All About Federal 990 Vintage Sewing Machine
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I found a Federal 990 vintage sewing machine at a local Habitat for Humanity Restore. I did extensive research about the model and have listed details below.
Federal 990 is a store branded machine.
Before we can discuss the machine, we have to talk about the store. Federal department store was a discount retailer founded by Davison brothers in 1929. Stores were located in Michigan and the brand was most characterized by it’s art deco style.
It wasn’t uncommon for stores to slap their branding onto sewing machines.
In the beginning, badged machines were produced by local manufacturers. But after World War II, Japan started mass producing generic sewing machines. Federal 990 was made in Japan and sold at the Federal department store during the 1950’s. It is a generic. So, it’s not uncommon to find other identical models listed under a different name.
Will the real 990 please stand up?
There is another Federal machine online with a different body style. This model is also listed in various online forums as a 990. But, I think it is truly a Federal 900 because the body style is different. But, I could be wrong.
Now, let’s talk about the specs.
Federal 990 is a hefty little thing weighting in at 33LBS. It has a robust 1.5amp motor. And, its sure to fit inside a standard vintage Singer sewing machine cabinet of 14.5in x 7in. While the Federal 990 is heavy, you would be surprised to learn all the internal parts are NOT metal. The cam stack is Bakelite instead of metal. I’m not sure why they made this design decision. But, it wasn’t the best choice because normal wear causes them to crack over time.
My cam stack is in tact. But, the mechanism controlling movement of the cam stack is broken. So , I cannot use any of the decorative stitches. But, let me not get off on a tangent. Here are the rest of the specifications about this machine.
| Max Stitch Length | Max Stitch Width | # of Feed Dogs | Max Needle Size | Throat Space to right of needle |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 7 inches |
Replacement parts & accessories are needed.
The model I found didn’t come with any accessories. So, I have no clue what original accessories came with this machine. However, I am aware of what feet are needed for projects. So, I’ve included them below. I’m also know many of you need replacement parts for the sewing machine. A parts list is also included below.
High Shank Presser Feet: Zig Zag | Straight Stitch |Overcast | Invisible zipper |Blind hem |Darning
Zig Zag Needle Plate | Slide Plate | Needle Plate Screws | Thumb Screw
Bobbin Case 125291 | Bobbin | Bobbin Race Hook | Bobbin Tire | Thread check spring
Sewing machine belt measures 15 5/8 inches | Motor Brush 4.3mm |Motor Brush Cover(measures 10.8mm wide x 4.4mm tall) I haven’t found any online to those exact dimensions!
*The lever on front of this machine is a common element that breaks from years of use. A good replacement is the M4.7 socket head cap screw.
*You may have a machine with a weak motor. Here’s two different options for a machine motor replacement:
Universal AC/DC Sewing Machine Motor 250 Watts 2.5 AMP
Special tools are always needed for making the repairs to your vintage sewing machine.
So, here is a short list of the items I used for this restoration.
Goop (degreaser, dirt, stain remover)
The Manual.
So far, I haven’t found an original manual for this model sewing machine. So, I have created a manual for your convenience. [Link will be ready shortly]….
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