Recommendation for Antique machine?
 

I have my W&G Chain stitch... and now that i've discovered my Necchi is dead on arrival im rather bummed. I was hoping to have a reliable (lock stitch) work horse that i cant kill... since my new (as in new electric machine thats probably less then 10 years old) hates me and im always having problems with the bobbin! i thought an antique would be a better idea vs the newer computerized ones. due to being heavy duty and sturdy and hopefully easier?? i dont know.

i know the first and for most suggestion will be Singer. which is totally going to be considered... if not for popularity but due to ease of part finding. (i found 2 Singer 15 clones at a thrift store about 30 mins north of here but have not gone to see them yet. not enough time... not open on my days off etc.)

So any suggestions would be welcomed!

thanks in advance!

(and if you want to recommend a new machine that a newbie like me cant possibly kill and that i can finish one project in one sitting you can private message me the info to keep this thread off topic free!)

Not from personal experience, mind you, but I think there might be a reason that Singer 15's are still being made after more than 120 years....

If you can get along without ZZ or patterns look for a Singer 15 or clone or 66. If you need the ZZ and or patterns look for an early Singer ZZ machine or one of the myriad of Japanese ZZ machines.

Joe

Joe, have you had any experience with Singer's zigzagger attachment?

Kitty, I've seen the Pfaff 130 recommended for a (probably literally) bulletproof zigzag machine. Again, no personal experience but generally simpler is better when it still does the job (Einstein's dictum about striving to make things as simple as possible but no simpler.)

pinkCastleDH,

Yes a bit. It works very good on my 201-2, but dismal on my HOTHER, a 15 clone. The stitch patterns are narrow but distinct on the 201 but on the HOTHER the ZZ pattern is narrow and the others is a bit wider.
The reason is the vertical stroke of the needle bar. The 201 has at least 1/4" more stroke than the HOTHER, and that affects the back and forth swing of the foot.

I haven't tried it on my Feather Weight yet.

Joe

I agree with Joe, a Singer 15 or 66, and add to that a 99. They are all workhorses and can be found a lot of places at reasonable prices.

Well I want a lock stitch but in an ideal world id love a machine that could do some other fun stitches! :3 for variety sake. There are lots of machines on my local craigslist so I wanted to research and know what I'm looking for prior to hunting.

I love my Singer 403 and my 503 machines - very simple with disks to do zz or decorative stitches. The Singer 401 or Singer 500 are a bit more complicated because all the stitches are built in.

Thanks for the suggestions. There are lots of singer 66's in my Craigslist. One is asking 150 and is treadle (with her cabinet) and looks to be in good order. A few more "antique singers" with no knowledge of what model but look to be 66's as well? Some are motorized some not. I really need time to sit down and read.

Which machines also do multiple stitches? Or rather ZZ and others? I believe it was here someone posted a video of a lovely green machine that had been converted to treadle and it was doing lovely stitches.

I wouln't trade my 66, and 99 for anything. I also have a 238 for ZZ. All were rescues, and they are part of my family. I would hit some of the thrift stores. You can try Ebay, and Goodwill online.