Originally Posted by JJs
All these new fancy-dancy machines that do everything but wash the dishes are great - electronic wonders - they embroider, they sew, they do fancy footwork....
They cost thousands of dollars...
They have plastic gears
they have fryable motherboards
I have two - A Singer XL1000 and a Brother 2003D - altho both of them are really getting long in the tooth -
And then there are the old vintage machines - metal gears, steel rods, heavy duty bodies, cams for fancy stitches
You can pick them up for a song - just need a good cleaning and some tender loving care.
I use a Singer 319 right now for piecing....
I'm so glad I have the vintage machines - clean the gunk off, oil and lube and you're good to go! LOL
They do not all have plastic gears. That's why some cost more than others. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using old or antique machines (I love my Featherweight), but there is also nothing wrong with using new electronic wonders (I love my Bernina and Janome). :-)