It depends on how much of a purist you are. You can glue the broken corner and make a spool holder or buy one from sew-classic. My GD's machine has a cut off wooden skewer for a spool pin. I agree with Candace that I wouldn't put any money into this machine, but neither would I throw it away if it's useful to someone. My GD has made a quilt here, a pillow and wall hanging and done repairs for herself and her mother at home even with no ZZ and a wooden spool pin on the 533. I like the color of this one. It will look nice cleaned up.