The Universe and Beyond

Sewing machines reflect the times in many ways: contours, color, accessories, names. This is a story of disappointment and redemption. As the holidays are winding down, I took a look at my repair room and thought I needed to get working on some that I hadn't had time to approach. Enter the Revere:

Revere in blue

The blue reminds me of my sister Jane's first car, a Mustang in this shade of blue. It's a Singer 15 clone with the tension dial on the left faceplate. This design/model is known for its great penetration so would be good for heavier fabrics and lightweight leather on an occasional basis. I had marked it for needing wiring so I checked everything out and attached a foot control, re-wrapped the wiring for the light, and turned it on. Very slowly things began to move so I cleaned and oiled so I could get it up to speed. It still moved very slowly. I took the motor apart but there wasn't too much debris but I cleaned it up and tried again. The motor, when disengaged from the belt, was very fast. Attaching the belt and leaving the clutch open, it also moved great. When I tightened the wheel back up, we were at a snails pace. Out came the hairdryer where I applied heat to all the moving parts I could find. It moved just a tad but faster. Time for bed and I'll look at it tomorrow.

Upon inspection the next day and another test drive, it was even slower! The heat might have loosened up that old oil but it re-hardened. I think this sewing machine is a good candidate for a kerosene soak but that will have to wait until warmer weather.

Underside of Revere: looks a bit gummy

 There are times when it's great being a senior citizen and senior discount days are one of then. I found a Universal sewing machine that looked so pristine I couldn't resist but I also couldn't try it out since it was just the head and it needed a motor block (a box with recepticals for the light and motor plugs). Forty percent discount later she's home with me:

Universal in blue

 I find a new motor block with cords and test it out. There is not much of a slow speed but it goes right into high speed. As it does this there is a slight pop or whiz, some noise that I haven't heard before. It does this several times so I find another motor block but it does the same thing. I disengage the clutch on the wheel and just listen to the motor and it has that strange sound right before it goes into high gear. I watch through the openings and see a very small spark but that's not unusual, especially if the motor hasn't been run in a long time. But still, it doesn't seem safe. I take the motor off and give it a good look:

Motor on Universal Sewing Machine

Back together and ready to test but nothing. No sound. I take it apart again and two small chunk of carbon fall out. Oh oh, those are the brushes! I take a good look and see there are short carbon brushes up against the motor but I cannot take them out for replacement because the springs are soldered in! So now I have a dead motor, not unrepairable but just needing more work than I want to give it. Then I have a brainstorm: why not put the Revere motor on the Universal? Both are blue, although different shades, but let's see how it works. With a different motor and foot control, the Universal sews like a dream, no racehorse, so I even put it in the blue wood portable case from the Revere. Now I have a complete sewing machine and one that needs work but that's okay. The Universal does a very nice straight stitch and a graduated zigzag, all you would need to start sewing. I can add accessories like a set of feet, needles, class 15 bobbins, a screw driver and cleaning brush and it's all set to go. Disappointment and redemption. Sometimes it's like that in life.

Cloak and Dager

With all of my sewing machines I frequently get asked "Do you sew with any of them?" which surprises me but then there are people who are simply businessmen and do not participate in this hobby. So the answer is yes, I do sew and this post is dedicated to my latest project.

At our last craft fair I admired my daughter Kelly's sleeved cape so she let me wear it for awhile and it was warm, stylish, and just felt good. When we talked about how she made it and the special touches she added I decided to make one, too. Better yet, how about making one for my mother-in-law who needs the added layers to keep warm? The search was on to find the right fabric but I didn't need to buy the pattern because I discovered I already had that same pattern. I made that same sleeved cape in fleece as a liner for a reversible cape that I wanted to wear in colder weather. I found a nice black and white plaid for only $3 for about 3 yards and this baby only takes two yards so I was ready to go.

Kelly made hers with French seams so there would be no raw edges visible. It was a little tricky so I took a few photos to show the steps:

Sleeve with raw, unfinished edge

Sleeve set in and serged: this is the outside

Serged edge encased and stitched around: this is inside

Outside of cape with French seam inside

The trick is to catch all of the edge into the folded part so it creates that smooth look. Doing this on a curve is a bit tricky, too, but it turned out nice. I did this on all of the seams so it now can be washed without fear of raveling edges. Here's the finished cape with a button front black skirt I made for her, too:

She's styling now!

