I wish I knew how to find the dates on those Japanese machines. Snap a picture of it and post it on here. They made them very well but if you think about it they now make some really great cars in Japan, too.

The Japanese car companies like Nissan, Toyota, and Honda also make better cars here in the US than the American name plate manufacturers do. It's got something to do with the corporate attitude I think.

Joe

right now I'm working on a Free Westinghouse, its black n the wiring is baaaad can't even try it out the shape it's in. I was wondering if it was clone or made in Japan. In the next few days I'll try to post picture of it.

The Free Westinghouse is not a clone.

Good Housekeeper
 

Miriam,

This is a cousin to your Gold Good Housekeeper. I recently found the machine at a Share House in Ann Arbor Michigan. I walked out with the machine for $25. I know nothing about it really. I got it to sew a straight stitch but the tension needs some adjusting and I am not 100% sure I have it threaded correctly. The machine did not like it when I threaded the needle from right to left. It really seemed to prefer the needle threaded left to right.

I love that color - looks like a fun machine. Looks like the paint is in respectable condition, too. Does it sew ok setting like that??? :D I found a generic manual somewhere - it helps for the zzer but not the ones with fancy stitches - there will be differences but maybe it will helps some: http://www.dontai.com/wp/images/imperial-535-manual.pdf It looks like you turn the upper dial and set it with the knob to the right to get zz stitches. The lower dial is ss. The bottom dial is for free motion.

This machine is a Singer 293 made in FRANCE, not in Japan. has an arrow on the throat plate indicates it is threaded just like a FW. It is light weight. It has a plastic knob for the feed dog control and a plastic clip on the bobbin race. Other than that it is all metal. I was pleased with the stitches. I cleaned it up and it looks like almost a new machine. Then I found another one in a suitcase at a thrift store. It was missing the bobbin case, too - these have the odd bobbin case - the little finger points the other way. I found some on line. Now you know the quirks. Not terrible quirks but they have quirks. Made in France though - I wonder what other machines are made in France.

Ok, I'll play. I picked up a Stitchmaster Osaka Japan built machine last night. I just got it and it is dirty but it is in fantastic condition. I just took some preliminary "As I got it" pictures and want to share.
~G~

Front.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]396254[/ATTACH]

Back.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]396255[/ATTACH]

The Medallion on it just cracks me up and I just have to share that too.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]396256[/ATTACH]

I'll post some "After" Pictures when I am done cleaning it up.
~G~

Caroline, Thank you. It is a fantastic machine that was very well maintained but stored for some time in a cabinet. That is why the back is so dirty. To answer you question, No there is not. I also cannot find any info on this machine, or one like it on line. It is a model 98. I even have the original manual for this machine and will scan it before finding it a new home if anyone would be interested in a copy.
~Grant~