I know there's been a couple posts on the Mercury but I thought I'd share my machine as well (if I can remember how to post pics).
I bought her in 2008 at a local thrift shop. The shop had once been an upholstery shop and this machine was one that had been used at that time. It was just sitting up in their attic along with a huge machine used for upholstering also. I bought it for $20.
I did a little research and found out that it is a model R3L and the serial # is TA131404 and manufactured in Utsunomiya, Japan beginning in 1956.
I have cleaned and oiled her inside and out and she runs beautifully. The only thing I'm having a problem with is the bobbin stitch is either "smooth" or loopy. I can't seem to get the tension quite right.
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Last edited by retired2pa; 03-16-2015 at 01:32 PM.