Mamagus

I have a Singer 1425, cost $1400, 26 years ago!! It was an amazing machine and it sewed its way through everything from baby clothes to high school musical costumes for my children. But it just didn't have the power that I needed for stippling and other things. So I am the proud owner of a Janome 6500... $1800.00. I call it my early retirement gift and quite honestly? I LOVE it.

My sister fought the urge to upgrade. Said her $400.00 20 year old Kenmore was just as good as my Janome. She just bought the 6600 and sheepishly admitted... newer is better! She's in love too!

maggiebooboo

I have a singer 660. I don't know how old it is, but my ex-mother-in-law had it for a long time and had it reconditioned and gave it to me about 10-15 years ago.

It has cams and stuff, but really I only use the straight stitch and zigzag.

I really like it though. It's very dependable.

jamsbuying

I have a 25 year old Bernina 930 that is so heavy (solid metal) I can't lift it! Love the machine and it does not compare to the computerized machines of today that are all plastic.

Jeepers

I have a Singer 316, over 50 years old. Very solid and dependable. The only thing that I may have problems with sometime is the motor, when you run the thing really hard for a long time it starts to sound kind of unhappy. But, I know a guy who rebuilds small motors! :) So, if it would break I wouldn't have to replace the motor and have it be another color, it can still match my lime green machine! :D The thing is heavy though, yikes! What I love about this machine is that the moving parts will never break as long as it is maintained well and the parts that could break can be repaired fairly easily. :) I loooove older singers!

Feathers

I see that many, many of you have Kenmore machines...was that made or sold by Montgomery Wards years ago? Before I quilted I had a Mont. Wards machine that I thought was Kenmore that worked like a champ on the clothing construction I did alot of. It was a true work horse. When I got my New Home 8000 about 20 years ago I gave the Mont.Wards machine to our daughter and she loved it until she let our granddaughter make doll clothes and something happened to it. She got rid of it and I was sick as I would have loved to get it back. Good machines.

Baren*eh*ked_canadian

I think my machine came from Sears, my mother bought it before she was even married.

himom122

I have a 1951 singer i use all the time. A 1943 featherweight i take with me on trips. A 3/4 weight singer which i have never gotten out to use.

treasurelady

It seems we all are fanatics. Sewing machines galore, gadgets of every kind, quilting magazines by the dozen, fabric stash in drawers, in closets, under the beds, in boxes, bags and wherever else we can keep it (yes I'm speaking for myself). LOL. I have a 1998 Viking 1 + that I love. It has a beautiful stitch. I do most of my quilting and all my sewing on it. I also have 2 Featherweights in the top of my closet. I love the beautiful stitch they produce. Actually for piecing I really wouldn't need anything but the Featherweight. However, it needs some minor work done on it, so it is in the top of my closet along with the other Featherweight which needs much more work done on it. Additionally I have an old school quilting machine, a Desigh A Quilt in storage because my husband wouldn't let me put it in the family room after a friend and I bought it. I've never used it but I want to so bad. I had a 70's Kenmore which I never really liked. I might still have it, but can't find it!!! Can you believe that? Probably under some of my stash.
Linda

JoanneS

Pfaff has a neat needle threader for their sergers - but it works on any sewing machine needle. They sell them separately, too. Great for 'older' eyes like mine!
JoanneS

ProArtQuiltersUnite

:wink: Kenmore is Sears! I have an old 1952 and a new embro. Sears Kenmore , Have the older Singer's and they are real WorkHorses. Have new High speed Quilting Brother Machines. Yes I'm a collector too. The older ones are easier to fix by yourself. Clean and oil her up and she goes, Got 4 Treadles as well ,1 is a White 1907. 1 a Singer 1895 and yes they Work!!!