Originally Posted by
bkay
I understand your love for the touch and sew machines. My 778 is still working, too. I loved using them to teach children to sew. The low speed is perfect for learning sewers. (I can't tell you how many times I sewed through my fingernail when I was learning on my mom's 15-91).
As Joe said, the "dissing" is related to the plastic gears. I once bought 20 sewing machines in an auction. All of the touch and sews (4 or 5) had shattered gears. Leon sent me a 750 for my kids and it's gear under the bobbin winder shattered within 2 weeks. Replacing the gears is not for the faint of heart. Having it done professionally was around $200.00. I'm not sure what the cost is these days.
Learning that the gears disintegrate discourage most people from recommending the Touch and Sews. One they buy one and it dies, they are not happy. They sew well when they work. Keeping them in a controlled environment (not in a shed or garage) prolongs their life.
I agree. They can be great machines.
Bkay
I guess it's just the luck of the draw then. I bought mine 'cause my mom loved hers. Never had a problem. Never even HEARD of a problem until I started posting here. I'm sorry to hear so many folks did have problems, but the features of the 750 are so much better than many modern machines that I'm amazed that Singer dumped them instead of fixing their plastic problem--like the 750 bobbin system--in favor of the AWFUL bobbin of my 5050, for example. The 750 is a breeze to thread, unlike my 5050 that seems to un-thread itself at every opportunity. Ah...like the song says..."Those were the good ol' days..." Gee, can you tell I don't do change easily?
Lesson learned, tho. (TY!) If I ever do have to replace "Goldie" I'll go for a mechanical built with metal (not plastic).
Those folks who didn't have my luck really missed out on a workhorse and they have my sympathies.
Rusty