Vintage Kingston
 

Saw this machine today and the man was asking $25 for it. Wheel turned freely. Looked to be straight stitch only. Did not go into accessories with the man. He said it ran but I did not test it out as no outlet readily available. Does anyone have a working knowledge of the machine? He said it was made in PA but I think it was more likely made in Japan. I love the older machines but have no experience in what to look for. Pass up or go for it?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]575192[/ATTACH]

I would of bought it.

If you tilt the head in the case you may see JA stamped into it. I am thinking it could be a re-badged Brother?
I like the fun base for it. Does it have a top too with the same flowers? Maybe a 3/4 size?

Yes, LOL same flower contact paper on the lid. I think I will go back later or tomorrow morning to check it out further. If it is not there, it was not meant to be. My DH just shakes his head. I'm sure there are other machines "out there" that are a better buy but since I know next to nothing about vintage (except for me LOL), I figure I have to start somewhere. I already have a Singer 401 that I purchased to make some stow/harness bags and seat for a vintage L15 airplane. and a featherweight machine. Two Pfaff's (neither are vintage)

Ugh! I hate it when people do that to cases. But the machine is a good one. Leon is right, it was built by Brother. It's a full size machine, straight stitch, 15 class, but unlike the clones it threads from the front and needle goes in and is threaded front to back so it's easier to remember. For $25 I would've bought it.

Cari

Why do you say it is a 15 class? It looks like a Singer 66 clone to me.

Get back and get that machine girl! I am bias, I love the japanese made ones and in all my 25$ thrift ones I've been lucky enough to just change a belt. Be careful it just takes one to start an obsession! They usually sew beautifully. Make husband carry it, haha.

At first I thought,"are we even looking at the same picture?" I guess we are. I can only give apologies, I don't usually make that kind of mistake, and especially with a machine that I happen to have. It is an an end loading machine but it is not a class 66, it's most definitely a class 15 machine.

Cari

To further show my ignorance...what is meant by class 15 or 66? :o

Class 15 Sewing Machines feature a low shank and oscillating hooks. They use Class 15 bobbins and 15x1 needles. http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...mpany/p15.html

Class 66 Sewing Machine models feature a low shank and an oscillating hook. They use Class 66 bobbins and 15x1 needles. http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...g-machine.html

I usually think of the class 15 as being a vertical bobbin and the class 66 as being horizontal.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Class 15 machines can be low, high, or super high shank, and though it's generally true that most vintage machines are oscillators, horizontal rotary hooks can also be class 15. For example, most new machines now.

All "class 15" means is that it uses a class 15 bobbin. Class 66 machines use a 66 bobbin.

Cari

And the advantage of a class 15 bobbin machine is that it takes longer to run out of bobbin thread:-) Also, class 15 bobbins are widely available. Thanks for the explanation, Cari.
looking at the picture, I probably would have bought it because a) the price point is right, b) What a beautiful color! c) the electrical cords are in great shape, from what I can see, and d) the chrome looks shiny and the paint unchipped which is a possible indicator that the innards are unrusted. Actually, those points should be in reverse order.
Besides, you hardly have ANY machines in the small collection you named ��!

Thankyou for the excellent info, I needed the lesson on "class" and didn't know enough to ask.

Can anyone give me some info on this one? It's my Mom's and I'm fixing it up for her. She has had it since the early 1970s. [ATTACH=CONFIG]582375[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]582376[/ATTACH]

Not sure what kind of info you're looking for. It's a straight stitch machine built by Brother, takes 15 class bobbins and normal 15x1 needles. Should be a good machine.

Cari

We bought a Kingston 1621 at a garage sale. It was made in Japan. I am wondering if you received a instruction manual if you bought the machine in the picture. If you have a manual I would be happy to buy a copy, and pay postage to receive one. Having problems threading the machine.

You can usually find a manual for sale online. Many sites sell them from $5.00 to $10.00. I just did a search for the manual and was unable to find it under Kingston 1621. I found this old QB post that might be of help.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...e-t221125.html

bkay that is huskerred's post, she also posted a picture at https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...e-t222185.html

huskerred, It isn't the exact machine, but if you download http://www.singerco.com/uploads/down...hite-231-x.pdf it is very similar to your machine. The guides are shaped a little different and the bobbin case might be a little different as well. I'm thinking that it is close enough to get you started on getting this Kingston back into service. I think that the center of the stitch length dial is the button to push to get the machine to reverse stitches rather than a separate button like in the manual that I gave a link to. Another difference would be the knobs for stitch width are both on the same level rather than one for left edge and one for right edge.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Look at Brother manuals online at all the usual manual vendors. There are several Brother machines just like or similar to this one. A Brother Project 651 is very, very close.

Cari

Thanks Cari, I was hoping you would know. I didn't do an extensive search, but is there a difference between a Charger 651 and Project 651? Also, do you have any ideas/theories/knowledge as to Brothers naming conventions? Some appear to be just numbers, some have names and some are like alphabet soup.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Outwardly I don't see any differences at all but I've never had a Charger 651 in front of me. I own a Project 651. Maybe it was an east coast/west coast thing, I don't know.

The alphabet soup is Japans' model ID system. They only came here like that for the first couple years, then some got here with both the Japanese ID and a new American name/number on them, then the Japanese ID was dropped and just the American ID would be on the machines. Sometimes it was just a number and sometimes it was a number and a name.

Cari

My thanks to all who took the time to answer my question. Am going to check the suggested posts to see what manual I can find. Thanks again.