thank you, all of you--i really don't know what kind of machine she has--she resurrects it every few years, when she needs it for "emergency" work for her business. she is a potter, and is in the process of making a banner for her booth at the local renaissance festival. (she made reference to having used a little "percussive repair" on the needle plate--i suspect that means she whacked it flatter with a hammer...)
she is off, looking at the suggested places. again--thank you!