Singer CLASS 99 User Manual

Class 99 & 99K

Sewing Machines

Instruction Manual

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Class 99 & 99K

Table of Contents
Instructions for

Operating the Machine

Electrical Information
Remove and Replace Light Bulb
Operate Electrically
Operate by Hand
Treadle Operation
Protection Against Rust Damage
To Oil the Machine and Stand
Needle Size Chart
To Set the Needle
Upper Threading
To Remove the Bobbin
To Wind the Bobbin
To Replace the Bobbin
To Prepare for Sewing
To Start Sewing
To Turn a Corner
Basting
To Sew Bias Seams
To Remove the Work
To Regulate Length of Stitch
To Reverse the Direction of Feed
To Regulate Pressure on Presser Foot
Thread Tension
To Regulate Needle Thread Tension
To Regulate Bobbin Thread Tension
To Adjust Needle & Bobbin Tensions
To Remove Bobbin Case
To Replace Bobbin Case
To Replace Slide Plate

Sewing Suggestions

The Belt
To Avoid Breaking Needles
Breaking of Needle Thread
Breaking of Bobbin Thread
Skipping of Stitches
Machine Working Heavily

Instructions for
Using the Attachments

The Foot Hemmer

Hemming
Hemmed Seams
Hemming with Lace

The Binder

Inserting the Binding
Adjustment & Operation of the Binder
Binding Curved Edges

The Gathering Foot

Shirring

The Ruffler

To Adjust the Ruffler
To Activate Parts of the Ruffler
Gathering
Forming & Attaching a Ruffle in One
Operation
Pleating
Group Pleating

The Seam Guide

The Zipper Foot

Preparation
Inserting a Skirt Zipper
Sewing Corded Welting
Sewing Corded Seams

Fashion Aids

The Buttonholer
The Blind Stitcher
The Bias Gauge
The Edge-Stitcher
The Quilter
The Adjustable Hemmer
The Tucker
Darning or Embroidering

Singer Needles and Oil

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Class 99 & 99K

ELECTRICAL INFORMATION

The Singer electric motor is located at the back of the machine, and can be

supplied for operation on alternating or direct current. Orders must state the
catalogue number of the motor, or the voltage, and in the case of alternating
current, the number of cycles.

Before inserting electrical plug, be sure that voltage and number of cycles
stamped on motor nameplate are within range marked on electric meter installed
by electric power company.

Electrical Connections for Machine: Push three-pin safety plug into three-pin
terminal block at right of machine and connect plug at other end of cord to
electric supply point.

Speed Controller: The speed of machine is regulated by amount of pressure on
foot or knee controller.

CAUTION! When you have finished your sewing always disconnect the
plug from the electric supply point.

LIGHT

To turn light "on," reach over machine arm and turn switch V, Fig. 1 to right. To
extinguish light, turn switch to left.

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Class 99 & 99K

To Remove Bulb

Grasp light socket so that thumb extends over switch V. Press shade with thumb
at U. to release shade from two catches, and slide it halfway out of shade holder
W. Press bulb into socket and at same time, turn bulb over from machine as far
as it will go to unlock pin X (see Figs. 3 and 4). Withdraw the bulb.

To Insert New Bulb

Press bulb into socket and turn it over toward machine until pin X enters notch in
socket (see Fig. 3). Return shade to its normal position as shown in Fig. 1.

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Class 99 & 99K

If the Machine is Electrically

Operated

Raise presser foot Q by means of
presser bar lifter R to prevent injury to
the foot Q and feed T.

Place a piece of material under presser
foot and let the foot down upon it. Turn
on electric current and, if the
combination knee and foot controller is
installed as a knee controller, press
knee lever to the right. If controller is
placed on the floor to be used as a foot
controller, press down on pedal of
controller. The speed of the machine is
controlled entirely by the amount of
presser applied to the controller.
Operate machine in this way, without
being threaded, until you have become
accustomed to guiding the material and
operating the controller.