Simplicity 2208 for the sleeved cape

Butterick 4347 for the skirt

Satin blanket binding is around the entire edge with black velveteen ribbon to transition the plaid to the satin. The skirt is flared with six gores (sections) and the elastic waist and button front make it comfortable and easy to get on and off. At 88 she doesn't want to wiggle into anything!

Now the big question: which sewing machine did I use? You can see that I used a serger on the seams to give that nice finish so it would be easy to turn and capture the cut edge. For the rest of it I got out the Brother Select-o-Matic, made in the mid-1950's. She and I were pretty happy sewing up this outfit so I give you a cameo shot of her:

Brother Select-o-Matic in pink and deep teal

I have to get out the manual to remember how to use all those dials but it's like riding a bike: you get back on and remember the joy of the ride. This was a project to bring my dear little (under 5 feet tall) mother-in-law some joy and style but I think I enjoyed it quite a bit, too.

Electronic Brother

While on my way to pick up a Singer 301 in a case (case is pretty broken down but I hope repairable) my hubby and I spied two thrift stores we planned to hit on our way back. That sounds like we were planning on robbing them but when you hear what I picked up you might wonder if we did.

At Thrift+ on White Bear Avenue in St. Paul, MN, there was a great selection of true vintage items, all clean and arranged in a very light and pleasing way in this medium sized store. The proprietor was a friendly guy who would talk to you or leave you alone to shop. There were 4-5 sewing machines sitting together and all were priced quite reasonably so I had to show a fair amount of restraint. Over on another shelf, away from the others (why am I always rooting for the underdog?) was another sewing machine, a Brother Electronic 4001:

Brother 4001

The cord appeared pretty short, no accessories but a carrying case, we asked to have it plugged in and tested. It turned on but there was no foot control. Upon closer inspection we could see there were on/off buttons and three speeds. But what would make it move? Check out the lever below:

Brother hand control

That's right: it runs like the modern sewing machines with a touch of a lever. It takes a bit of getting used to but it did work. I decided to take it home and laid out a whopping $7 for it. I did pay for it but it felt like we were getting away with larceny!

Back home, testing it out and seeing what she could do, I discovered instruction inside when you lowered the free arm and exposed the bobbin cover:

How to thread and basic use of hand lever

Now you can read the words!

This really helps but there are still things I don't understand. There is a dial on the right side for the stitch selector and the stitch width and length change as needed, automatically! But what about the chain stitch? At lease that's what number 4 looks like:

The other stitches look great and there is a 4-step buttonhole with an adjustment knob on top for the density of stitches. It really is a great find if you can learn to use your hands only. While putting it all away, we found out the cord is retractable but it wouldn't all go back inside so while looking underneith I found even more mysteries: there was some kind of a lever that traced back to a hole on the lower front. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? It has a knee lever option! I had an extra lever that came in an Elna case (no machine, just the metal case and a lever) and it works!

Metal bar you push with your knee

It's not perfect, coming at the wrong angle but I think it might be adjusted. Wow, just like a Bernina, a knee control. This is indeed a great find with a little bit of larceny involved but I have a receipt for payment just in case the authorities come calling.

Going, Going, Gone!

I'm not a huge fan of auctions and have only been to a couple live ones in the distant past. Cautious with Ebay, usually only buying items that I know can't get broken easily in transit, I still don't like the whole highest bid aspect of auctions. Maybe I'm just not a fast enough thinker and hate when purchases become emotional, but I'm just not a big fan of the auction process. Yet there are exceptions...

Enter Goodwill Online Shopping where you can view and bid on items from all over the United States. I've been using this site as a way to bid, and win, on sewing machines from our local site so I won't have the risk or pay for the shipping cost. I have done this for several sewing machines and haven't gotten a lemon yet. Here are a few of my Goodwill Online rehabs:

White redone in a zebra print case

Kenmore 16 complete with cams

This takes us to a recent acquisition, a very cute Singer 99 in a bentwood case. Initially I wanted this machine for the case alone, thinking if I got another request for a hand crank I would be all ready with the case and I have several sewing machines I could put in it.

Singer 99 in a crinkle finish

There was some damage to the locking mechanism but the real disappointment was the lack of finish on the case. It's going to be tricky to figure out how to make it look nice without stripping the what-left-of-the-finish off. I find out the Singer 99, in a crinkle finish, is in very good shape.

See the hole where a plate for the latch belongs?

