Originally Posted by
MFord
Forgive me if this is a dumb question- but, why were any sewing machines left homing? Seems like center would always be best.
There is a file at the VintageSewingMachineRepair yahoo group that explains this in detail. I won't try to totally explain it here, but it has to do with a less expensive way to have the machine do zig zag AND be able to make buttonholes. More expensive machines used a fixed cam for zig zag so needle position wasn't an issue. A left needle doesn't have the zig zag fixed cam, it uses an arm on an oscillating track for zig zag. There's more to it that has to do with making buttonholes but I can't explain it any better without copying the file.
I'm not at home to check any of my machines, but my pea brain is kind of questioning this, I think my Flairmatic uses the oscillating track for zig zag and it's a center needle machine.
Cari