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Class 99 & 99K

If the Machine is Hand Operated

When the machine is uncovered, the
hand attachment will be found to be out
of working position as shown in Fig. 6.
Pull the small spring stud 2, and turn
the handle back until leer 1, enters the
socket 3. Press back the hinged finger
4, Fig. 7 between the spokes of the
wheel. The machine is now ready for
working as shown in Fig. 7.

NOTE. Before replacing the cover on
the machine in its case, the lever
should be disengaged and the handle
placed in the position shown in Fig. 6.

To Operate the Hand Machine

Place a piece of material under the presser foot Q, Fig. 5, and lower the latter by
means of the lifter R. Now turn the handle over from you to work the machine,
without being threaded, until you are accustomed to guiding the material with the
left hand.

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Class 99 & 99K

If the Machine is Treadle Operated

Loosen the hand wheel by turning motion screw L, Fig. 16, over toward you,
place both feet upon the treadle and turn the hand wheel over toward you, at the
same time allowing the feet to move freely and lightly with the motion of the
treadle. Continue to do this until a regular and easy movement is acquired and
you are able to work the treadle so that you can re-start the machine with the
wheel turning toward you.

When familiar with the working movement, tighten the hand wheel by turning the
stop motions screw over from you, and place a piece of material under the
presser foot Q, Fig. 5. Lower the latter by means of the lifter and again work the
machine without being threaded, until you are accustomed to guiding the
material.

The belt should be only just tight enough not to slip. If too loose shorten and
rejoin.

Belt Shifter

This device simplifies throwing off and
replacing the belt. To throw off the belt,
move the belt shifter to the left (see Fig.

8), working the treadle at the same
time. To replace the belt, work the
treadle slowly with the hand wheel
turning toward you, when a revolutions
or tow of the wheel will bring the belt
back into its place.

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Class 99 & 99K

Protection Against Rust Damage

Lint and fluff, if not removed prior to storage will, during humid periods, absorb
and hold moisture, and thus accelerate rust damage to highly polished thread
handling and other exposed parts. The extend of rust damage would depend
upon the length of time the machine remained in idle storage where there is no
ventilation. Sudden drops in temperature till cause moisture to form on parts
which, if not protected by a film of oil, would rust and damage while in storage.

Proper storage care suggests thorough brush-cleaning to remove all traces of lint
and fluff, followed by swabbing of all the exposed parts in Figs. 10 and 11 with a
lint-free brush saturated with SINGER oil. SINGER lint-free brush may be
purchased at your local SINGER dealer.

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Class 99 & 99K

To Oil the Machine and Stand

If the machine is used continuously, it should be oiled daily. If moderately used, an
occasional oiling is sufficient. Apply one drop of oil at teach of the places indicated
by the unlettered arrows in Figs. 9, 10 and 12 and carefully clean the machine to
insure smooth and satisfactory performance. Oil holes are provided in the machine
for bearings which cannot be directly reached.

Remove face plate D, Fig. 9 by taking out screw C and loosening screw E near the
top of the place. Slip plate over screw E. Oil the points indicated in Fig 10 and
then replace face plate D.

Draw the slide to the left (as shown in Fig. 9) and, after removing the lint and dust
which may have accumulated (see instructions on page 24), apply a drop of oil at
the place indicated at F, Fig. 11. The slide should then be closed.

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Class 99 & 99K

To oil the parts underneath the bed of the machine, turn the machine back on its
hinges and apply oil to the oil holes and bearings indicated in
Fig. 12.

To oil the stand, apply a drop of oil to the centers upon which the band wheel and
treadle work, and to both ends of the pitman rod connecting the treadle with the
band wheel.

After oiling, run the machine rapidly for a few minutes so that the oil may reach
the bearings. Neglect to oil the machine will shorten its life and cause you

trouble and annoyance.
Always use SINGER oil. Inferior oil clogs the bearings, prevents efficient

working, and causes rapid wear of the mechanism.

