I received that machine with my LA setup almost ten years ago. The handles were part of the traveling crib that housed the machine and not attached to the sewing machine at all. I have since upgraded to a machine with a larger throat. That is an issue with using it as a "long arm". I will tell you though, it's one heck of a machine and I wouldn't be without it. I use it almost exclusively for all my heavy sewing and do ALL my free motion work on it. Easy to service as well.