I hate to say it, but I think my sewing machine is on it's way out. I've had it for about 5 or 6 years. I bought it at Goodwill on a day when all sewing machines were half price. I ended up getting it for only $10. It's a Necchi and I love it!

I have another newer Brother model, but it's just not the same. I use it only for winding bobbins. :mrgreen:

My mom usually helps me to get my machine running smoothly again, and told me that it's just getting old and probably worn out. I told her that I wanted to get a tune-up on it, but she said no one really repairs sewing machines anymore and that I should just start using the other one.

Is she right? Can I save my favorite machine? Or is it time to get something new?

Don't do it. Show us a picture of your Necchi. I just saw one over Christmas that was stunning in design, still worked great, and was older than me (and I am 51). I wanted it but shipping it here would have been prohibitive even if I could have talked the owner out of it.

I have a 30 YO Bernina and a 40 YO Elna. Both are great machines, the Elna needed parts when I first got it and people DO fix sewing machines.

So get it tuned up, keep the Brother as your backup.


tim in san jose

Thanks Tim. It's good to know that I should be able to get my machine repaired. That would make me very happy! :D

Oh I bet you'll be able to get it repaired. Find the right person to do it--ask folks you trust before you drop it off anywhere. Afterall--it's your baby. :D

Our local good will store sells sewing machines at from 3 to 10 dollars. These old machines are not picky at all, buy more old one che ck your garage sales too. I have several old machines, most just needed jut oil and new needle and sew great. :D

I have a Necchi that I paid over $400 for and have never really been able to use it. I hate it. I have sent it to Florida to be repaired. I have had taken it to a local shop to have it "fixed". He told me that Necchis are junk. I asked him what I could do with it, he said "use it for a doorstop". I ended up buying a very old singer and love it. Im thinking about buying a new singer for the different stitches.
Judy in Ohio

Here's a picture for Tim

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d...y/DSCN0888.jpg

If you really love your machine and how it works, I would say do what you can to get it fixed. If it is beyond repair then go with a new machine, but try to get it fixed first. I have a 1957 Brother that looks exactly like a featherweight. I love it and when it broke beyond where it could be fixed, I kept it and waited until technology caught up. Now I have my favorite machine back. I love it even though it only sews in a straight line. Oh, but what a straight and perfectly stitched line it sews! Trying to find a machine that we 'love' can be very hard and replacing them can be very difficult. However, that said, perhaps you can go try out all the newer models and brands at the store and see if there is one that you really like.
~Tiffany

From what I have heard, new Necchis are junk. And so I have also heard that about new Singers.

So... you take a chance. What I do know is I am never giving up my Bernina 830 nor my Elna Super. I used a borrowed Bernina 1530 on the three day quilt. It sewed nice, but half the functions either didn't work correctly, or only worked sometimes. No thanks to your computerized sewing doobobbers.

tim in san jose

Yes you can save your favorite machine and learn how to do it yourself and save a lot of money.
Hi , I usually read when the newletter comes in and havent' posted before but this is a subject that I had to deal with.
My baby was a Viking from the 1980's I carried it around for over 10 years since I knew it would be expensive to fix. Hoping I would one day be able to afford it.
I bought a cheap new Brother from Walmart to use and of course it was junk. So I went to a thrift store and bought an old machine and used that.
Through another group I found a group that will walk you through repairing your old sewing machines. Its not as hard as you might think most times. I ended up repairing my Viking , that was difficult, But it saved me 350.00 that a repair man wanted. Mostly he just wanted me to turn it in and get a new machine. So glad I didn't listen to him.
I now have about 10 different machine. I love the old Singer slant machines. But I did buy a new Brother QC1000 which so far I really enjoy. But I would never use it to sew through upholstery material.
I don't know the rules about providing a link to the repair group , I was on another group that didn't allow it. But if anyone want's it let me know
Good luck

I agree with the rest the girls. If you like it try and get it fixed. Looks like a nice machine. If it costs more to fix it than to get a new on then start your search. But you have to take into concideration how much you have to spend on a machine too.
I took mine in to get it fixed and it was unfixable. They gave me a different on because of the 25 year warrenty Janome has on machines .....that is when I bought it.
If you decide to get new then consider some of the lower priced , higher end companies like Viking, Bernina and Pfaff. They have nice machines that are affordable. But you can also go online and shop there to. But ther is nothing wrong with the other companies either. YOu have lots of choices. I always say the hunt is as much fun as the purchasing......tlcquiltnut

Could not let this one pass. My mother has a Necchi that is now 38 years old - cost a whopping $100 back then........and it just would not hold a seam. I got her a new Viking Saphire (felt she deserved a new machine) and took her Necchi to the Viking store as their repair person works on many brands. Got the machine back 1 week later - Problem? She had replaced the bobbin with one that was the wrong size and shape! He cleaned, oiled and set tensions (base $89.95 fee) and that old Necchi sews like a DREAM...goes thru heavy upholstery fabric, multiple layers of denim just like they were paper............If yours is an older machine, it is worth trying to have it repaired! (newer ones just were not designed to last as long, and with plastic parts, etc. wear out much sooner)

