Dayna Goodchild,, thanks for the great review of the 99,,, and i love that your Dolly is gorgeous and solid,,,,and sews like a chainsaw,,,, thanks for making me laugh as well. My birthday is coming up and I think I’m going to buy my self one. Happy sewing.

“…sews like a chainsaw.” 😅😅😅 Thank you for this brilliant comparison. And just so you know, I’m going to be looking for an opportunity to use it myself. 😊

Just got my grandmothers 99k made in Britain. Needs tlc and minor restoration. What a gem it is. She laughed a little when i recognized it and told her i would take it. She warned me its heavy but is excellent machine that does anything you ask it to do.

@@semperfi-1918 If you need any help, don't hesitate. Kerosene to clean the old oil, nothing with lint, those disposable mascara wands called spoolies work a treat and oil and blue shop cloths only. Change your needle often and best of luck with the bakelite blisters xo

@@judyditmer2589 I'm absolutely okay with that 😉

Great to hear!

That sounds like an incredible bargain!

Nice i just inherited my grandmothers 54 singer 99k. She told me how she did her whole house doing the curtains coutch covers and all. What a little beast. Needs tlc and has been put away for a few years. Heavy but has its case. Just need to have a gone through and cleaning.

I have a 1956 too as well as a 1917 hand crank. Lovely machines.

Glad I could help!

It sure was. Magnificent building that unfortunately was a bombing target during WWII. Most of it was reopened after the war, but later torn down sadly.

Great to hear!

They are great little workhorses. I restored and gave one to a close friend of mine as a housewarming gift.

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage I am looking at it right now,. it's so cute. I can't wait to try it out. I notice it has screw holes for attachments to the right of the needle. I wonder how it would work doing binding. I intend to find out.

How interesting that your grandmother was Scottish. The 99K model has the K as it signifies the factory where that machine was produced which was in Clydebank, Kilbowie Scotland.

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Yes I have been researching the history of the Singer company,,and have watched a documentary about the Kilbowie factory. I find it very interesting for several reasons. The documentary really explains how they made them, and it amazes me to see how hard people use to work during that time. Also that my grandmother came from Scotland,, and my Mom was a professional self taught seamstress. Her specialty was drapes and slipcovers. She was very well known in southern RI. Actually this video of you explaining this machine really sold me on getting one. I got lucky with the machine I bought as it’s in really great shape.Thanks again.

Congrats on your find Gayle. That is actually the same model I chose to restore as a housewarming gift for a close friend.

Very nice!

Those are great little workhorses! I restored one and gave it to one of my best friends as a surprise housewarming gift. FYI, if you don't already have it, I would definitely get yourself a PDF copy of the User manual for the Singer 99. They are free normally and it can really help guide you in how to perform basic care.

Fantastic!

You can do it!

Hi Louis. You are correct. I use just sewing machine oil to buff the machine bodies because its both a good way to clean the machine without using any waxes that would seal in dirt and old oil. And yes, you can see the Singer 15 in action with my video on the Singer 15-91 here on my channel. You should be able to easily find a bobbin case for your machine and I always suggest a vintage bobbin case when available in good condition . Parts like this were, just like the machines, made with much higher quality than new parts are. Congrats on your 15 class!! Here is the link to my 15-91 video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aqdogd2as5ivYo0.html

There were 50K numbers allotted at that time, for that run of 15s. It doesn't mean there were only 50K produced ever.

Thanks for the visit

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage 🙂👍

Yes, they were! That plant was the largest factor Singer ever built.

Hi Laura. Many things can cause noise. It could be a motor belt that is too tight causing strain on the motor bearings. It could be bad motor bearings or also something as simple as a loose part/thumb screw or even a thread spool that rattles.

We only restore machines for clients local to us in Ontario. As for parts, these machines and Singers in general are the best for finding parts because Singer made these for many decades and made lots of them. Vintage or new reproduction parts are available all over the internet. Ebay, Etsy, Bonanza, and FB Marketplace. You should have no trouble finding parts. FYI, if you need bobbins, vintage versions are easily found and are better for most vintage machines.

They are the same model. The difference is, the 99K was made in Kilbowie, Scotland. That’s where the K comes from. Good luck with your machine. I love mine.

You know, how much anyone should expect to pay for a machine is not always concrete. I have some videos on how to go about purchasing a machine and things to look for when deciding on what and whether to purchase a machine. Generally, machines for sale in large urban areas CAN sometimes bring more money than those in remote areas. Condition and where the machine has been stored can tell you a LOT about the effort required to recondition it. Part of pricing is also based on demand. Virtually all of the machines I work on and find buyers for are not rare. Singer Featherweights, Singer 301's, and even Singer 201's will bring higher prices given that they have a following. Berninas bring some of the highest prices for those that are adamant about having one. But the truth is that there are a lot of great brands and models and so just because a Featherweight brings over $300 on avg. does not mean that its "better" than another machine. What makes a machine "best" for anyone is what they hope to make with it. I restored a machine for a friend of mine as a housewarming present. My friend was new to sewing and needed something compact, but able to sew a variety of fabric types. I chose a Singer 99 as the best model for their needs. I restore a variety of models because I find that each sewer has specific needs sometimes and machines vary in what they do best. Your question actually makes me think I should make a video on how much machines cost on average and how to approach the pricing of machines for sale. Thank you for commenting.

