I recently bought a 1930 hand crank 99K on Etsy and it was shipped from Scotland. The seller claimed it was cleaned and serviced but it was dirty and quite linty under the throat plate. It worked very smoothly but the stitches were bad for the upper and the lower thread. I had to take it to a shop and probably won’t see it for a very long time. Boo! Can’t wait to get it back. I thought it would be fun to use with our grandkids.
I hope you get it back sooner than later and that it works perfectly when you do get it. The hank crank would be a fun thing for kids to sew with I think.
If you like this machine, keep your eyes open for a Bel Air "Bantam." It's a Japanese-made clone of the Singer 99-- most if not all parts interchange-- but the hull, the body of it, is cast from aluminum, not iron. Makes it even more portable. It's not a Featherweight, but it's not that far off, either; and you aren't going to pay Featherweight prices for one. Both of mine give a VERY tidy stitch and run beautifully smooth and quiet.
Hi Thea, I have a 99k, made in 1956, 1year older than me! I got it on eBay, a bit expensive for me, I usually find machines at thrift shops, I don’t think mine was used very much, as she s very clean and works great. I got lucky with it being in such great shape, and was packaged super well. Don’t think I would buy on line again, I-like rescuing them! Did you get this old beauty running?
I prefer to buy mine at thrift shops too. I'm afraid to buy online from Goodwill or eBay admittedly. Mostly because I have heard so many packaging horror stories. I actually had to bump this one down on my work list to get to something more immediate. But I will!
Unfortunately, since it doesn't have the spoked wheel, I don’t think that a hand crank can be added. I would be so happy for you to prove me wrong though, because tgat would mean I could do the same to my 99.
They can be made to hand crank by changing to a 9 spoke handwheel, but unfortunately, you need to change out the bobbin winder as well as the bobbin winder for the solid handwheel version won't engage with a spoked handwheel. I have a 99 from 1918 that is an exception to that rule as she was originally equipped with a hand crank, but the early models are pretty scarce these days. The bobbin winder from a Red Eye 66 will work with a 9 spoke handwheel on a 99, so all is not lost for going the hand powered route.
The Singer 99's are plentiful and should be easy to find a hand-crank version instead of trying to convert this one. You'd be into changing out the fly-wheel and who knows what else that may or may not solve your problem. Considering there's an electric smell I'd see about a new motor/cord/wiring. To have electrical problems can be very dangerous.
This 99's motor is struggling against a dirty and dry sewing machine and will run freely after thorough cleaning and lubrication. I would suggest disconnecting the belt so that the motor can be evaluated by itself. If the motor spins well, but the balance wheel is stiff to turn, then friction in the sewing machine is the problem. Isolate the problem before changing the motor.
Beautiful machine! Love those 99s and66
Sitting in front of the machine gives perspective as to how big it is. Thank you!
I recently bought a 1930 hand crank 99K on Etsy and it was shipped from Scotland. The seller claimed it was cleaned and serviced but it was dirty and quite linty under the throat plate. It worked very smoothly but the stitches were bad for the upper and the lower thread. I had to take it to a shop and probably won’t see it for a very long time. Boo! Can’t wait to get it back. I thought it would be fun to use with our grandkids.
I hope you get it back sooner than later and that it works perfectly when you do get it. The hank crank would be a fun thing for kids to sew with I think.
If you run the machine without fabric - always lift the presser foot - stops the feed damaging the foot.
Such a cute machine!
It really is!
Love the fabric you chose for your top.
Aww thank you! I love it - I hated how much I paid for it. But overall worth it. *Thanks for your comment!
If you like this machine, keep your eyes open for a Bel Air "Bantam." It's a Japanese-made clone of the Singer 99-- most if not all parts interchange-- but the hull, the body of it, is cast from aluminum, not iron. Makes it even more portable. It's not a Featherweight, but it's not that far off, either; and you aren't going to pay Featherweight prices for one. Both of mine give a VERY tidy stitch and run beautifully smooth and quiet.
i like the name of that. I am on the look out for something portable for my niece. Thanks so much for the tip!
Hi Thea, I have a 99k, made in 1956, 1year older than me! I got it on eBay, a bit expensive for me, I usually find machines at thrift shops, I don’t think mine was used very much, as she s very clean and works great. I got lucky with it being in such great shape, and was packaged super well. Don’t think I would buy on line again, I-like rescuing them! Did you get this old beauty running?
I prefer to buy mine at thrift shops too. I'm afraid to buy online from Goodwill or eBay admittedly. Mostly because I have heard so many packaging horror stories. I actually had to bump this one down on my work list to get to something more immediate. But I will!
🤩🤩👍
Unfortunately, since it doesn't have the spoked wheel, I don’t think that a hand crank can be added. I would be so happy for you to prove me wrong though, because tgat would mean I could do the same to my 99.
They can be made to hand crank by changing to a 9 spoke handwheel, but unfortunately, you need to change out the bobbin winder as well as the bobbin winder for the solid handwheel version won't engage with a spoked handwheel. I have a 99 from 1918 that is an exception to that rule as she was originally equipped with a hand crank, but the early models are pretty scarce these days. The bobbin winder from a Red Eye 66 will work with a 9 spoke handwheel on a 99, so all is not lost for going the hand powered route.
@BobFowlerWorkshop I did read all of that about the bobbin winder. Thankfully I’ve kept a “graveyard” of 66s to pick from.
The Singer 99's are plentiful and should be easy to find a hand-crank version instead of trying to convert this one. You'd be into changing out the fly-wheel and who knows what else that may or may not solve your problem. Considering there's an electric smell I'd see about a new motor/cord/wiring. To have electrical problems can be very dangerous.
This 99's motor is struggling against a dirty and dry sewing machine and will run freely after thorough cleaning and lubrication.
I would suggest disconnecting the belt so that the motor can be evaluated by itself. If the motor spins well, but the balance wheel is stiff to turn, then friction in the sewing machine is the problem. Isolate the problem before changing the motor.