Singer 99
She bring it to you every ball
This Jersey Girl will probably outlast us all, and the apocalypse.
The Singer 99 was introduced in 1911 as a 3/4-size, lighter alternative to the Singer 66, designed for use without a dedicated table. UK list price at launch was £6-10s-0d, reduced to £5-4s-0d for cash purchases. In 1921, Singer would add an electric motor option, making the 99K its first portable electric machine. Production ran until 1958, when the mechanically similar 185K replaced it.
The machine used a wooden base with a Bentwood cover, later a crocodile-pattern suitcase case, and finally a plastic base and lid. It featured japanned black paintwork with gold decals, adjustable tension and stitch length (without reverse, as this would also come later), standard low-shank feet, and needle sizes 130H/705H or 15×1. Feed dogs did not drop, requiring a cover plate for buttonholer or zigzag attachments. Machines were built originally in the US and then also at Singer’s Kilbowie plant, Clydebank, Scotland (that’s where the K in the name comes from in the 99k models).
Accessories include:
• Carry case, bent wood cover
• Bed extension
• Cardboard accessory box
• 5 extra presser feet
A beauty shot from when she was reunited with her restored bentwood cover:
ID
| Maker | SIMANCO |
| Brand | Singer |
| Model | 99 |
| Year | 1932 |
| Serial number | |
| Origin | USA |
| Manufacture | New Jersey, USA |
| Provenance | England |
| Status | Private collection |
SPECS
| Voltage | n/a |
| Bed type | Flat bed |
| Bed extension | Yes, wood |
| Feet/shank type | Low shank |
| Foot pressure adjustment | Yes |
| Bobbin type | Class 66 |
| Hook/race position | Horizontal |
| Hook movement | Reciprocating |
| Bobbin winder | Yes |
| Spool pins | 1 |
| Bulb type | BA15D |
| Original foot control | n/a |
| Current foot control | n/a |
| Dimensions | |
| Weight |
FEATURES
| Zigzag | No |
| Reverse type | n/a |
| Needle position control | No |
| Stitch length limiter | No |
| Stitch width limiter | n/a |
| Utility stitches | No |
| Decorative stitches | No |
| Stretch stitches | No |
| Auto-reverse stitches | No |
| Double needle provisions | No |
| Drop feed | No |
ACCESSORIES
| Presser feet | |
| Straight stitch needle plate | Yes |
| Feed dogs cover plate | Yes |
DOCUMENTS
| User manual | Download PDF: |
| Service manual | Download PDF: |