Look what I found inside my Singer 500. Yikes!
 

I bought this machine 5 years ago and have never really used it. Plugged it in and tried it for a bit and it worked fine. I recently brought it up to my sewing room and got her all oiled and lubed. She sews great! Today I was playing on her when I heard the dreaded clunk and the needle stopped moving. When I looked inside I found a spool holder! The second one was never on the machine since I had it. I can't believe it had broken off and was inside the machine. I'm so happy nothing broke because of it.
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This is where the missing one belongs.
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This is the broken spool holder I found.
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This is where it ended up.

Wow. I'm thinking that may be why it was sold to you in the first place. Maybe the previous owner had no idea what was wrong. Glad the broken part didn't cause other damage in there.

I thought the same thing.

Had a similar situation with the first Singer 66 red eye I had (first vintage machine for me). It would turn a bit when on it's side, but not at all when upright. It was a spool pin wedged in the works.

What a great machine. Glad she is okay.

I had one I bought at a thrift shop it sewed when the machine was upside down I just chucked it....maybe something was caught-up inside.....my girlfriend and I just sat there and laughed.....never thought to look to see if something was caught.....

Glad nothing was broken. Beautiful machine.

Oh no, you threw it away! I bet it was funny that it only sewed upside down.

Nice machine! Glad you found the part, and all is well.