A crinkle finish is just that: a dull finish that has a texture so it holds up much better to wear and tear. I've never been a big fan of this type of finish but who wants a sewing machine with so much of the bed worn away it no longer looks presentable? This is sometimes called a gorilla finish since it's so tough. With a bit of cleaning and adjusting it's now purring away and I hope to continue to work on it for a nice stitch after tension adjustments.

And now we come to the part that I hope is not a big mistake: a Viking Huskylock 431. This was not a local pick up but from Portland, Oregon so I had to pay $25 S&H but no one else was bidding on this serger so it was mine. No other bids? Okay, what's wrong with it? I have another Huskylock, a 440 that is presently not forming stitches so why another one? I think these are great sergers and hope to find the secret to getting them to work and maybe having another one will show me the way. Besides, you know I have a weakness for Vikings!

It came while I was out of town but a neighbor graciously consented to watch for the UPS truck, especially since it was raining on the day of delivery. It came fairly well packed but the back took a beating and the plastic cover for the motor snapped off. Most of the pieces were there and I could glue it and then screw it into place but the thread holder was snapped at the base (plastic) and now does not support the extension rod. I've been trying various fixes and now have crammed some soft grippy rubber shelf liner into the space and it seems to be working as a support for the thread.

Viking Huskylock 431

How does it work? It forms a stitch but the tension isn't quite right yet so I'm fiddling with the dials to see if I can get it right, or at least better. After a few days of trying to see how I might improve the stitches I put some heavier fabric into it and she took it like a champ: the stitches were perfect. So I tried four layers of velveteen and she was even better. How about denim with an inseam included?  Okay, we are not happy going over all those layers but she did it! Now I go back to 2 layers of cotton and the stitches are fine. 2 layers of cotton knit? No problem, no skipped stitches. Wow, this is a very good serger, despite its age and glued motor shield. The Huskylock 440 still isn't forming loops but now I might just let it go since I have a nice one with the 431.

Check out the Goodwill Online shopping and see the explanations for bidding, especially proxy bidding, to see how the process works. So far, so good, plus there is a bit of a thrill in getting a gem like the Singer 99 and now the Huskylock 431.

Business Trip

Although it's only a few days before Christmas, my husband and I took a brief vacation to a resort area in Minnesota to enjoy the outdoors, get away from our work, and apparently to add a few more sewing machines for my business. We like antique shops and thrift/resale stores so we looked around and found a few to visit. We were happy to find a couple vintage buttonhole making machines, a Kenmore and a White. Although the attachments themselves are not unique, these two came in bakelight containers that I had never seen before so I was happy to invest in them to be added to the appropriate sewing machine as an enticement!

Kenmore buttonhole attachment

White Buttonhole attachment

As I turned the corner to see what was at the back of this antique store I spied an Admiral sewing machine on the floor. It's a clone of a Singer 15, looks in good cosmetic shape, but the wires were snipped on the light and motor. Everything was still there but not functioning. The needle didn't move up and down either but it had been marked down in price so I suspected the seller knew this machine wasn't going to sell easily without a slash in price. After a discussion with the proprietor of the shop about the price, we determined it had to go for the asking price of $16. Not bad but could I get it moving again? The answer is yes, especially after I took the bobbin case out and examined the hook. Lots of extra thread in there so after cleaning and reinserting it would move. Pulling the motor apart proved easy enough and a cleaning helped it to run better. Here he is, all cleaned up and ready to sew:

He's an Admiral (Singer 15 clone)

On the way home we stopped in Brainerd at the Salvation Army store but there weren't any sewing machines or accessories so we backtracked a few blocks to visit a thrift store that was planning on going online (Ebay?) so everything was half price. My kind of store! I didn't see any sewing machines but did find a green Kenmore box with a wonderful set of cams and accessories and another Singer box with a 401 manual and set of feet and 4 top hat cams. Each box was marked $2.98. Then next to the accessory boxes were various new bobbins, pins, and wait a minute - a mini-stitcher? Yes, just like the Singer Handi-Stitch.

Just like the Singer Handi-stitch

 A separate post will include these wonderful finds that were $1.50 each!  After I set my treasure on the counter I looked over and spied a sewing machine cabinet. Oh boy, would it be a good one? After taking everything off the top and looking inside it was a rather worn looking White that wasn't something I needed another one of but wait: there's a picnic type basket behind the cabinet with a tag that read Singer Sewing Machine $19.95. Now we're talking! I opened it up to find a cute Singer 99 in poor cosmetic shape but the potential was there. For $10 she went home with us.

