Tippysmom

Yes, any tips would be great!

Sunflowerzz

I started purchasing vintage three weeks ago and now I have 6. I bought one on Craigslist, and the others were all from consignment shops. They are privately owned and most are just glorified junk stores. Good luck as it is fun and addicting...very addicting. Don't give up they are out there.

irishrose

Salvation Army, goodwill.com, ebay.com (2), local thrift store, garage sale, church sale, local quilt show (2) and Craigslist (2 -both Christmas gifts from my son). They're out there. I left a Singer 15 in a cabinet with the stool at a garage sale($15). Some buyer's remorse there but I guess I have leave some for others.

tenngal

I've also been lucky with goodwill online - most of them just need cleaning. I have 5 now, but sold 6 to one lady.

haylillan

i got my 301 from shopgoodwill.com came from OR. only cost 30$ shipping which i didnt think was bad since i've pd. 10$ for pattern to be shipped plus the 301 was in great shape

Sheluma

I have the best luck with craigslist as the thrifts near me don't have many machines (usually none), and there aren't really garage sales near me. But many years ago, when I was coming back from a trip to the Jersey shore I stopped in a thrift and they had tons of machines! I was looking for a 401 to replace my two vintage Riccars. (In those days I thought I needed only one machine -- crazy!). Some machines were out and visible, but most were inside cabinets, and the cabinets were stacked on top of one another and two or three layers deep. I crawled around under the cabinets and found my 401! When I told the owner I wanted *that* machine in the back, behind and under other cabinets, he looked at me like I was crazy. "We have lots of other machines", he said. Turns out I was crazy -- not that I shouldn't have gotten the 401 (it's great), but I wonder what other machines I should have bought there. There were no FWs, but there may have been 201s or 301s or other machines I would buy today. They weren't on my "radar" then. <Sigh....> But I was so happy to find that machine that day!

carolaug

just start telling friends you are looking for them - many people have them and when they know someone interested they let them know. I think I am going to sell one of mine soon. today you don't live in NE

miriam

If you do shop goodwill - go there every day, look in an area you can drive to pick up and just bid. Don't get carried away. Don't over pay. Let someone else do that. A lot of times I am the only bidder. I also buy & sell at yard sales or CL. There are reasonable prices out there if you keep your eyes open. There may be auctions in your area you can find some nice stuff that way, too.

nanna-up-north

I've had my best luck finding old machines on craigslist but have gotten them at auctions and estate sales. I'm retired and a morning person so I get up really early and go to the estate sales on the first day. If there's a machine I really want I get it but sometimes I risk it to wait until the 2nd day to get the 50% off price. Most old ladies had a sewing machine and often it sat around for years and years. I only have a few machines..... 12 or so.... but only buy if they are in reasonable condition. I usually find them at pretty cheap prices at auctions.... but not always.

So, keep looking and don't get discouraged. One will turn up at the most unexpected time and then, before you know it, you'll be wading in old vintage sewing machines.....

lovelyl

Try antique shops. Not the big expensive shops, but one like at an antique mall. Sometimes they have big price tags , but I scored a 101 in a beautiful walnut cabinet for $27.00 and a crinkle 66 in a cabinet for $40. I think the sellers just want to get rid of them...