Was just given this machine by a friend who found it in a house he bought. From says HomeMark 775490 JA26; bottom says Brother M6826. Came with a box of cams (one missing), a manual that never mentions a model, and assorted sewing "stuff" I haven't messed with. Can't find much info so anything appreciated. [ATTACH=CONFIG]498040[/ATTACH]

It was built by Brother in the late '60s, not much more to tell.

Cari

Wow! Miriam thanks for sharing, I love the first one - may have to take up collecting vintage machines myself!

When your going thru hell - keep going Winston Churchill

You won't find a manual for a specific machine most likely so you are right the manual is even generic. Brother badged a lot of machines. Some times you will see markings on the bottom. I have an Electro Grand with 'Brother' cast in raised letters on the hand wheel it's inside where you can't see it. Usually there is some indication of the maker on the bottom of the machine. I saw a new one the other day it said Dragon.

The two buttons on the front are there to hold the zig zag lever in place if you want uniform stitches or if you want you can move the zz lever back and forth and modulate the stitches but you have to have perfect timing for it to look like much. The big button is reverse - outside it is a stitch length dial. Often I see the reverse button frozen up. It isn't the button frozen it is the works behind it inside the machine.

Thanks for the quick responses, Cari-in-Oly and miriam. I only just got it yesterday afternoon. After oiling it up, it does appear to be functional, but I'm going to have to work on some tension settings before I try anything significant (or play with the fancy stitches). It's in pretty good shape for having been abandoned in a house that I've been told was in really bad shape. The "Brother" label is on the workings underneath, not actually on the body of the machine (all the other stamps are in the metal, and the JA26 is hard to read; someone has marked over it--may be a 28).

I've seen a couple references to a list in the Yahoo group for dating Japanese badged machines; how do I find it?

I think I may be getting addicted to old machines myself...I have a Singer Featherweight that was a gift and a Singer (model 99, I think) from the 40's (I have the info. at home).

That's a rebadged Brother Charger, perhaps a Charger 651. 1960s machine.

It sure looks like one; only the stitch selection area looks different. Thanks!

It sure looks like one; only the stitch selection area looks different. Thanks!

Also looks like the "Project" machines, it's real close to my Project 651.

Cari

No, not for dating them, there are no records for Japanese machines like there are for American machines and some others. The lists are for using the JA and JC numbers to possibly figure out the manufacturer. In your case it wasn't needed. No question who built it.

Cari