Originally Posted by ljorange
I have my grandmother's Singer, I believe it was mfg in 1896. It has all of its accessories but the cord is broken and part of the needle plate is missing.
Cabinet is in BEAUTIFUL condition, and the machine looks well-used and well taken care of. As much as I like the LOOK of a pristine machine, I far prefer to sew on one that shows it's age. The well-used ones generally sew far better--the mechanism is "loose" and easy to treadle or crank. The ones in better cosmetic condition tend to be a little harder to use. Sometimes I think that's why they're in such good condition to begin with!
Both the belt and the front slide plate are easy to get and inexpensive. If you are lucky enough to have a sewing machine shop in town, check there first. If not, there are great places online to find them.