who knows old sewing machines well?

Neither my 66 (1923 hand crank) nor my 99 (1949 body with 58 motor - long story!) have this feature. Can you post a picture or send me one? If I can't help you, I know a whole bunch of folk who can, but they will need nice clear pix! :)

BTW, table legs mean nothing, as all the different heads were housed in many different table styles over the years, and the same machines appeared in treadle, hand crank and electric motor versions. :)

You may have a spaciality machine, rather than a general-use home model. Can you post a picture somewhere so we can see what it looks like?

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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it's a 66-18, I have one. the back-tack is the reverse stitch, the numbers are how many stitches per inch it sews. (i learned to sew on this machine)

-- Desiree Jenkins

Ah...the 66's were one of Singer's most-made home models. Very simple and very dependable. I've got three or four in my collection, including my grandmother's 66 "Redeye" treadle.

Most 66's do not have reverse, however. The Singer parts charts on their web site do not show any 66s with reverse, so yours must be a much later model -- according to the literature I've read and what the OSMG ('old sewing machine guys') claim Singer added reverse late in the model run.....so hold onto that one.

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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I've never seen one that actually says 'backtack,' but I think you're talking about the stitch length lever. If your machine has reverse it's not terribly old; anyway, the numbers on the dial are probably stitches-per-inch.