Hi,
If you liked using the older machine do try to get it repaired. The older machines are fantastic. I have everything from a n 1899 treadle to a computerized fully loaded machine. I really prefer using the old Singer 401's that I have over all of the others. Piecing I prefer a Singer Featherweight machine the stitch quality is super. I am fortunate in the fact that I have found a local person that will repair my machines. He does a great job. My hope for you is that you are able to find a good machine mechanic. The oldies are definately the goodies. Hope it all works out for you.
Sue

Okay Sue, you mentioned the 1899 treadle machine and I swear I started to drool. :lol: I would love a treadle machine and everyone I know who has them just loves them.
~Tiffany

I love my treadle - I can sew even when the power goes off. Seems strange. The machine is in beautiful shape all it needed was the leather belt that drives the big wheel. A co-worker's mother knew of this elderly lady that had this machine and she knew that I was looking for one. The lady lived alone on her parents' farm, and had since passed away. I think of that wonderful lady and the beautiful farm everytime I pass by the machine. Keep your eyes and ears open and I hope you are able to find one of these treasures.
Sue in PA

I was advised to keep my old (15 yr) machine and have it rebuilt because the new ones are plastic and don't hold up. I had it rebuilt at a cost of $160. Now it's like new and will outlast all the new machines. Fortunately, my repair shop person appears to be an honest one.

Yes I was very lucky to have found this one. A co-worker knew of a woman that had it and she was downsizing to go into an assisted living community. She lived on her family's farm and the treadle was handed down to her from her mother. It is in beautiful shape. I was thrilled to find it. It is one of my prized posessions. Keep looking and tell friends that you are searching - I hope you are able to locate one of these wonderful machines.
Sue in PA

:wink: I say Fix it yourself, sound impossible ,not so hard You got the Manual or find one on line if not start in with a screwdriver, qtips toothbrush,tweezers etc. give er a good clean up then oil job because most of the time on the old ones that's all they need. We live where no one repairs, anyhow we are SM Collectors.Started bringing em home and fixing em our selves . I have 4 Treadles 1 is greatgranny, yes sometimes we name them. Your machine is Highly Saveable! Give er a try. Need help search for Fix SM's,or Parts forSM, Might put in the Name and Model# anything helps and mostly information is Free.Hope this helps!!!

I agree with everyone else. I love my very old Viking Turissa! When my first one finally died (something vital broke), I kept searching ebay until I found one identical to it. And the man selling it lived only 20 miles from here, so I was able to pick it up!

The old machines are SO much sturdier. I have heard that you can void the warranty of new, expensive machines just by using certain threads or sewing through plastic film (I read that one here!). Unbelievable. I will stick with my old machine instead of paying so much money for something that has to be pampered.

Hi Melissa
The old Necchi are wonderful machines....A friend of mine has one (and she inherited it from her mom (we are both over 50..lol).....
We would both tell you to try to fix it......This machine should run forever...
Even if you decide to get a new one...Don't get rid of the Necchi...wait for the oportunity to fix it....(The right person will fix it)....
Sometimes its just a bit of luck....

Here's my 2cents worth:0)A sewing repair man not too far from me says that almost all his repairs are actually collected lint/dirt in them. He cleans them and re-oils and that is about it (almost all the time). Can you peek in there to see if there is anything bunched up w/lint?Might be worth a look. Skeat

:wink: Yea The Old ones are Better!!! But I remember I got this Singer Stylist ,I cleaned{took the tweezers} and got the lint ,thread etc,then oiled it ,I had to do this 3 times. never thought about it til we moved then got it out decided to clean and oil it and wow it runs like a New One Now. So just keep it up til it works again!!!

I've got a friend who buys old, supposedly broken sewing machines from garage sales and thrift stores. She cleans them of all the lint, oils them, and the work great. She then sells them and has quite a tidy little business going. She gave a lecture on the subject at one of our guild meetings and she would definitely agree, most problems are simply a lint and oil problem.
~Tiffany

:) :-)

Yes, find a reputable repairer & get it fixed. It's not the amount of $ you paid for it, it's how it works!

I too finally got a treadle as a present a 1914 Singer red eye. I love it and so do my kids! Keep looking, you'll find a treadle for you & your price range someday! They are a treasure!

Roseann

There are sewing machine dealers that repair nowadays, but depending on what's wrong with it, it may not be worth repairing. If you like it, find someone who repairs and see what they say. If it's not worth repairing, and you buy another I would definitely stay away from the new Singers. Elna has some fairly low price starter machines, they may not have all the bells and whistles, but they are a good machine.

Pop open the phone book. And look up "Sewing Machines"

Note: I did not say click open yellow.com!

Now that you've got that big book in your hands look up sewing machine. Look at it really look at it. First will be listed the dealers, but then you will seem them the little ads. Sewing Machine Repairs -they will list the brands that they repair. Go down the list it might be short it might be long, but a list all the same.

Now that you have those names pick up the phone and call the people. How much for them to look at them. Some places charge to do this and others are free. Not all sewing machine repair people are nice. My repair guy for my sewing machine is a very "brisk" man. Not my favorite person in the world, but he can get his hands on any and every part that I can break. Oh be weary some dealers fix machines and sells new ones - which is not always a bad thing, just be firm that you'd like yours repaired.

There is no doubt in my mind that your machine can be repaired, and most likely for less money than you think. Give that phone book a chance.