wildyard

I, too, use a Janome made Kenmore and am very happy with it. It was much cheaper than a Janome and does everything I want it to do. It does great FMQing and straight stitching. It has all the special stitches and feet available I could want. The only thing it doesn't do is embroidery and now I wish I had gone for one that does that also.

GailG

Ihave a White from the seventies. It's a workhorse and is HEAVY. Also have a "heavy duty school White machine." (?) That's how it was advertised. I LOVE it. Not too many bells and whistles,but a beautiful stitch. There are three straight stitches:short, med., and long. Also 3 zigzags, a buttonhole, and a blind hemstitch. It even sews hems on jeans well. I do most of my machine quilting on that one. My serger is also a White. Janome is made by New Home. I do have a Singer 404 and my mom's Singer 301 is still operational. (301 from the fifties. I purchased my 404 in '62.) I also have a Janome (New Home) Memory Craft 4000. It is computerized, but simpler than the newer ones. Hasn't Singer and Kenmore merged? Perhaps that's the reason you couldn't find the Kenmores. Perhaps the Singer name was more "recognized" as "quality merchandise."
Edit: Seems from further reading in this thread that some of my info is not correct about which company sold out to what company. Sorry. I really should read the WHOLE thread before commenting. I just get so excited that I want to throw in my two cents also.
As someone wisely advised: do your research carefully. Good luck.

hisgrace

I was starting to look around for a newer machine, when I ran across a video on YouTube about vintage Kenmore machines. It said the old metal mechanical machines would outlast anything made today. I'm using my mother's machine from about 1967 or 1968, model 185.950, with a Singer model 127 for backup.

Sad that the old Kenmores are no longer being made. I'm finding it very difficult to get parts or even presser feet that fit mine.

purplefiend

For a new machine, I like the Husqvarna Viking Emeralds 116 & 118. They're great machines, all mechanical.

Older Singers from the 1960s and earlier are wonderful machines. Lots of older machines out there that are so much better than most of the plastic wonders being made today. Other vintage machines are good also, especially those that have all metal gears.

palmetto girl

i agree with another poster, the machines, vacums and cameras as well, sold at Walmart are not the same quality as some sold at other dealers. I bought a kodac camera at Walmart when I did not have a charger with it I call the co. and was told they produce Walmart items cheaper so they can sell them cheaper. The Viking dealer I bought my machine from also told me the companies make a hugh amount of an item for walmart and if they don't sell in a short amount of time they pull them and they are sold at sources at a hugh discount. I also had experience with a singer machine and took it in to a singer dealer that told me it was not worth fixing used I had used it very little, again a Walmart Item. Now I have learnd my lesson.

ssuzz

only the vintage ones

Momma_K

I've had my Brother for at least 7 yrs with NO trouble at all! Singer is good, Kenmore...don't know much about them but my bet is Brother.

kittencfw

I bought a Kenmore a couple years ago and love it. A friend of mine just went shopping for a new machine at Sears and they informed her that they don't make Kenmores any more. So I am not for sure on this but that is the word right now. I am personally sorry to hear that since that is what I have.

FURBALLS

I purchased a singer confidence quilter about a year and a half ago. It came with walking foot and extension. I have pieced many items on it and have quilted a large queen, lap and now am quilting two king size quilts on it. Since I have refined my skills, lol at FMQing bit the bullet and attacked the king size. Have had no trouble with this machine.

smitpo1

I found a sears Kenmore at salvation army for $24.00. I was only after the cabinet.
I wanted a small desk to put in the bedroom. I did not even look at the machine at
the store. When I got it home my husband decided to tinker with it. He plugged it all up and low and
behold it works like a dream. I looked it up and it is a 1954 Model. I love it.