Miriam,

I'm not sure about this particular Riccar model, but I think this one has the internal timing belt.
These belts are not longer. Many of the Riccars of this age have deteriorating belts.
Cathy

Rachael, Glenn is totally right - it is not hard to restore a Singer 66! Just get some sewing machine oil and some soft cotton rags and clean her up - quirt a little oil on and wipe off the grunge. She no doubt needs oil squirted on all her moving parts. A good manual will show you the oiling points but I just oil anything I can see that moves - specially inside and under. Open up the little doors and you will see friction points - oil there. There is a sticky at the top of the vintage page - in it is a link to Muv's videos on how to clean a vintage sewing machine. You will want to watch them. Here is a link to the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bidpJ..._order&list=UL grab a cup of tea.

Tells how much I know. My sister is in Arizona - she reads on here but doesn't say much. She got me started on repairs. I suppose I was already doing the repairs but she egged me on to doing more. She has a couple Riccar machines and likes them. Is that belt like the Singer 319?

Rachel, it doesn't have to cost much at all, and this is something you can do yourself! Use sewing machine oil and clean the exterior of the machine. DO NOT tear it apart unless it's necessary to make it work. If you do have to take off parts, watch Muv's videos first and follow her direction. She's terrific at getting these old girls pretty and clean! (There's a link at the top of the vintage section to her videos)

For the cabinet, get some Howard's Restor-a-Finish. Wash the cabinet with Murphy's oil soap. Follow the directions on the can of Howard's, and finish up with a good furniture wax.

I have faith in you! You can do this!! :)

Hmmm....I'm not sure what I think about this hot pink 301. Part of me likes it and part of me thinks I'd go blind staring at it for a long period. http://www.ebay.com/itm/WOW-HOT-PINK...#ht_500wt_1221

Rachel, Charlee is right your cabinet is a good one to use the Howard's Restor-a-finish and should look really great.

That's too loud!:D Need sunglasses to be able to sew with that machine. But someone will love it.

I want it!!!! Not $300 worth of "want it" , but I'd love to have it! :D

I've been following along on the board, but life has me pretty busy. Our younger daughter is getting married April 6, and I have been constructing and beading a wedding gown for a week or so. I am sewing the dress using my mom's old Wizard, $66 from 1966, that made my wedding gown as well. And this is for the daughter that sews, and wants the machine, so I figure it is a plan to let my mom be a part of the process in a way. We still miss my mom terribly, but the world isn't stopping for us to lay down and cry, so the beading and dresswork goes on. Actually, my mom is laughing her head off, because I loathe, and that is an understatement, hand sewing, and this bodice is pretty beady. I will post pics upon completion.

I am sorry to hear of the losses, and furbaby issues...hope all is better for everyone. Neat machines appearing, and lots of good info. I have been on a sewing machine diet and after we get the wedding behind us, I am going to rearrange my sewing space to see if I have room for anything else.

Candace, I bought a can of bright pink spray paint for my 301. Just waiting for decent weather. My only concern is that little Singer emblem on the light bulb cover. I think I can cover it with tape and then remove any overspray before it gets too hard. I don't think mine is THAT bright. I hope it isn't.