needle hitting something down there
 

well, I was ready to fire up the 201 and she did a fine, fine job after I oiled and cleaned her up. However, when I put thread in her, I turned the hand crank (Thank heavens I didn't do it with the motor), the needle hit the bobbin (case?). I took out the needle (yuck, need a new one asap!) and it appears to be straight. The bobbin case fits (but I'm not 100% that the bobbin is the correct size because I'm ignorant of that).
Short of new needle, what else can I do? Why was it working ok, and suddenly not working ok?

always put in a new needle - it can be slightly bent or the tip dull and you might not see it. 201s take a class 66 bobbin. I thought the 201 had a drop in bobbin instead of a bobbin case. Does that bobbin area make a racket? Did you check to see that the spring is holding the shuttle in place?

My 201 will sew just fine with the plastic Class 66 bobbins. (Waiting for metal ones to get in stock).

Check to make sure you loaded the needle correctly - flat. I've found on my 201 that if the needle is even slightly off kilter it may not pick up bobbin thread, might bend and nick the faceplate, and other awful things. Problem with most of these older machines is that the needle can be fit in multiple ways because of wear on the machine. It's the single biggest beef I have about the older machines. I can't count the number of times I've thought I had to get the machine serviced because of issues like this only to have the mechanic change the needle slightly and it works fine!!!!!

I was wrong about the model. It's a 206 not a 201

206 takes a special needle, same as the 306. I think it is called a 206x13. Schmetz makes them.

Plastic bobbins are quieter. I prefer them.

You are right, Donna. I'm gonna give up being a purist and use what works.

also i BELEIVE the 206 takes special bobbins ( same as the 306 i could be wrong as I have never owned a 206)
but the 306 for SURE takes an oddball bobbin (and needle, the biggest complaint people have about these fine old machines)