Singer FashionMate 239
 

Is this a good machine? Does have any plastic or nylon parts? I found one at a thrift store untested for $5.

Pull the machine open at the bottom and look in - do you see a belt or plastic gears? I suppose you could look at a schematic on line.

If its anything like the Fashionmate 237, it has no plastic gears anywhere. Some of the outer body parts are plastic, like the lid and nose piece, but otherwise is all cast iron.
Sharon in Texas

I have a 237 that I bought in the 70's and it still works great. I think there aren't any internal plastic parts, just the outer housing. Plug it in and see if it runs, but for $5 I'd jump on it.