
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: b15erk on April 01, 2019, 10:29:50 AM
I have one too, but mine is electric. Lovely machine, and so quiet!

Must get it out for a bit of a run.

Jessie
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Radiofan on April 01, 2019, 10:35:15 AM
Agreed, a great little machine. Mine is a motorised version, with the hand crank bits as an option. Currently set up for hand cranking. I also have the zigzag attachment.

Such good value, I keep meaning to use it.
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Manuela on April 01, 2019, 14:14:33 PM
@Radiofan, talking about attachments, I finally gave my buttonholers a run on one of my Featherweights - beautiful buttonholes.
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Radiofan on April 01, 2019, 14:56:37 PM
@Radiofan, talking about attachments, I finally gave my buttonholers a run on one of my Featherweights - beautiful buttonholes.
Ah yes, I have the 86718, everything adjustable, definitely better quality buttonholes than the built-in options of many model of machine. Nice rounded corners, though most of the time, I couldn't be bothered to get it out.
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Pam11 on April 03, 2019, 16:12:47 PM
I also have one...it's such a lovely machine to look at I'm actually thinking of having it as an ornament come used machine in the living room as I don't have the room in my hobby room, I use a janome with a stop/start button as I have no strength in my legs. I also have another Singer hand crank that I haven't sorted the tension out on yet. Hubby comes in useful as he can maintain and do anything mechanical the machine needs
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Manuela on April 04, 2019, 05:27:49 AM
Meet Arabella, my new to me Singer 99K hand crank. She comes with a beautiful bentwood lid, was born in 1936 and sews like a champ.

  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Acorn on April 04, 2019, 09:05:52 AM
She is beautiful.   :)
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Radiofan on April 04, 2019, 09:37:46 AM
Welcome Arabella.

Mechanically speaking, the 99 is one of Singer's simplest and most rhobust designs. Very little to go wrong on it, these machines will be going clickety-click for a very long time.

Also, the metal finishing in the 30s is of a better standard, if only they applied the luxurious decals of the earlier 28/128K.

I find hand cranks a joy to use, makes one wonder why modern machines are stiff to turn by hand.
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Bogwoppit on April 16, 2019, 12:22:40 PM
 I spent some time yesterday playing with the tension on the 99. Got a good range but raising the foot didn't release the tebsion.  Had a look round at the resources on here and found some great stuff.

Today, another play and it works properly!!! Yippee!

Going to make some pot holders to celebrate. My husband moaned the two we have were mucky, then he moaned at me using a tea towel when they were both drying on the line. I nearly left his tea in the oven.
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Bogwoppit on April 16, 2019, 13:15:01 PM
Pot holder in progress. This machine is so much fun!
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: arrow on April 16, 2019, 21:27:00 PM
I should make a pair of pot holders too. I used to have a single red pot holder with a sort of pocket that made it very handy, the hand slipped in easily into it and were insulated. I haven't seen any like it for ages, I guess it's one of those things we have to make our self. What type of batting for pot holders?

You have sorted it all out now, but when my old 99 didn't release tension it was cause by very sticky old oil at the bottom behind the face plate. There is a lever tilting back and forth, it has to be clean and only a bit of clean, fresh oil on the metal parts.
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Bogwoppit on April 16, 2019, 23:02:56 PM
Cleaning out that bit was one of the things I did. Somewhere I read it's a build up of oil dripping down from other bits and very common.

I use my old ironing board cover and some quilting cotton for pot holders. Double thickness padding, an 8 inch square and a 8x5 rectangle. Layer and quilt both. Binding on one long edge of rectangle and then binding fixing the two together. One pot holder you can put your hand in or use as a mat. 
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: wrenkins on April 17, 2019, 09:06:17 AM
It is possible to buy 'thermo' wadding because I have some that I bought for my sister-in-law's table runner. Where'd I buy it??? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe Amazon...  -<
How much is an ironing board cover? Probably cheaper and also a little bit genius!  8)
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: b15erk on April 17, 2019, 09:09:36 AM
I got some insulating stuff for the ironing board last year - from the Pound Shop.

Jessie
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: mums sewing machine on November 24, 2019, 13:53:33 PM
Reading this with interest as I bought a handcrank 99k yesterday! She’s a bit tatty, but does sew. I have to sort out the bobbin tension tho... She was born in 1930, so I’ve named her Eileen after my mum who was born that same year and who taught me to sew  <3
Title: Re: Singer 99k handcrank
Post by: Lilian on November 24, 2019, 13:58:09 PM
@mums sewing machine I bought a 99k handcrank this year, she sews beautifully. You will enjoy it, so quiet I love it!  :vintage: :)