ember1205

Hi, all.

My mother has owned her Singer 237 Portable from new and it has always served her well. She still uses it to this day and had never had an issue with it.

In an effort to locate a basic, reliable machine for my own home, I inadvertently came across this machine as being seemingly well-liked for a decent level of flexibility and reliability and thought I would try and seek one out for myself. What I have learned is that there are virtually none within 75 miles or so of my home, trying to get one shipped is a dangerous game because online sellers don't know how to properly pack them to be shipped (I ordered one off of eBay that came very broken because it was dropped in transit - the base and cover are basically destroyed), and anyone that has one thinks it's worth a king's ransom!

So, with all of that in mind, combined with the current state of affairs where places like thrift shops are closed, I'm wondering if some folks here might have recommendations for some specific machines that are worth trying to seek out to keep cost down while also getting a machine that's fairly reliable overall.

wesing

Hello and welcome!

You will get lost of suggestions on this board from big box store Brothers to very old machines. If I were starting to quilt today with a limited budget I would look for one of the old machines that is still in working condition. I would lean toward a Singer 15 or one of the Japanese variants modeled from it. That machine will only straight stitch. It is very durable, simple, and reliable. If you buy one of the Japanese models it may also be a fun color. You can see some examples here Will the Real 15 clone please stand up

If you want a few decorative and/or zig zag stitches, look at the Singer 503. It will zig zag out of the box, and you can use cams to make some decorative stitches. I had this machine and loved it, but my nephew’s wife needed something strong and reliable and it wasn’t getting much use, so I passed it along to her.

Be selective about what you buy. There are tons of these old gals around. Lots of people list them for exorbitant prices thinking that since they are old, they must be valuable. Very few actually are valuable. In most places you can get a vintage machine in working condition for well under $100. I paid $45 for my 503a in a cabinet, then spent a bit more for a walking foot, bobbins, and cams. I was well under $100 when I gave it away. I paid around $85 including shipping for a beautiful turquoise 15 clone on eBay and I still have it. It worked perfectly when I got it and even came with a manual.

I would prefer a machine in a cabinet, but a table top model would be ok too. Make sure it takes commonly available needles. Also, make sure you get a bobbin case and all the plates with any vintage machine.

That’s about all I can think of for now.

Good luck in your search!

ember1205

Thanks for the response.

I am actively trying to avoid the newer machines at all costs... In fact, I purposefully posted in this area because I was hoping to get recommendations specifically around some of the older machines. I agree that it should not be "this hard" to get a machine in good working order for under $100. The Singer 237 -seems- like it should be a really good all around machine (heaven knows I've seen my mom do an AWFUL lot with hers!), but they're hard to find in working order at a decent price.

I will see what I can find out there for a 15 or a 503 to get an idea of what those are selling for and offer - I appreciate the thoughts for those.

Jo Anne B.

I recently inherited a Sears Kenmore 1410 model (Circa 1972). It's a great machine!! A great workhorse. And All metal, straight stitch and Zig Zag. I did a quick check of our local Craigslist and there is Kenmore for sale for $65. I enjoy my Kenmore more than my Singer 15-91. I would have never thought to get a Kenmore until I had thru the years read many positive comments here on QB.
Good luck on your search. Jo

wesing

What a weird coincidence. Look at this CL listing in TN!

https://knoxville.craigslist.org/for...093218850.html

Stitchnripper

I have a nice collection of vintage machines and that is a great option. The problem sometimes can be that when you decide on one there are none to be had let alone at a decent price and in good enough condition. All of mine came about in the wild and took a long time to accumulate. Some of them needed some help to be functional. So if you want to sew right now you may have to reconsider options

bkay

One of our members, Annette, works at a shop that does sewing machine repairs. She often recommends Kenmore machines. I usually buy Singer because they are common. You can find parts and accessories for them. They are usually pretty good machines, too. I had a 237, but gave it away. (I kept the cams, though.) I think it was really noisy, but sewed just fine. Any of the old Singers will work well for you. Any of the black ones will do well, but they are straight stitch only. They are really heavy, though. I sew on a Singer 401, which is from the late 50's, I think. The 400 and 500 series machines are reliable and are basically the same. By that I mean the 401 and 501 are almost identical, except for appearance. The 401 and 501 come with a built in set of cams. THe 403 and 503 use removable cams for zig-zag. Then there's one that is straight stitch only. Any of those machines would do well for you. Just make sure that they work. (Sometimes the old machines can be cranky/slow because they have set up too long. It takes time and patience to get them working again. They will almost always work again, though.) The Singer 301 is a good straight stitch machine, but can sometimes be pricey. Stay away from Singer Touch and Sew machines as almost all have plastic gears. The gears are now 50 or 60 years old and will generally fail when you start to use the machine.

I've seen some good buys on Offerup.com. There is also facebook marketplace. Of course, there is always Craigslist.
bkay

ember1205

Wow. lol

That would be a "project" but would likely be worth it in the end. I'd have to obviously return it to working order (which seems like it should be fairly straight-forward) and then remove it from the table and put it into a case for tabletop use (don't really have the space for a sewing table).

Nothing like that around me, sadly, or I would definitely take a run at it.

Sew Girl 2

If I was looking for a good old sewing machine, I would look for an older 830 Bernina or 1130 Bernina. Both are excellent machine and will last a lifetime. Singer made a few good old machine, but some had slant needle which I hate. I think you will have good luck with any brand as long as they are mechanical and were properly oil and cared for. If you are wanting a straight sew machine, look at the Singer featherweight, they are light to lift and store. Excellent machine for straight sewing.

Iceblossom

Here in Seattle the actual selling price for used machines is low, but people always advertise high usually starting around $100. Even when I send them a message that "the machine you are selling was $79 new two years ago and has not gone up in value". Actual sell price is $20-40 at thrift stores and garage sale price. Goodwill is "closed for the duration" as we say here, but just before the shutdowns I had to pass on a lovely condition Free Westinghouse with good decals in an excellent condition cabinet for $1.79 with it's manual and accessory box. Yes -- under $2, it was originally priced around $35 but hadn't sold in a month so it was time to go.

Hard to go wrong with a Singer or a Sears/Kenmore. I prefer older "post war Japanese machines", my own is a Remington and it has a wonderful solid straight stitch that can piece or quilt/upholstery. Morse is a similar brand that I love to find and fix up, they are often quite stylish/good looking machines.

Looking yesterday because of this ad, there was this one that made me really want to add to my collection and bring it home and take care of it... it's very close to my mom's house.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/a...092431507.html