You can free motion on a horizontal or Drop-In bobbin machine but the thread path isn't as forgiving as it is on a vertical machine. The thread has to turn a corner - so to speak - before it is picked up by the hook; this can cause uneven stitches, dropped stitches or looping on the back of your project.

I have 3 Drop-In bobbin machines- a Singer 404 straight stitch with the card table, a Singer Spartan that I want to turn into a handcrank, and my Brother PC6500 which was never intended to FMQ and you can't make it do it either! The other 7 or 8 are all vertical machines. I have a Singer 31-15 industrial with the feed dogs removed and a straight stitch plate on it, if you want to FMQ in a hurry - hoo boy!

I'm sorry I didn't realize someone had asked me about something or I'd have answered sooner. :oops:

Mitch's mom is right - you can do free-motion quilting on a LOT of different machines including those with drop-in bobbins. My first pieced quilts were quilted on a 401 and I often do darning-type repairs on my slants.

It's just that the vertical bobbin is more forgiving, as she says - fewer skipped stitches, no "eyelashes," etc. :)

Montgomery ward sewing machine
 

that would be a RSMCO model E 103 made by montgomery ward , hope the pic came out, my mom had the same one and i now have it in my living room. mine still works great. good luck.

Google is your friend. There are a couple websites out there that deal with older machines and people who frequent them are helpful.

errr last two posters, you are responding to a thread from 2011. Welcome to the board mikex31 pics need to be below 2mg.