http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_...ine-manual.pdf
manual for the Spartan 192 works or a Singer 99 manual will work
http://blog.sew-classic.com/2008/11/...ne-review.aspx
sew-classic has info on the Singer 99 - works for the Singer 185 as well.
You can also go up to the upper right part of this page and look through SEARCH to find a lot of info on this machine.
A link:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...g-t197579.html

I have one and love it. Mine came in a green box. Your box looks like the one my 99 K is in.
Both sew like a dream:)

Great deal!!!!!

I wanted a 185J, but then last week I found a 285K in a cabinet, with a stool that opens for storage, the manual and a few attachments for $10. There was no place to plug it in, but they said it worked and for $10. Brought it home and tried it out and it works like a dream. I don't think the paint job or color is as pretty as yours, but it will do.

$10 what a steal. Awesome. What threw me off to get this 185J up and running is the needle has to go in flat side facing right which is opposite to every other singer machine I have :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj6XaW-Wk98
info about Singer 285

Yup, Joe told you how to find all the parts to get her up and running. She is a beautiful machine!

Interesting mechanism in the video clip on the 285. The 185 is all metal (foot lifter, stitch knob) and doesnt have the same underside mechanism.

Got a new belt and the only disappointment it is slightly louder than my 15 & featherweight but the funky green makes up for that! I also think I will drag this portable into the RV this summer for rainy days. That way I dont have to stress about having a FW in it - if the kids forget to lock the door.

Very cool! It is one of the few vintage machines I don't have and would like to own. It looks like it will be a good piecer for quilting blocks but I'm not sure I'd use it for a main quilting machine. It doesn't look like it has the power. I think it's a good machine for paper piecing, also. I'd love to mech/service that machine or another of that series. Do you know how to change old grease? I bet it will need that, and to be cleaned and oiled.