I have a friend that has a 1946 yellow? she said cast iron? Kenmore sewing machine in a cabinet. She said she used it once and it does work. She is going to put it in a yardsale. Would you offer to buy it? Do they generally work as well as the Singer's do? I have my Mom and Dad's 99K and their 148 right now and love them. Would I be disappointed sewing on that after using a Singer you think? How much do you think I should offer if it looks ok?

My Dad got the 99K for like $20. It sews like a dream and I love it! The 128 I think he paid either $20 or $25 for. He finds them like this all the time. I think I'm not willing to go over $25-does that sound bad?

Any ideas are going to be very helpful.

I am not an expert on prices, but I would make her an offer I was comfortable with and then tell her what you paid for the Singers. Kenmores are certainly not worth more than Singers.

I would not be able to buy it for $25 here and Singers are more yet because there are just not a large supply around here.

It is worth what you feel it is worth. If it looks very cute and colorful it might have some antique value.(see pictures) Does it have cams and or is it set in a table? Does it look mint? without a picture I would think $5 for just the machine with nothing and $50 if it is in a cabinet, has extras and looks cute. I am assuming it is running good.

Not a Kenmore but my husband bought this off Craig's list for $10. It was not running, cabinet was falling apart, had damage to the cabinet top finnish, had all the cams, does zig zag, drops feed, and had some rust. He knew I would love it for the color. When my new daughter in law saw it she squealed because she thought it was so cute. so when DH fixed it up and got it running she received it for her birthday.

I found a link. Is the machine like this one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIN7LzpYAwo

I'm not sure if that is it or not. I haven't gotten to see the machine yet. She was telling me about it.

It would be hard to tell without pictures or a model number. The model number is probably going to be odd. It will have a three-digit number followed by a decimal point and three to seven more digits. (516.891 or 158.18033 or something like that. The number is usually on a plate on the front of the machine under the bed - where it's hidden by the base or the cabinet when the machine is set up for sewing.

The oldest Kenmore I have is (I think!) a 1959 - it's a Lady Kenmore 89 with all the bells and whistles and runs perfectly. It's one of the few Kenmores that's considered "collectible," although certainly not the only beautiful one that was put out by Sears. (love that picture of the PINK one - I'd buy that one in a heartbeat!)

Kenmore did usually put out a good, solid machine, but there was one group (and I'm sorry, I don't remember which one it was) that is nothing but trouble. I think the prefix was 117 for those machines.

The biggest trouble is finding parts if there is a part that's worn or broken. Sears isn't carrying much in the way of replacement parts. I think that's partly why Singers are collected so often - replacement parts are pretty easy to find for all the old household Singers.

I just bought a vintage New Home for DIL - w/ cabinet, no attachments, & she loves it. I paid $20.00 at Goodwill. If it is in decent condition, I'd go about $30 to $35. You can always 'gift' it to someone else or sell it yourself later on if you don't use it.
I have an old Kenmore & I really like it. I have found other attachments will work on my machine - just check shank height to match if you need attachments.
Let us know what you decide - & please post a pic once you see it. Thanks.

ok, Thanks for your help. :)

Ok, So, I went to look at the machine. I REALLY liked it. So......I got it. ;) I have known her for years. Our kids have grown up together. She was asking $50 for it. I thought well, it looks really good and the cabinet is in good shape too. I told her I didn't have the whole $50 right now, but would she take $25 this week and the other part next week and she said that was fine. I told her that I could leave it with her and pick it up when I paid the other part and she insisted that I take it with me. So....here's some pictures. ;)

I like it Angie, and if you like it and think it was worth the $$ you paid for it, then it was worth every penny!! :) That's an awesome cabinet!!

The knee bars are cool....I love the machines I have that have them!!