Singer 185K
 

Yesterday morning I'd never heard of those numbers, merely dabbling in old machines. I frequently get subliminal messages from thrift stores calling my name and the one just down the road was calling me, I knew not why, but succomed to the siren's call. Just as I was ready to leave the store, I spotted a cute little green box and opened it and found this very nicely preserved machine.

Since it was Tuesday and I could use my 10% "Senior Citizen" discount, any financial negatives associated with buying it were negligible. And I'd just had some crazy family issues and felt a little retail therapy was in order. So $44 later, I brought home what I'm calling "Simple Green".

Everything I've learned about this machine has come in the last 12 hours so if anyone wants to enlighten me some more, I'd be grateful. I've learned it's from Scotland, born in 1959 and about 5 months younger than I am, it sews pretty well although needs some tension adjustment, the box is cracked/repaired on the bottom and the light is functional and while not a great deal, not too bad either (opinions on that?).

I get these old machine for entertainment (or apparently for the pretty colors; sigh!), know enough to be dangerous, but not enough to do any big fixes/repairs without some major guidance. This machine has joined my mini herd including an old Sewmor, a Bernette, a Kenmore mini Ultra, and my regular machine, a Pfaff 7510.

Would love to hear anyone's thoughts on any aspect of this machine. I'm also interested in hearing about how it compares to a featherweight and why it was so much cheaper than the FW's I've seen advertized around here.

Welcome from a fellow Bay Area person!!

I collect MUCH older machines than this but I have heard a lot of good things about these 185's Sounds like a decent deal to me, and I'd guess you've already had $40 worth of joy in it's ownership!

Steve

The Singer 185s are an updat of the 99s. Same internal mechanics, just a newer exterior. They are 3/4 sized machines and do sew quite well.

There is nothing exotic or complex about them.

I got one a couple years ago in trade. As I was cleaning and fixing it up I kept seeing my wife eye balling it. Once I was done, she tested it and declared it .... hers. Oh well.

Joe

Looks pretty! I know nothing about the machine, just think you got a good bargain.

Oh! I never knew that! I adore my 99K's and I've seen these little green machines around every now and then and wondered about them. I learn so much here!

It's a cutie, clevermom, I think you got a good machine there!

I actually have two of these now. :o This is the machine that mom taught me how to sew on when I was 6. I had tried to find out what the machine was. All I could remember was that it was small, simple and green. I would one on line, and then my second one came from a flea market. The first one is in mad shape as far as her paint job. I think I am going to have her repainted. Certain parts to stay green, and the rest a rosy pink. And I think I have seen pretty rose/flower decals. She sews perfectly with no issues, but she has had a hard life. I am trying to save the money to let her have a spa day with a color and style.

Excellent machine

Love mine.Sews well and really like that green! I call mine the emerald girl

I seen this at my local flea market, asking $25. Didn't really know anything about it si I passed it up. It's a cute heavy green machine in a case like this one. I've recently traded my 401A for an 99K in a cabinet and love it!

The difference between a 185 and a featherweight? The featherweight is a 1/2 size machine. I had to see one in person to understand just how small they really are-bordering on toy territory to me. Don't get me wrong, they're a high quality machine or they wouldn't be so popular no matter how cute they are, they're just tiny. The featherweight also is aluminum and only weighs about 11 lbs. Your machine is a 3/4 size machine and is going to weigh closer to 25lbs due to being bigger and cast iron. Featherweights do have a cute factor that other machines simply don't have but IMO yours is actually a more useful machine due to it's larger size.
Rodney