Mizkaki

Celeste,

Look at that number again. You probably did add a digit to it. When I took your serial number and looked it up the using the lertter and the first 6 digits I get a model 27 with a date of 2-2-1901.
Your picture is of a model 27.

Cathy

Cathy

Mizkaki

Charlee,

Nurseknits (Laura) is awesome, not afraid to tackle anything. She has no formal sewing machine repair training, but is a natural born mechanic and is really good on wood repair.
I'm trying to get her on this board.

Cathy

Glenn

This is exactly what I do except I don't use the hide glue in a bottle as stated in this article. I use hide glue I melt in a glue pot.

vintagemotif

AMEN! I also wish for that.

Glenn

Listen to Nurseknits she knows what she is doing. The titebond hide glue is just fine for those of you who do not want to try melting stinky hide glue. It is really fowl smelling stuff. When she says weight it down with wax paper to keep from sticking she means heavy. I put wax paper then a very flat board and then stack with several bricks.

vintagemotif

Aaww poor puppy. Nancy you will make an excellent nurse. Prayers are for a quick recovery.

MistyK

Would a Singer 301 be worth $175. A lady is getting rid of some of her stuff. It is dirty but the wheel seems to turn smoothly and the needle part seems to work well? I have heard that they are pretty good machines and am now getting where I want to invest in one. I really don't want a new one. Is there anything I should look out for? I thought I had a machine before, but it didn't pan out and I don't know much about them so I would appreciate knowing if there are pitfalls. I hope I am posting this in the right place. Thanks. Weather here is awful and I don't want to be online too much.

miriam

I added one on kids and funerals.
Thanks for all the kind words.

miriam

How much the machines are worth depends on how hard it is to find one where you live.
I wouldn't pay that for one in sad condition - I have sold some in top condition though.
You can try offering her how much you feel you can pay since it is not in top condition.
They are a good machine a lot of people love them.

The 403, 503, are good dependable zig zag machines - Here is a link on the difference between them and the 401 or 500 which usually cost more: http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t160607.html
Singer 99 or Spartan or 404 are my fav little vintage straight sew machines as well.
I really like my old 15 clone sewing machine. Here is a link to more info on those: http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...p-t164361.html
If you read through you will find plenty of info - these machines are frequently pretty inexpensive. Some times free. Some times they freeze up. Expect to pay more for one that turns, sounds good, and looks good. These are a simple machine - parts are available - manuals exist and they are nice to sew with.
Here is a link to a 15 clone I cleaned up: http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...r-t169127.html
There are some real nice treadles out there inexpensive if you want to work on one - some 66s have back tack
Muv has some real good videos on the sticky for how to clean up a machine.
She does not have you taking apart a machine completely all at once.
There are some machines with long bobbins, some drop in and some have a bobbin case and go vertical.
Dig around on here - it could take a week or two to read all the posts on here but it might
give you plenty of information. J. Miller seems to have learned a lot in 3 months he's been reading on here about machines.
IMHO The new plastic machines aren't as reliable as the old ones.
It is nice when you find a metal machine that turns smooth, sounds good, makes a good stitch and looks fab.
Make sure the machine has a bobbin case if it is the type that uses one, a foot or knee control, tension all there and in place. Back tack all there. Bobbin winder work?
If the machine doesn't move, look for dried on oil or rust - offer less money when you see that - sometimes those will be free.
Finally, if you have any questions feel very free to ask. There aren't ANY dumb questions. You might even stump some of us - probably not all of us.... I can usually tell you where to look for information. So much is out there and so well written, I don't try to reinvent.

miriam

http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/how-t...sewing-machine
a link for how to buy a vintage sewing machine. Better written than anything I could do.