Are needle clamps pretty interchangeable?
 

I picked up a Kenmore 158.1813 on Christmas Eve in a table that I am cleaning up in hopes of giving it to a friend of my daughter. It's cleaning up nicely but I noticed it' missing the tiny screw that holds the needle in the clamp. It's one of those short ones too. I've rummaged through my bins and havn't been able to come up with the screw but I have several spare needle clamps all with the long style screws. Can I just swap out the whole part? I even have one from a Kenmore made about the same time frame.

I just want to double check that the needle won't sit off kilter, break off and poke someones eye out!

(a little bait for CD....any fun comments CD?)

Well you could test it out and let us know if it works.

I think I got it figured out. These super high shank Kenmores of old have a tiny screw in front that pins the needle in. I was expecting a thumbscrew on the side.