Just another Singer 99

When we got home we found the Viking Huskylock 431 serger had been delivered so that made the third sewing machine.

Viking Huskylock 431

I went off to work an evening shift but remembered I had made contact with a gentleman about an Elna Supermatic for an 8:30 pick-up that evening. Only about 15 minutes from work, I went to take a look at this gem that was dirty but otherwise in great shape with no flat motor pulley as on the Elna Plana plus it had the knee control.

Elna Supermatic: it's not easy being green (or this old)

That made four sewing machines all within a very short period of time but they were all good purchases. My husband and I discussed the poor cosmetic shape of the Singer 99 and that maybe it could be painted in a really jazzy color next summer, like raspberry! The others were in such good shape they were fine as is with just some TLC. So this vacation ended up as a partial business trip but with this much fun who cares?

Painting the Town - Part 9 Finale

At long last, I have finally put the Singer 66 repainted sewing machine back together and got her sewing again. The last post on the repainting process had her back together but then I discovered I hadn't put the bobbin winder/wheel cover back on. It hadn't even been painted so I got it taped, primed, painted and decal in place but that decal was going over a curve and would not fit the contour of the wheel cover. It looked terrible and I was afraid to put the clear coat on it and have it bubble up so it sat for a couple of weeks until I said "Now or never" and sprayed it. Coat one was passable, coat two was terrific:

Wheel cover from the back of Singer 66

I know! Pretty great, huh? I spent several hours yesterday, avoiding trimming the tree for Christmas, putting the rest of the parts back on, mainly the motor, and getting it running again. This was a sewing machine that got rewired so I knew it was in good shape now but I was concerned about possible paint that might have gotten into the workings of the shaft but that didn't seem to be a problem. What I did find out was how I hadn't cleaned it out good and there was a whole big wad of lint in the bobbin area. Still made some noise but then I found about four chunk of wadded up paper that I had used to block the holes while spray painting under the left face plate under the tension mechanism. I just kept at it until it was only the stitch quality I needed to work with. There was quite a bit of adjusting the bottom tension, foot pressure regulator, and almost none with the upper tension. If I put the upper tension on 5 and then adjust the bottom tension, it should then be in balance and I would only need to adjust the upper tension if I was using vastly different fabric. But I found the tension was too tight no matter what I did so I got the foot pressure regulator involved and that seemed to solve the problem. I would show you the samples I made but they were just a mass of puckered rows of stitches with only a couple of rows at the end that were perfect so I tossed them. I also finished off a spool of thread, that's how much test driving it took!

Here she is in all her glory:

Singer 66 with new paint and decals

Singer 66 repaint from the back

Singer 66 repaint face plate view

Singer 66 repaint bed of glass!

To read about her progress, you can start with Painting the Town, part 1 way back in August and I have to admit that even though it has taken much longer than I had hoped, the time it sat around waiting for me the paint was curing so it's now a nice hard finish and I'm not afraid to use it. It is not perfect, the edges of the decals still can be seen, but from where it started to now, well, I'll let you decide:

Singer 66 before painting: note letter scratched onto the bed?

I'm glad to write the final chapter on this one but now I have the Pfaff 130 to finish up. It has the black paint done and just waiting for the decals but with winter firmly in place here in Minnesota I don't want to spray paint indoors. We shall see but I comfort myself with the thought that if the first repaint can turn out like this one, the next should be even better? Just like children, each one is different (and special) with its own unique problems.

Now I'm off for a few days for some much needed R & R. Sewing machine sales have been brisk, proving my theory that everyone wants to get ready for the big snow or cold and have projects to divert them from the snowy driveway. Sew away!

New Plan for the Elna Plana

Sometimes I just marvel at how we help each other. Yesterday I got the cams and accessory box from Cindy on Facebook at the same time I got the new friction wheel. And then I had to go to work. Really, I had to work on a Saturday so I had to wait until I got home to tackle this project. There were so many warnings that came with the new wheel and the rented tool that I was afraid it was going to be a difficult task. So here are they steps:

Remove hand wheel. Use tool carefully to remove friction wheel. Replace with new wheel. Replace pin in center. Now you are done. Yup. That's it! Here are some photos to make the process look harder than it is:

This is a friction wheel with flat spot

Looking into the side of the Elna Plana

I'm glad it went back together so well and now there is no more thump. It was like driving a car with a flat tire. Well, it was a flat tire but on the sewing machine. This was a weakness with a series of Elna and it's very similar to the sewing machines that have this wheel on the outside so you can easily change the wheels. It happens when sewing machines are not used for long periods of time and the rubber wheel rests against the larger wheel and gravity does the flattening. With these Elnas the motor and wheel are all encase in the sleek housing so you have to open them up and use a special tool to make the job easier. Well worth renting the tool (and remembering to return in 30 days to cancel out my deposit) so all would fit together.

