Vintage Japanese 'Badged' Zig Zag and Straight Sew Sewing Machines
#322
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Join Date: Mar 2011
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Hello Ms. Miriam! This looks like the Alden's I had posted the other day. I haven't found the manual yet but I will keep looking. I want to know what the knob on the bottom right of the machine is? It is not the letters for left right and middle for the needle so I don't know what it is. Can you enlighten me and in the meantime, I will continue to keep looking for the universal manual you mentioned. Thank you so much for your help!
#323
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Join Date: Sep 2013
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Miriam, I would like to let you know, that over on the Vintage Sewing Machine (non-singer) page on FB, we have a Huge selection of manuals. Please feel free to join and get what you might need, or suggest the page to ppl looking. I have worked real hard to collect manuals for our members. Many were donated by them as well. And Sandy7865, I have the exact manual for your machine over there. It is listed in the Files as Deluxe Zig Zag.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 07-29-2018 at 02:35 AM. Reason: shouting/all caps
#325
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After working on several Japanese machines marked made in occupied Japan and after working on MANY made in Japan machines, I think I now know. The made in occupied Japan machines were well enough made but very poorly adjusted. There is one I just want to throw out a window since I doubt if a sledge hammer would faze it. The next was a Singer 66 clone. It works great now that I adjusted a few things. The one I worked on last week is a 15 clone and it, too needed more adjustment than usual and now works just fine. I wonder how much word of mouth went around that those machines were junk. They kind of were. I think it might have depended on if someone took time to check it over thoroughly. I can remember even in the 60s a prejudice against Japanese machines. if you compare many of these machines they are made better than a contemporary Singer. The European machines are well made but more complicated, harder to maintain and adjust. Then getting into plastics, I start to lose interest. I think some of the Japanese machines are overly gaudy and overly control happy but that IS a big part of their charm.
Last edited by miriam; 04-16-2016 at 03:56 AM.
#326
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Miriam there are more Singer models made in Japan than the 223. There's also the 226 and just the other day I saw another one, a 339? 239? Can't remember the model number. Anyway, there's more.
I only have one Made in Occupied Japan machine and I can't remember how well it sews. I liked the pretty green and gold decals and it's very nice condition that's why I bought it. I've also heard that they weren't the best machines but the later, after 1952 machines were much better. I love my 1950s and 1960s Brother machines. They're top quality and came at a lower cost than the feature comparable European and Singers.
Cari
I only have one Made in Occupied Japan machine and I can't remember how well it sews. I liked the pretty green and gold decals and it's very nice condition that's why I bought it. I've also heard that they weren't the best machines but the later, after 1952 machines were much better. I love my 1950s and 1960s Brother machines. They're top quality and came at a lower cost than the feature comparable European and Singers.
Cari
#328
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Yep, several Hondas in this family too. The Accord I just sold has 279,000 miles on it and still runs good. My son bought it for me when my medical issues started and I couldn't drive a stick shift any more. The only thing I didn't like about it is I couldn't haul much in it so I bought my Pontiac with part of the inheritance. The Accord was sold real cheap to a guy who wanted a good car for his mom. Paying it forward.
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