For one thing, after you get all the preliminary loading, etc. out of the way, VERY SLOWLY lower the needle to see if it is going into the hole, or you'll have a busted needle and maybe a bloody spot on your face or hand......

Perfect thank you, that helps a lot.:)

wow!!!! lucky you.

yup - more often than not the only thing that gets real specific to a machine (other than short/slant shank) is the feed dog cover plate. Though if your feed dogs drop, you don't really need the cover plate as long as there is nothing the upper guide plate is going to get hung up on.

Now you've got me looking for a Magic Key buttonholer for my White. It is the same design as the Singer - I believe Greist made them all.

Here is a great link on Buttonholers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttonholer

I said in my OP that it didn't have the booklet but it did! It was stuck in the top. I was looking through the little booklet that came with my new Magic Key and I found the original receipt folded up on the last page. It was purchased on May 9th 1949 from the White Sewing Machine Center in Long Beach, Ca. and it still looks like brand new! I love provenance, here is the receipt:

I was going to ask if you had an idea of the "vintage" - but it looks like you know exactly that!

I've seen some sets that are in a fold up case with a snap, and then the ones in the molded box like you have. Was wondering what the age difference was - though maybe they were just made for different markets.

I've seen the same style box/buttonholer with the Domestic name molded in, but then White took over Domestic in the 20's, so that I guess that would be expected.