Here's collection of cams and accessory box with feet, tools, bobbins, all Elna:

20 cams!

It took some time to get her all oiled and humming along, adjusting the tension, learning how to thread this model with the tension discs on the bottom of the left side. I wasn't sure about the double sided cams working in a Plana but once I figured out how to insert them and use the automatic features, the stitches looked very good:

Just practicing

So here we are on a Saturday night, Elna and I were bonding while I learned all about her:

That could sound romantic, especially with the low lights, but it wasn't. It was just another adventure with a sewing machine I hadn't tried before. And now we are tired and need to sleep. Goodnight cams. Goodnight thread. Goodnight Elna, it's time for bed.

Opening Up Shop

At long last, my Etsy shop is open! You can visit it at InStitchesKarenDubay to see my crafty items, all made with vintage sewing machines. After the craft fairs were over I wanted to try this as a means of selling where I didn't have to leave home and smile for seven hours straight to sell my items. Craft fairs can be fun but they are always a lot of work and when sales are just mediocre it's discouraging. What's nice about Etsy is the wide audience you can reach. My calendar towel tote bags have a wide variety of themes that Minnesotans might not care about but those in Cape Cod or New York would love to have (those are two of the bags I haven't sold yet).

So here's what my shop looks like:

I had a graphic designer, Justin Ross, design the banner (as well as my business cards: thank you Justin) for a professional look that I really like. I took photos and started to add items for sale. Sounds easy, huh? Not so much.

1. Set up photography set: tables, backdrops, lights on poles, camera on tripod
2. Learn to use husband's new camera: don't break anything!
3. Learn about lighting: and shadows and settings
4. Learn how to download: ignore the 500 photos previously taken of scenery
5. Learn how to edit in new software program: short learning curve since I've been editing for this blog and Craigslist entries
6. Learn how to write script for items: how many ways can you say "toaster cover"?
7. Learn Etsy
8. Repeat

So now I sit back and wait for sales. Or promote my site for sales. You are reading this blog post instead of visiting my shop? Well, the link is at the top of this post so you only have to click (this is shameless advertising, isn't it?). I hope you find this interesting, no pressure to buy, but would welcome comments for improvements. Do I need to make the descriptions cuter? compelling? more descriptive? Are the photos clear? Would you actually find this interesting even if you were not in the market for a toaster cover? This is all new to me so we will see how it goes. It has been suggested that I should post my sewing machines for sale in Etsy and make them "local pick up only" so I might do that with a few that are more colorful. The portable models would look good since I can use the photo set but cabinet models are more problematic. Here's one I photographed in the photo set:

Centennial

There are always new skills to learn! But isn't that what keeps us alive the ticking?

Special Order

At my three sale Sunday, I met Sharon who is the new owner of a Kenmore 16 that I so love. She was enthralled by my sewing machines set up in the living room (that we think are terrible and look to get out of there) but noticed my Singer 99 hand crank. We talked about it and she wanted to know if I had any others but I didn't, saving the one on display for my grandkids. But Sharon was insistent and said if I ever had another one she would be interested and I gave her a ball park figure for one and she didn't balk so the wheels in my head started to turn. The problem with the 3/4 sized sewing machines is finding a portable base they need if you are going to make them into a hand crank. I have only had a few and have kept two for myself but I went out to see what I could find for Sharon. I had a very nice Singer 99 in pristine shape that could be make into a HC, even had a spoked hand wheel that is so necessary for the mechanism to be functional. I checked out having a new box made from a guy on Etsy but the 3/4 sized boxes, even unfinished, are +$54. They are very, very nice and I know what goes into making one since I worked with my son-in-law Eric to make one in September 2013. But I needed a cheaper plan for Sharon. Here's what I found on Craigslist:

Singer 99 up for a cleaning

She was really dirty and the case was in rough shape but none of this is impossible. I took off the motor and all of the electric, including the light. Here's what I found when I opened her up:

Under the side plate on left

Bobbin area with needle plate removed

Lots and lots of dust and packed lint from sewing projects. There was no rust so it was just removing the bobbin case and putting everything I could into the ultrasonic/electronic cleaner, cleaning with metal cleaner, oiling, wiping down the rest with sewing machine oil, and reassembly. Would it even work? I installed the spoked wheel and hand crank from my own Singer 99 and gave her a test drive. No go. Plies of thread nests on the bobbin side. I kept checking my threading, even getting out an online manual, but I couldn't figure it out. Took some of my own advice and replaced the needle, again, used better thread, and started over. Perfect!

