A Little Convertible for Summer - Singer 99 Hand Crank to Electric & Back Again!
One of my favorite sewing friends recently contacted me for another Sew-Classic machine to add to her family. She told me that she was looking for a Singer 99, and expressed interest in both a hand crank model and an electric one.
VOILA! With a little imagineering and some modifications, I put together a Singer 99 that can go from hand crank to electric and back again with ease.
With the 99's, you can run into problems with the bobbin winder not working correctly when you replace the solid hand wheel with the smaller diameter, spoked hand wheel. So, with the help of a drill press, I drilled and filed out a notch in the solid hand wheel to accept the finger of the hand crank assembly. This allows the machine to be used with it's original hand wheel and that means the bobbin winder works perfectly in it's original state. It also preserves the larger diameter belt grove for optimal performance with the electric motor.
The after market hand cranks often need some tweaking to help them work well, so I also took care of that to make sure it operates as smoothly as possible.
Here are some photos of the Singer 99 with the notched hand wheel and the hand crank assembly attached.
(click on images to see a larger photo- opens in a new window)
I'm very pleased with the finished product. The machine works flawlessly both as a hand crank and as an electric, and the conversion process is quite streamlined. It provides the convenience of complete and total portability - you don't even need a power outlet to sew! How about sewing out on the patio and enjoying the mild weather and singing birds or taking it out to the boat dock, on a camping trip or to the cabin in the woods?? No extension cords and no problem!
With in a few minutes, you can easily set it up for use as an electric machine for the times that you would like to use it that way.
For a free manual or more information about the Singer 99, please see the Singer model 99 review.
How to get a MARKED NEEDLE PLATE for your vintage machine- CHEAP!
VOILA! With a little imagineering and some modifications, I put together a Singer 99 that can go from hand crank to electric and back again with ease.
With the 99's, you can run into problems with the bobbin winder not working correctly when you replace the solid hand wheel with the smaller diameter, spoked hand wheel. So, with the help of a drill press, I drilled and filed out a notch in the solid hand wheel to accept the finger of the hand crank assembly. This allows the machine to be used with it's original hand wheel and that means the bobbin winder works perfectly in it's original state. It also preserves the larger diameter belt grove for optimal performance with the electric motor.
The after market hand cranks often need some tweaking to help them work well, so I also took care of that to make sure it operates as smoothly as possible.
Here are some photos of the Singer 99 with the notched hand wheel and the hand crank assembly attached.
(click on images to see a larger photo- opens in a new window)
I'm very pleased with the finished product. The machine works flawlessly both as a hand crank and as an electric, and the conversion process is quite streamlined. It provides the convenience of complete and total portability - you don't even need a power outlet to sew! How about sewing out on the patio and enjoying the mild weather and singing birds or taking it out to the boat dock, on a camping trip or to the cabin in the woods?? No extension cords and no problem!
With in a few minutes, you can easily set it up for use as an electric machine for the times that you would like to use it that way.
For a free manual or more information about the Singer 99, please see the Singer model 99 review.
How to get a MARKED NEEDLE PLATE for your vintage machine- CHEAP!
Posted by Sew-Classic at Sunday, May 10. 2009 
Categories: Sewing Machine Reviews, Projects, Sewing Machine Repair
Categories: Sewing Machine Reviews, Projects, Sewing Machine Repair
sooo cool! and i thought computers and phones were the ultimate in wireless...not anymore!
Your "tinkering" amazes me! That's too cool. What a R & D /engineering dept./production dept. you are! The sewing friend is sure lucky!
It will be awhile but someday hope to have a Sew Classic added to my family of mcahines.
so cool..
Thanks Jenny you did a great job..
Thank YOU Lynette! Your interest and request inspired some creativity and I had fun putting this package together for you!
I noticed that your photos show your 99 in some sort of homemade base. I just received one of these nice little machines from a friend without its case and I am desperately searching for a way to set it onto something so I can use it. Do you have any suggestions for me? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Yes, that is a custom made base. You could make a base for yours.
What kind of wood did you use to make yours? Is it just some sort of 2 x 4's or something and is it just a frame, or does it have a bottom on it? Is there any other support inside the frame for the machine?
The 99 has to be supported. It doesn't have feet that will hold it up off of the table. So, yes, there are supports in the corners, recessed under the sufrface. The base would be pretty much pointless unless it supported the machine. The exterior of the base is made from furniture quality, clear pine. It's lighter than most hardwoods, easy to work with and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Looks nice stained as well.
Hi, I am looking for a hand crank wheel for a Singer model 66. Do you have for sale?
Thanks,
Terri
Hi Terri,
I do have a parts and supplies web store that I recently added. I don't have hand wheels listed up there yet, but I have some vintage ones in stock and I can order new reproduction units. for questions about parts availability and purchases, please feel free to contact me directly through my web store. There is a contact link right up at the top that will take you to the page to contact me directly.
- Jenny