Jon, I really don't have major plans on that 16-188, but have always wanted a walking foot and was close to buying something used but much newer turns out this a 1922,, in the photo it looks bad , but for this type machine it's very clean...
I picked up the 128 in a parking lot ,, then off to get the 16, which was 40 out of the city and an old dairy farm.. ofcousre it was in the barn,, which was full of OMG you would have wet your pants on what they had in there ,,,
want a old framall cub ,, how about a cider press,, maybe a grain mill, or the two 1940's alum canoes in the rafts...????????
well the barn owner was her landlord,, he say " you know I think these still an old sewing machine in here ??? he walks off and comes back saying yep it's back there bout would be hard to get at.... I ask if he wants to sell it .. he hmmm's, then say the I don't kno what is worth,, I told him th eprices I have paid ,, and was honest 15 $ to 100$
after all I just gave her a 100 for that 16 ... so I just ask him .. would you take 20$ sight unseen..he already said it's falling apart.. sold 20 bucks haven't even seen it no machine head ...
we go to get it out and there is a machine,,, yes it was rat holed, he said it's been in here for over 40 yrs... the drawer where full of goodies...
so we loaded all my new junk up and was looking at them ,, when I got the 128 I didn't even look at it,, 30 bucks so what the hay ... didn't even think about it being a 128, all I was after was those decals. in looking I reliazed then it a 3/4 size machine... LOLOL..... annnnnd this 128 has the most unusal motor on it,, it is singer ,, but is case iron bodie with a idler pulley.
so back to the city and hit ye ol MS shop,, this shop has been there since the 50's. the owner now has had it for 37 yrs,, he should know, he looks at this motor ,, and nope never seen a singer motor like this.. LOL...
the 20 $ machine is a 66 redeye nasty they get, the only thing wrong with the decals is the pin pricks on the arm...cabinet is close to 90 % unglued , but we found every piece of the wood scroll work ..
every machine's serail number starts with a G,, not so sure that a Good sign.. I mean 3 G's in one day ..
at least I'm not sending my money in a bar ... so here they sit
so I went after 2 and came home with 3...