A Blackside 201? be still my heart. That would be my most favorite. Nice catch.

Miriam- looks like you have a lot of quality time with the cotton balls with that 201....pretty face plate, though. And bonus melty wire stuff! Yum!:p Laura

that works too! Sharon W.

Conniety, what machine are you talking about? It would really help if you do a 'reply with quote' when you ask a question like this so we know what you are talking about. If you are talking about the 201's, the serial number should be on the top in front of the arm. If you are talking about a 'newer' machine, you can usually find the serial number on the underside of the bed of the machine.

Nancy

Cathy or any of you other knowledgeable people, Kathie S called me last night asking about a Brother her daughter picked up at a Thrift store for $15. She took the machine to a repair shop because it doesn't work just to see what is wrong with it. They said it needed to be timed, and need a bobbin case. She didn't leave the machine because she couldn't afford what they were asking to fix this $15 machine. My question - I don't have any Brothers - but, I'd bet a common 15's bobbin case would work on the Brother? Is it common for their timing to be messed up? My only experience with a Brother was 40 years ago - not a good experience - so I avoid those machines. I haven't seen the machine, nor do I know how old it is. I guess what I am asking is do these machines use a common bobbin case, and are they known for having timing issues? The one I had ages ago drove me nuts because I could never get the tension right!

Nancy

Miriam, is your 201 a true blackside or is it just gunked up? I can't tell by the photo? You have some work ahead of you on that 201. Mine is half way unfrozen now! The rotary hook turns almost all the way, but still sticks at one point - much better than it did a couple days ago when it was frozen solid! Remember that Japanese 15 I had that was frozen solid? It took a week of oiling, sitting in the sun, trying to crank the hand wheel a tiny fraction every once in a while, - it finally freed up and sews perfectly now! I am hoping this 201 does the same thing. I took the feed dogs off, removed the position finger guide, there is no lint - nothing I can see to cause the tie up! I will just keep trying to free him up. I don't think he got a drop of oil nor lubricant in 60 years!

Nancy

Laura, I have heard lots of people FM with the 201's. The only problem I can see with FM is that your bobbin is under your work, which would make it a little harder to get to. But, anytime you are doing FM on a large quilt, even a vertical rotary hook like a 115, or a vertical oscillating/central bobbin like a 15, it is always a pain to change the bobbin! No matter what you are using when you FM, unless you have a long arm, your work is always in the way of a bobbin change. I'd FM with this 201 without a second thought just because of the throat space!

Nancy I have a manual for a Brother select a matic 1955 and the bobbin case looks as if it's the 15 case.

I looked up the machine Kathie's daughter bought. She said it was an XV 808. I found a VX 808 by googling, which looked like a simple machine to operate. Just from the photos on the net, it looked like a simple Class 15 bobbin case.

Thank you Trish. I think Kathie is going to pay her daughter for the machine so maybe I will get a chance to see it in person, but I am not fond of Brother's - just an old prejudice I have that I probably need to get over!

Nancy