I bought one off Craig's List for $40. Brought it home and kept looking at it for awhile. Decided I didn't want to start collecting machines since I had no room for it really. I put it in my yard sale for $40. A lady came by and asked if I minded if she tried it out. Fine by me, so she goes back to her van and grabs up a piece of leather!! I plugged it in and she just purred along like it was no big deal, also with no bouncing. That sucker is heavy! Of course, the lady bought it and was so excited to get it for $40! Yay! I was happy, she was ecstatic!

I too have a 185k. Just oiled , put on a new belt,and polished it. I agree it is so cute. Not only cute but it is a work horse. A friend of mine restores and repairs vintage machines. He said the 185K can't be beat. It is heavy! I take my featherweight to classes because it is so much lighter. The featherweight is my all time favorite. It stitches beautifully. I have had it 7 years and never had a thing go wrong with it. It was born the same year I was,so we have a bond!

Thank you for making this distinction! I was under the impression there were only full sizes or smaller sizes but not variety within the smaller sizes. Good to know!

Here is an old thread about 3/4 machines - lots of info: http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...e-t185449.html

I just love the 185s. They're so cute and the green color is just the icing on the cake. I would like to get one someday for my collection. I have a 99k that I sew on every day and it's a very smooth, perfect stitcher. I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's also small, so it is easy to store away...not that I ever do that. I think that it's out on my sewing table permanently.

~ C

Other than color you have the same thing.