Singer Model 99 Handcrank Portable Sewing Machine

This little Singer is a 3/4 size version of a Model 66. Ours is in pretty rusty condition but the mechanism works fine. Because of their small size and lighter weight, they are much sought after.

We have sewed a little on this hand crank and soon learned that it is nice to be able to feed fabric into the machine using both hands. You don't sew fast enough that you can't stop mid-stitch and make corrections to your fabric alignment or placement with both hands then sew again.

We speculate that these machines were for folks who didn't have electricity so there is no built-in light. One needs to set up shop by a nice window and limit your sewing to daylight hours

We also have a bentwood case for this one. However, we don't have the key for the case, so the case is used as a dustcover only.

The machine could be used for a treadle or as a hand crank. The base above shows a slit and holes between the storage compartment and base where the treadle belt could be fed through. Although we haven't seen one, we speculate that treadle bases were available that this base could be dropped into. The hand wheel is equipped with a pulley and groove for the belt The bolt-on hand crank has a finger that fits between the spokes of the hand wheel.

The gearing is such that the hand wheel or balance wheel is turned toward the operator while the hand crank is advanced away from the operator. Definitely designed for a right-hand person.

The needle makes three complete stitches with each revolution of the hand crank (Jim counted them!).

Our 99 makes very nice stitches. It makes a lockstitch using a rotating hook. The bobbin is easily accessible beneath the left slide.

We don't have a manual but apparently were successful in threading the machine judging from the stitches it sewed. It isn't clear how the bobbin winder receives its thread. Jim pulled a loop from the spool toward him and let it slide through his fingers with one hand and played it into the bobbin winder while turning the hand crank with the other hand. The hand wheel has a locking knob which disengages the needle during bobbin winding.