Nelco s-700
 

My step mom just gave me her Nelco s-700. Has anyone heard of this machine? I don't have a manual and am having trouble finding one online. The needle position seems to be stuck to the left but it has sewn nicely. I hope to free motion quilt with it.

I assume it zig zags. Can you push the needle bar back and forth?
A picture would help - some machines are set up for a left side when you straight stitch

It does zig zag and the needle moves back and forth.[ATTACH=CONFIG]373824[/ATTACH]

I think that one is either set up as left or that ball thing sets your needle but I doubt it - what does the ball thing do?

It seems to do a manual zig zag, but won't let me stay to one side or the other.

I don't see a setting to do left right or center for the needle. Some of those old machines did go to the left. Once you get used to it is is ok. Or just set it up when you want to just do zig zag.

The stitch width lever controls the needle position. To the far left or one mark it's in SS, then in ZZ, anything to the right of the far left setting, it causes the needle to move back and forth. The lever above it could be a lock to hold it where you set it.

You can get off set straight stitch feet for your machine at Sew-Classic. It's much easier to do straight stitch with the proper foot.

Joe

Joe,

I've not heard of an off-set straight stitch foot. How does it work?

My Universal from the 50s has the needle to the left set up, so she will never be a piecer and I don't need her for apparel, but she's pretty so she will be staying.