I called Sharon to see if she really was interested, and she was, so we discussed pristine shape cost versus a little wear and she was fine with the machine I was working on since it was for herself. I still have the bentwood case to work on but here it is after gluing the base:

Singer 99 back in the base, still unfinished

Bentwood case in rough shape

I think this might turn out pretty nice after some sanding on the base, stain, and something to finish it with. Not as sure about the top but I have restored at least two others and did not strip off the finish but used a restoration product. On one of the blogs I read that these were mass produced so no need to treat like they are fine furniture. That helped me get over the fright of working with something this old. The sewing machine serial number is AB422273, dating from December 21, 1926, so she's an old gal but really in fine shape. I think Sharon is going to be surprised and please. Stay tuned!

Thankfulness

Coming out of the Thanksgiving week (that's right, a whole week of thankfulness), I ended this time by selling three sewing machines in one day. Maybe that is a record for me, I'm not sure. It seems as the weather gets colder my sales are going up so I'm thinking everyone starts to prepare to stay indoors for this long winter we have in Minnesota. I'm more than happy to provide sewing machines to help fill that time in a productive way.

It started with Sara, a long arm quilter by trade, who got in touch with me a week or two ago about my White embossed model 31 sewing machine. We had left the texting conversation a bit up in the air so when she wrote back that she was ready to pick it up I was a bit confused until I figured out she was serious this time and not just testing the water. But she couldn't come just yet because I had ordered a new hand wheel to replace the deeply pitted with large holes hand wheel! As it turns out, the hand wheel package was out for delivery and would arrive in just a few hours. It arrived alright and fit onto the main shaft but could not be seated as close to the sewing machine as the original. After some maneuvers I got it to fit closer and then just had to move the motor pulley out to engage the wheel. I wrote all of this to Sara and she was willing to buy it anyway and use the original wheel yet pay for the second wheel to use on other model 31's.

White model 31: look at the hand wheel for holes!

The dust hadn't even settled on that sewing machine when I got a call from someone else who wanted to buy the Kenmore 16, a beautiful sewing machine that was my first Goodwill Online auction purchase. I love, love, love that sewing machine, in pristine condition with a full set of cams and accessories including a buttonholer. The only drawback was her heft: she had to weigh over forty pounds so even though she came in a portable case, she was far from portable. But this drawback was okay because the buyer had a cabinet she was looking to fill so measurements were made and she was going to fit. I remember bringing this baby home only to find out it must have sat unused for several decades because the cam mechanism and the zigzag motion were not moving. At all. Many weeks of going back again and again to try and figure she out, I found the ideal solution: heat from a hair blower and Tri-flow oil. After such a treatment she started to slowly move and eventually became fully functioning. I had never used cams before and these were double sided so I had much fun playing around. She was on the market several times and finally someone looked at her and said "she's mine!"

Kenmore 16

A third call came from Ken who was coming to pick up his Singer 201 that he looked at last week. I had to check out the wiring and make sure I had what it needed. As it turned out, the Singer 15 that he didn't take was the one who needed the new plug and some wiring work. I needed a new set of needleplate and slide but I just used the one from my own 201 for Ken's and I'll get the new one. Man, are they pricey! The slide plate for a Singer 66/99 is about $7 but the same for a 201 is $22. Ken showed up an hour earlier but we were home and waiting for the pork chops to become a bit more tender so this was all good. We heard more about Ken and his hobbies and about his own children. Yup, I meet the nicest people in this business!

Singer 201 for Ken

He got a great deal because it was not in good cosmetic shape so when we plugged it in for a final test and it just purred, Ken said "Yeah, it's okay that it's not pristine because now I won't worry about keeping it in good shape." There is a right sewing machine for everyone and the three people I sold sewing machines to today have just proven that. Yeah.