It's just amazing to me that I've been able to get 3 great old Singers for a combined price of less than one cheap machine - a 99K13 ($40), a 401($25)and a 201 ($40)!

Annaquilts - I love your machines and their cabinets!

you might be googling the wrong #. 15-91 and 15=90.
15-91 good for heavier sewing, FMQ,not industrial.
201 is a gem for piecing, general sewing, my favorite.
401 is first machine for good zig zag, etc.
301 great for carrying to classes, no zig zag, cheaper than 221. I'd stop before the 600 series.

Hi AnnaQuilts,
I just joined this board because of you! A couple days ago I brought home my first 201 in a lovely cabinet and your 201 picture in cabinet is just like mine, in fact the first one I have spotted on the web. What can you tell me about this style cabinet, if anything? Do you know what the number of it is? I live in CA. Didn't think I liked the desk-cabinet at first, brought it home and now realize how beautiful and well made it is. Needs cleanup and some scratch touchup, but otherwise sturdy. If this lands in a diff. place, I am referring to your August post where you have pix of your machines incl. that 201 I refer to. I have included photos of my machine.

Hello!

Welcome to the board. I am also in CA. I think the cabinet is original to it. I know my 201 is younger then some of my other machines. I'll ask DH about the cabinet. I really like it as it is very big and has lots of storage. We left that machine in the cabinet and I have it standing butted up next to my sewing table. When not in use I fold the machine down and I have extra work surface.

ANY old, black Singer that is in working order...but you don't really want to limit to Singer machines. There are some cool Whites out there, along with Davis, National, Eldridge, and others....

Ha ha! If this is the Charlee I've already "met," on the Davis Group then I do indeed have Whites and a Davis NVF, as well as a "modern" 1978 Viking and a 1996 1090 Quilters Bernina. Love them all! Call me addicted.

If you don't have deep pockets and want a good retro machine buy an old all metal White - the older all metal Japanese machines are pretty cool as well. They will have names you have never heard of. There are some awesome old Kenmore and Necchi machines. On the other hand I've seen some old Kenmore machines ain't worth a plugged nickel. One we had back in the 60s was the very bottom of the line and just didn't get used much - nobody loved it - it only did straight stitch. Montgomery Ward made some nice high end type machines too.Look them over and see if you see ANY plastic gears or moving parts. They get brittle or what ever after time. Bottom line - look for metal parts.
Another thing to consider. Sit down at the machine and make sure you can 'see' the needle without craning your neck. Is the tension in the line of vision? Listen to the machine. Does the motor sound good? Does the machine clank and sound funny? Some times it will sound funny because there is lint gunking up the bobbin area. Or is it someplace else??? Has it been oiled? Do you see dried up thick gummy oil? Does the tension work? I recently got one cheap because it had a tension wire spinning around. Does the zig zag work? How much wear and tear has it had? Check to see if the thread comes up from the bobbin. My sister got a 301 very cheap because they had the bobbin cover messed up. You can learn a lot by reading up on the trouble shooting stuff on this board.

Annaquilts and Kazoogirl- I have that same sewing desk, and I've seen 2 more on Craigslist over the past few years. Mine came with a Necchi in it that I've never tried. Wished I'd been able to afford at least 1 more as I like the desk and it just fits next to my fireplace. Someday I'll put a different machine in it and actually sew.

What is wrong with that Necchi? I love some of those old Necchi machines - the engineering is a real treat!!! You can get manuals on line. Other machines may not fit a Necchi desk.

:lol: ~taking a bow~ That would be me! ;)

I love the variety that's available in the vintage sewing machine world! Each machine I have has something unique about it that makes it special....