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Class 99 & 99K

Needles and Thread

For perfect stitching, thread should be selected according to fabric to be stitched,
and needle must be correct size for thread which must pass freely through eye of
the needle.

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Class 99 & 99K

To Set the Needle

Select the correct needle according to the table on page 11. Be sure that the
needle is not blunt or bent. Raise the needle bar to its highest position and
loosen thumb screw H, Fig. 13 in needle clamp. Push needle with its flat side
toward the right up into needle clamp as far as it will go, then tighten the thumb
screw H. A screwdriver slot is provided for stronger clamping of needle, required
for attachments driven from needle clamp hub.

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Class 99 & 99K

UPPER THREADING

See Fig. 14. Place spool of thread on
spool pin. Raise take-up lever 5 to its
highest point. Lead thread into thread
guide 1, down and from right to left
between tension discs 2, into the loop
of the take-up spring 3, under the slack
thread regulator 4 (not through the
eye in the thread regulator), up and
from right to left through hole in take-up
lever 5, down through guide 6 on the
face plate, down through the lower wire
guide 7, from left to right through the
eye of the needle 8.

Draw about two inches of thread
through the eye of the needle with
which to begin to sew.

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Class 99 & 99K

To Remove the Bobbin

Raise needle to its highest point. Draw slide plate to the left. Press bobbin

ejector J, Fig. 15, to raise bobbin for easy removal.

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Class 99 & 99K

To Wind the Bobbin

Hold the hand wheel K, Fig. 16, with left hand and with right hand loosen stop
motion screw L to disengage stitching mechanism.

Place empty bobbin on bobbin winder spindle, see Fig. 16. Turn bobbin until hole
in right side engages pin in spindle. Press bobbin winder downward until latch M,
Fig. 17, engages. In this position latch will hold bobbin in place.

Place spool of thread on spool pin 1.
Draw thread through guide 2 on arm of machine. Lead thread from front to rear

through lower notch of guide 3.
Thread through O, Fig. 17, in left side of bobbin from inside. The end of the

thread must be held by hand until it is broken off by the rotation of the bobbin.

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Class 99 & 99K

Fig. 17 shows bobbin winder in position for winding. When sufficient thread has

been wound the winder is automatically released.
Remove filled bobbin from bobbin winder spindle and re-tighten stop motion

screw L, Fig. 16.
If thread does not wind evenly on bobbin, loosen screw which holds thread guide

3, Fig. 16. Turn guide to left if bobbin winds high on right. Turn guide to left is
bobbin winds high on left. When guide is properly centered, thread will wind
evenly across bobbin. Tighten guide clamping screw.

If the pressure of bobbin winder pulley N, Fig. 17 against hub of hand wheel is
insufficient for winding the bobbin, press down winder until latch M drops down
and holds it, then loosen screw P2. With the forefinger push back upper end of
slotted plate P1 as far as it will go and at the same time, with the thumb, press
winder against ledge of wheel. Then tighten screw P2 securely. Afterwards
raise latch to release winder from contact with hand wheel.

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Class 99 &
99K

To Replace the Bobbin

Hold the bobbin between the thumb
and forefinger of the left hand, with the
thread leading on top from the right
toward the left, as shown in
Fig. 18.

Place bobbin into the bobbin case and
draw the thread into the slot 1, Fig. 19
in the bobbin case, as shown.

Draw the thread backward between the
bobbin case and the tension spring until
it reaches the notch 2, Fig. 20, then pull
the thread toward the right as shown in
Fig. 20.

When closing the slide, place thread up
through slot 3, Fig. 21 as shown.

FIG. 18 Replacing the Bobbin

FIG. 19 Threading the Bobbin Case

FIG. 20 Bobbin Case Threaded FIG. 21 Under Threading Completed

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