My Mother had one just like yours, Oh my I hated that machine. It never worked right for me. Eventually the wind-in place bobbin thingy broke.

OOOHHHHH! I hope she works for you. Not only because you will enjoy her, but because she was your mom's. I'm sure you will get many hours of loving work done on her!

One thing to check. That model came by default with rubber feed dogs. They may need to be replaced by now.
The part number is 181843, or 181843M if you want the metal dogs. Easy to change, 2 screws accessible from the top. The worst part is finding a screwdriver that will fit under there. They're not expensive either. I think I've seen them on the net for about $10.

There's a needle plate screwdriver you can get that will likely do the trick, 357306 is the part #. Look for a good deal on it though, $8.99 and $5.99 at the site I saw the first hit on is ridiculous. My cost on it is $0.39.

With attachments, cams, and manuals too! What a wonderful bonanza!

You'll enjoy sewing on it! I have one just like it and have been sewing on it since 1975! I have used some of the camsfor decorative stitching. I also used to use the stretch stitch cam to make swimming suits. Have fun!

The rubber feet seem fine to me. The thing I am most concerned with is in the bobbin case theres a latch/button something that is a cream plastic with red circles on it. I'm not sure if this is supoused to move or not? I tried (and it looks like my mother tried) to move it but it didn't budge. So if it's not supoused to then were good. If it is supoused to move then I have a problem and I'm not sure if it's big or small. Haha

Yes, it should move. It's the "lever" you move to put the machine in bobbin winding mode. Pushes to the left if memory serves. You'll see the whole bobbin case move upward when you push it to the left. Then to engage it in sewing mode, just close the slide plate. There are probably some spots to oil on it,.. I'd have to look closer as the one I have here waiting for a tuneup and feed dogs.

It should show an oil point in the manual, either from the top in the bobbin area, or from the bottom, I'd think. Either way, just oil anything where there's metal to metal contact, and don't get oil on those feed dogs! Oil is what ruins them the fastest.

It's not the end of the world, as long as it's in "Sewing mode". If you simply couldn't get it working to wind the bobbin, you could use a side winder. I think they are supposed to do a better job of winding a bobbin than a lot of the self winding mechanisms anyway, especially when they get out of adjustment.

That's what I figured about the side winder. I might have to invest in one. Do the work with all sorts of bobbins?

I oiled everywhere the manual told me to oil and in a few spots i thought needed it. The manual highlights surprisingly few places to oil. I believe I did oil all of the places you mentioned though there's no where near the plastic to oil if I remember correctly. So I think I will not try the bobbin winder then. Next I will try it to get it to do a straight stitch. Mom said she had troubled with the tension spring. The manual isn't too clear. I'm not sure if the spring on the left is supoused to pop back up or if it's generally loose?

Those were the two noticeable points that I thought might be problematic.

Oh,.. wait,.. that machine takes the 2 part bobbins, right? The ones that don't have a hole in the middle?
Argh,.. no, a side winder wouldn't work for those bobbins.

You might have to get that bobbin winder working.

The tension spring for the upper thread? It should sort of hold a little extra tension on the thread when threaded correctly. It does seem a little loose when it's just sitting there.

If I manage to get into the sewing room tomorrow, I'll thread that one up and snap a pic for you.

Yes. Now that you mention it there is no hole. :( the bobbins twist apart. Nifty idea really. But not in a situation like this. Hmm that's a shame. Wonder if there's a bobbin wonder for that sort of thing. Or a way to get into the heart of the machine without messing anything else up. Hmm.