thoughts on a kenmore 52?
 

Hello hello . . .

with my financial situation, you'd think I would stay off of craigslist! sigh . . . I promise, I just mean to look! and then I think, well -- I'll just ask a question. and of course I always want them!!

A 'loaded' kenmore 52. He's offered to take forty, since it needs a twelve dollar belt. It is working, but he wouldn't try it with the cracked belt. (Grrr). Of course, I still can't do forty, so it might be moot, but . . .

I like the look of it, it should be all metal right?

Can I get an 'expert SMG' opinion?

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/hsh/3882065079.html

since I am asking advice, can I get a little more? what are general thoughts about this one?

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/atq/3882937948.html one works, one doesn't. You get both for sixty-five! (un-negotiated)

Lara122,

Ah one of the best of the Kenmores. That is a 158-52x machine. Made by Maruzen / Jaguar.
I have the 158-523 in a cabinet and it is a very quiet, strong sewing machine. It takes the large flat cams and sews real nice stitches.
All metal inside, and simple to use. You have the manual and some other accessories, the cams are not terribly hard to find. We found ours at the LSMG and I've seen a couple sets on shopgoodwill.com.
I do not think $40.00 is too high, but I'd still want to go lower ... if I could.

The second machine is a 128. Buy them, clean them up fix the second one, then keep one and flip the other.


Sorry, I'm a terrible enabler.


Joe

Lara,

I forgot to add the belt for the 52 is a common belt and you can get it at any sewing machine shop or Sew-Classic. We bought an Alpha Sew 1434 belt for ours when it needed one. It set us back maybe $5.00.

Joe

I just love them. I wish I could not worry about spending it. I wish sellers cared about who would love them the most! lol. I'd be set, then! lol

thanks so much for your genius advice, even if it is enabling! ;0))

I have a Kenmore model 50 and i actually prefer it to my other machines. The series 158 have a super high shank foot. There is an adapter that makes using a low shank foot possible. Kenmores are awesome! I own four of them .:-) my fifth is a Singer. Lol

foufymaus,

Not all 158-xxxxxxx series Kenmores are high or super high shank feet. Mine have low shank feet. Nuther words, some do, some don't.

Joe

Same here, my 158.1430 has low shank feet.

it is a VERY nice machine - VERY well made - if it is in running condition snap that one up - then give it a good clean up and some tri-flow.

oh my goodness . . . now, I am lost! I wanted it to start with. I suppose we'll see how low he'll go, lol. then, at least I can tell the husband "only" . . ;0)

I have not emailed back since fri morning . . . So hopefully, he'll be glad to hear back from me! wish me luck!

Lara,

I'm not gonna help much with this comment, but we got ours for ..... um ..... free. It's all Miriam's fault too. She saw a free machine on CL and emailed us about it. We went and picked it up. The giver said it didn't sew or didn't feed the fabric, but it did. The only ailment was the feed dog dropper was rusted up. Since getting that freed up and feeding it some Tri-Flow it runs beautifully.

Now, with what I've learned, I wouldn't hesitate to pay the money your guy is asking if I were going to use and keep the machine. Buying it for resale is a different thing.

Joe

oh, I want it to keep! =)

I emailed him that I have $25, and I would LOVE it, and I have four table toppers to sweeten the pot! HA ha . . sigh. =/. I sent pictures, and said ' worth a try, right?' . . . haven't heard back. Probably won't!

I should put my measly $25 up, and save it for the next Rocketeer I see. =((

;>D smiley face didn't work for some reason.......

You may hear from him yet, if he doesn't sell and once Sunday and other things are over he may contact you, will cross my fingers for you.

I have three Kenmores and love all three....They are all different but are all three very strong machines that sew wonderful....

well, he thanked me for the offer, but declined. Forty is as low as he'll go. No awesome cool old sewing machine for me. Going to try really hard to squirrell away the $25 for the next "wished machine"

darn it.

Give it a few more days he may contact you again if no one buys it or makes him a better offer. I've noticed in my area on CL the machines sit for weeks and weeks all the time the prices goes down on them.

I hope he lowers his price so that you can get it, but really, $40 for that machine is a pretty good deal. I'd try to squirrel away another $15.

Whether he lowers the price or not - those old Kenmore's are very nice machines. Where are you going to buy a new machine that will be a match for quality? I dare say the new high end machines don't have the machine work that goes into the older Kenmore machines - especially the older high end Kenmore machines. I think you would have money well spent to buy a machine like that provided it hasn't been abused and it is in reasonable working order.

oh, Miriam -- I don't want a new one at all. I have never tried to work on one, but I think the name 'plastic wonder' is probably pretty apt!

He did email me this morning and ask me if I wanted to use it or collect it. I told him that i wanted to put that sweet thing to work! ;0) then, admitted that I might be a collector also, since I had two that didn't work (the rocketeers). Told him to google "singer 500a" and see what I *wished* mine looked like!

I have thirty, now - but I'll be stuck there for a while. =//.

two of my (*!#) kids lost textbooks.

Lara,

The Rocketeers want to work, they're just functionally challenged. Keep giving them the Castor Oil ( Tri-Flow ) and follow Tammi's instructions on the tensions and I'll bet they get better.

Joe