OK, an update on this machine. Billy did contact me through PM and I took up his time one evening only to find that it was just a tension problem all along!
I got up my nerve, and my screwdriver and tightened up the bobbin casing and then messed with the top tension, and again tightened up the screw, more top tension.
TA DA!!! It sews like new! Hums along like nobody's business. Thanks Billy for trying to help, next time I will look around before I start saying "the sky is falling".