I meant to also add that the Knee Lever option for Singers in cases of that time was not particularly rare. Bernina was known for using those for their machines and even in table mounted machines. I have a Singer 15-91 with that setup than I hope to do a video on in the future.

I called the shop...asking $225. I probably do not need another vintage sewing machine to care for. I would buy it if it were a hand crank. Thank you for responding. I appreciate it.

You're welcome Paul. We all have our favorites and so much of what I would say on hearing that price is purely subjective. But $225 is quite high for a 99K. I have sold fully restored versions of that machine for $150-$175. I'm assuming the one you saw has not documented overhaul? It could be a lovely machine but I personally find that a bit much. But others may disagree. In any event, the 99K is a little beast-like tractor of a machine and it can be a great tool for sewing.

Your machine uses what are called "Low Shank" feet and attachments. These are easy to find online as either vintage (not normally expensive) and also new versions are sold as well. You can find them online at such sites as Ebay, Etsy, Bonanza, or local classifieds. They are easy to find and should not cost much.

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Thank you.

I asked him that and found out he is in Canada, Ontario I think.

These are not hard to find Hannah. They are also low in cost. You can find them at sewing supply sites online. Ebay has many sellers and some will list compatible models. Check to see you have the correct size and it should not be tough to find. As with most any Singer model, replacement parts like these are plentiful.

There was no ZigZag foot made for machines such as this one that were dedicated straight stitch models. If you meant to ask about ZigZag attachments, Singer did sell them. I would do a search to see what specific attachment model numbers would work for a 99 or 66. FYI, I have not found such attachments to be very effective but some devotees love them. And they are not especially rare or costly as they were often upsell merchandise for Singer dealers to offer their customers.

Very nice!

Hi Bill. I understand what you mean as I have the same issue fitting under most sewing tables. Wonder if there is some way to elevate the whole table while still keeping it stable? As for the stitch length adjustment, yes, yours has the thumb screw which is what all of the 99 and 66 models used when they were first created. Later, they went to a lever with some number indicators but the thumbscrew models work just fine. You eventually will "know" where your knob turns land in term of stitch length adjustment. As for that pin, that should be the spool pin that is used when you are winding a bobbin.

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage thanks . in other vids they just use the pin on top when winding a bobbin . yours probably has a different winding mechanism . there are risers for under bed legs , to raise them . might work .

Hello Gabriella. Singer manuals are much easier to access than most brands. If you Google "Singer 99 user manual", you should find secure sites that offer it in PDF form and almost always for free.

Singer 99s and 185's thread from the left to the right. If you ever forget, I would refer to the user manual if you have one. If not, you can find the PDF's of the manual online almost always for free as most Singer manuals can be found without charge.

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage thank you. Whew I was doing it correctly.

All of your machines are great choices and all are strong, but vary in why folks love them. The 15K is the absolute strongest; in part due to its side loading bobbin. Next would be the 99K. Lastly, the 201 is certainly strong, but its best use is often for light to medium weight fabrics which show off its incredible Rotary style stitch. The 201 is certainly no sloutch and can run circles around most modern machines, but back in the day, owners often referred to the 15 as the "Farmers Machine" and the 201 was often known as "The Dressmaker's Machine"

Lynette Kleve On my 99K the flat side of the needle goes to the left to insert. Thread the needle right to left. Bobbin goes in with thread coming off the top on the right side. It looks like what I call a backwards letter P. I've seen him explain this in one of his videos. Hope this helps.

oops, Great Britain

@@tracyjoubert6324 great Britain is just as bad 😔 they were made in Scotland.

Actually, its the same machine, but the "K" part of the model number refers to the fact that it was made in Singer's Kilbowie Scotland factory. Singer was one of the first of what we today thing of as "Global Corporations". They made machines in multiple factories and would distribute some of those models in N. America as well. This was true of many models, not just the 99. When shipped to the US, they would send over the main "head" of the machine (Body/chassis) and would then add the motors/electricals since the UK had and still has a different spec for its electrical system. So the sizes are the same. What you might have observed is that the 99 is a "3/4" version of the Singer 66.

Try checking your Singer serial # at ISMACS website. They have a full or mostly full list with both the year, production numbers, as well as the model type.

Sounds like you got yourself a bargain Nancy. Those are great quality machines!

She sews like a dream

Great question and well, it depends on a number of factors: What is its overall condition? Mechanically AND aesthetically Where is the machine located? City machines bring higher prices on avg. than do those out in the country Has the machine been serviced? If so and this is VERY important, what did the service entail? A full overhaul? Or a more simple tune just to get it moving Are any parts missing? Does the owner know much about sewing machines? Did they personally sew with it or did they hear from someone who said, "it runs well" Last but not least, how badly do you want this machine?

I paid 140 for mine