Hi I'm New with 3 New/Old Kenmore babies!
 

*waves* Hello!

I'm new to vintage machines but what i have are awesome and are so pretty. All my machines are thrift rescues. The first one i bought was a Kenmore ZigZag automatic Model #117.740 it came with a box of feet, the original manual and the cabinet. For the low low price of $25. *nods* I know right. I had to de-oil her because what ever they were using left her sticky and gummy inside. I used an Electro Contact Cleaner on those parts. My dad's an electrician (worked at a power plant) he said he used it at work to clean gummy parts that were sensitive electrical parts. Then re-oiled anything that moved. It (the cleaner) is sensitive enough not to harm plastic but i'd test it first before using it on it. Just to be sure. *wink*

My second baby is also a thrift store rescue, she's a Kenmore Model 50. She too came with a cabinet but No manual or feet. She was more expensive than any of my other machine costing about $30 dollars. I figure it was a steal! The only problem was that her motor like to give off a fireworks show. LOL yep, i figured dad could help me out with that. So i dragged her home gave her a good cleaning. As for the fireworks show that's taken care of, first with a good dusting of canned air, a good long squirt of electro contact cleaner that pulled out any sticky goo that was causing it to spark. After letting it dry out I popped in a few drops of machine oil and then let her run. She's now the dream machine. *wink* And boy does she have grip.

My latest rescue is a Kenmore 86 Stylist, she didn't come with a cabinet. She did come with an original albeit dinged and dented accessory case, a instruction manual, and no extra feet. She's a beauty with no dings, runs like a dream with little to no cleaning necessary. She's like the faded prom queen still a beauty but with out all the extras. Although she is missing the extra thread holder. I need to work on getting her stitches not to be so close and tight together Yet they're evenly spaced. Also her feed dogs are sensitive and are not as strong as the Model 50. *shrugs* it's her charm. LOL Her case is what i presume is the original wooden carrying case. Now that is battered and in need of a good paint and repatch. It did it's work over the years protecting her. So i'll definitely break out some of the wood working tools and glue to patch up her case.

So yea... it started out with one machine ...now i have three. I tell my friends these machines are built better than my new truck. Especially the Stylist she has Chrome! *wink*

I look forward to meeting all of y'all.

Welcome. I have just one Kenmore, a free arm Kenmore 6 that I bought new in 1980. But that is my main machine for actually sewing things because I can just get it out and sew with it.

Welcome!

Now that you have teased us about how awesome your machines are, you need to post pictures so we can all respond with "ohhhhhhh" and "ahhhhhh" and "sweet"

Welcome to the board.

Welcome to the QB - we would love to see pictures of your babies or your creations. I have a Kenmore waiting for me in my Mom's basement - don't know what it is though.

Welcome from NE Ohio, glad to meet you.

Ooops! I knew i forgot something. The first one is the ZigZag Automatic, the Second one is the Model 50 and the last one is the new baby! the Stylist 86. :D

Thanks :D I can't wait to hang out :D

I haven't made anything with these yet. The right project hasn't 'popped' out to me. :D