Very good to see!
Rodney

It looks really heavy.

Miriam,
That's wonderful news about Ashlea!
Sharon in Texas

She has age and determination in her favor.

Miriam, I am glad Ashlea is doing so well.

Hi, I'm quiltmouse. Last heard from on this thread somewhere around March 2011. I started reading page again at 4350, and am current from there. Meanwhile, on the back nine, I've attained p 1584. whew. or as I nearly typo'd, whee.

Take a look at this.

This guy is a hoot. Scroll down to "Important message for vintage sewing machine owners"

I think we dost resemble...

http://sewingdude.wordpress.com/category/machines/

Oh, and I found him when I googled 403 service manual. He has free manuals & service manuals. (but prefers we not turn around & sell them...)

And ANOTHER thing!!!

A year or so ago, a friend wanted a new & better machine. She sent me links to two s/m at QVC. I read the articles & reviews. Half the reviews panned the machines, half raved. Well, that was pretty easy to figure out. Non sewers loved them cuz they didn't know any better & real sewers hated them cuz they were Junque. I told my friend no go. I was leaving big city for small city life, so I took my serger and main sewing machine (403) in for periodic maint. Well, of course, the OSMG had oodles of nice (real) sewing machines. I called my friend, and she was all no dice.

Totally didn't get that the OSMG's refurbished OLD machines were

BETTER

than the new shiny crappy plastic stuff.

Know when your machines are in heat, and keep them separated (in a well-lit room) to prevent unintended growth in the herd.

Avoid the temptation to wander through strange yard sales, new thrift stores, or Craigslist ads for your (or adjoining) cities.


Look straight ahead, with both hands firmly on the steering wheel, when driving through residential neighborhoods on “trash day”.

Do not let anyone know you collect, repair, (or even use) old sewing machines lest you become the local foster home for wayward and orphan units.

Have a “sponsor”, who you can call for an intervention, when you start to think eBay is a good place to find affordable, high-quality, “industrial-strength” vintage sewing machines (that will arrive at your home completely undamaged.)

Learn to say “no, I’m stronger than this” if you suddenly find yourself climbing up on a dumpster behind the local Goodwill (in your Sunday clothes) because you thought you saw the LBOW colors of a vintage Singer peeking out.

Some of these feet are slanted (I have a 403) and that throat plate in back looks like my 403. Some of the other feet look like those on my Babylock Grace, so I'm not sure. The price plus shipping (to my area) is around $23

So, if you need feet...

also, there's a walking foot in front. IF it fits the slant shank singers, I paid about $25 for mine a couple of years ago.

http://www.shopgoodwill.com/viewItem...temID=18156407

My favorite quote... from his "about me" section

"I plot for the downfall of the consumer economy, where my chosen band of elite Thread Warriors will stand up and remake the world, with me as their glorious leader. I will rule with a gentle, yet firm hand, where [attractive] women will finally be freed from the enslavement of mandatory clothing.

I see a plastic hopping foot in the back too. (better than no hopping foot)
A very good deal overall.
Rodney

What a hodge-podge of slant and snap on stuff. Actually those older plastic ones are supposed to be pretty good I've heard. I have one but haven't got to try it. I dug it out of a box of cr*p, er, I mean stuff, and by the time I got things picked up it walked away on it's own and hasn't come back.

Cari