Nancy, I had a similar issue with my current 319(black). The bobbin case was the culprit and it had some nice patches of rust. I just took a very fine sand paper and carefully removed the rust. I saw that listing. I have a 185 which is very similar.

Some of the Japanese-made machines of the fifties and early sixties were left dedicated--in the straight stitch position, the needle was all the way to the left.

Here's a National Two Spools in North Carolina if anyone is interested. Looks like you could negotiate the price.

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/atq/2762784910.html

I own two of these and love sewing with mine, but I would not pay $300 for one...I'm cheap. :)
I paid $30 for just the head of the first Two Spools and $150 for the second that came in the parlor. That has been the most I have paid for a machine and cabinet. I even debated on purchasing it at that price.

Cathy, I would love to have you over on Sunday, but we are not going to be home! DARN!!!!!!! It would be fun to show you my machines!

On a good note, I got the Spartan working!!!!! I just used sewing machine oil and a board nail file on the rust until I got all I could see and feel off! The only problem now is there is a little wire thing on the right hand side of the bobbin case that the top thread has to pass between that wire and the bobbin case. The little wire is sometimes stopping the thread from going by there. I tried tweaking it and now I can sew, but once in a while I get a broken thread because it got caught there.

Nancy

Ok I am really disenchanted with the Pfaff's now. Every Pfaff I own, before now, is made in Germany! I know everything changes and this Pfaff I just picked up the other day - the one that I can't find any mention of even from a repairman - is made in Taiwan. We took it to a very old repairman today - he is in his 80's - and he said that it says Pfaff, but it looks like a Janome to him. Anyway, he had a plug and foot pedal that work with the Pfaff. Now, I know Singer never badged a machine, and I know in the past Pfaff didn't either. I also know that you had to have a license to even sell Pfaff parts, much less the machines so they are never in the box stores, but are they now badged machines? It is sad, but it makes sense if this is actually a badged machine - that is why I can find nothing out about it on the net, nor from a repairman!

Nancy

Nancy, I'm a bit lost. What Pfaff are you talking about?

Why don't you post a picture of your Pfaff? Perhaps it would help solve your mystery.

I'm talking about the plastic wonder Pfaff I couldn't resist picking up for $15 at a flea market the other day. I know, I shouldn't be discussing the 'newer' machines here, but I just couldn't pass up a Pfaff for $15 bucks! I have never even seen a Pfaff at a flea market, thrift store, estate sale, yard sale before. How could a pass by one at a flea market for $15? Anyway, it is the Pfaff 4228 that didn't have a foot pedal or plug - that is why it was so cheap. I tried searching for the machine on the net and found some references to a 4228, but when I went into the sites that referenced the machine - nothing - no Pfaffs with that number listed anywhere! I still find nothing, and the repair guys - I tried two of them - find nothing either! So if the 'vintage' repair guy who has been doing this for 50 + years says he thinks it is not made by Pfaff, I believe him! Or could it be that all the machines coming out of Taiwan, look the same and are made by the same people there?

Anyway, I actually like this little machine. I have a couple modern, new Janomes that I really use to use all the time - until I got into vintage. It is nice to have another new machine for the kids and for light weight trips to classes since this one does decorative, has needle positioning, etc.

Nancy

Caroline, this shop is for vintage and this Pfaff is no older than 10 years if that even. I have lots of antiques/vintage machines so I won't post a picture of the new plastic one here, but I do like the machine. I won't use it much as I am really into my treadles now and use a treadle 90% of the time at home! I use my FW's or Rocketeer for classes, but I don't regret getting this Pfaff - even after buying the plug/foot pedal I only have $55 in the machine!

Nancy