For those who have bought used machines...
 

There is a rummage sale in a nearly town that they do twice a year. Apparently its one of the biggest in the state, and I hope to find a new(old)/second machine for a great price. I was wondering for those of you who have bought second-hand machines without any sort of dealer involved what I should be on the look out for before buying. Also, if there are brands that seem to hold up better or brands to stay away from. Anything is helpful. Thanks!

I have a few machines that are not new. I have a brother festival 461 and just got a pfaff both from the 70's. I get them at the thrift shops. They both purr like a kitten and have a great stitch. Also they both have feed dogs that drop so I can FMQ with them. I really like the older brother machines from the 70's & 80's.

I have older Singers, one Kenmore, and one White, all pre-1980. They are all solid, reliable machines, and I would recommend any of them. Things to look for: bobbin, bobbin case, good wiring, controller, necessary attachments, and a user manual. Also check to see that it moves freely, although some frozen machines can be unstuck with a good cleaning/oiling. I would pass if there was obvious rust or a lot of missing paint, unless you plan to repaint.

I wish I could go with you! I LOVE these types of sales. I am on the look out for an older Pfaff that has a walking foot without spending an arm and a leg.... Once people get these they tend to hang onto them and pass them on to family...

I was in a class a couple of weeks ago with a lady who was sewing on a Bernina that I think she said was 40 years old. A basic machine, but she had taken good care of it and it ran like a dream. My sister sews on a 31 year old Kenmore machine that she got for college graduation, and it also runs perfectly. I'm not sure the brand is as important as the care the machine has received. A good machine of any brand will run for years and years if it's serviced regularly and cleaned frequently.

I agree, how a machine has been cared for is most important. The majority of those machines are metal not plastic and when built were built to last, not be disposable like so many of the newer ones.....IMHO a good old American made Singer is worth it's weight.......and of course a Bernina is and was a fine machine.

Any machine that is all metal and heavy will be much more apt to live another 50 years in your house. Any newer machine with electronics you should really try out and test before buying. And doing this at an outdoor sale is very tricky.

Take a spool of thread with you, a piece of fabric, and a pair of scissors. Often there is thread in the bobbin but not on top. Even if you can't plug a machine in, you can often thread it and hand turn the wheel to make sure it forms a stitch. That's my bottom-line on a used machine; if it won't form a stitch, I give it a pass as it probably needs to have the timing re-adjusted (which in my case means a trip to a mechanic, which is not inexpensive here).

If at all possible, ask if you can plug the machine in to make sure that the foot pedal actually runs the machine.

Make sure the bobbin case is there (sometimes it's missing) and that the wiring is supple and looks good (and isn't the old cloth-covered type of wiring).

Vintage Singers are always good. The name does not always mean much, as many machines were "badged" with different names. I have bought newer basic Whites and Kenmores that were fine.

I look for non-computerized machines. The mechanical machines , are the simple easy to investigate their soundness. AS the others have mentioned , make sure the vital parts are there. You can test a mechanical machine with out plugging it in , by turning the wheel. Owners manuals are A plus , but not a deal breaker.

I've bought many used machines at yard sales, estate sales and at thrift shops. I've never paid over $35 for one. Usually the bobbin is missing or there is no machine needle. That doesn't bother me but it's a good bargaining tool to say a part is missing. Plug it in and hear it run and check the bobbin winder to make sure it works. I was buying two or more machines a month at sales. I cleaned them up, checked them out and donated them to 4H and Scout troops. It was fun to sew on many different types of machines and learn about them. I got over my hesitation of taking one apart to see what was wrong. Most were simple fixes that was obvious to see. Gears jammed, set screws loose, belt slipped off, etc. I don't buy any now unless I know of someone that needs a good machine. One machine was a great find but a sad find too. I found a Pfaff with all accessories and the man said it wouldn't turn on and he was selling it for $25 or better offer in cabinet. He didn't know there was an off/on switch and didn't care enough to read the manual. Just wanted to clear out everything from his mother's house in one day.