Thank you everyone. I did as suggested. The machine is in beautiful condition, almost perfect. I bought it yesterday. I won't gloat at the great price I got it for, nor at the fact that yesterday her husband discovered that one of the suppressors in the foot control was short circuiting, so I left it behind for him to repair (a retired electrical engineer) and post on to me plus some money off for my inconvenience. I'm quite thrilled with it. According to the serial number it is one of 10,000. Machine had been bought by a wealthy gentleman for her mother to hem some woollen throws he was producing. I got the impression that his business didnt last long and on closure had told the lady to keep the machine. It's been used to run up the odd pair of curtains but otherwise relatively unused and never been serviced. It's so dinky, almost toy size! Can't wait to try it out