:D That's my problem, too, Joe. I like to fix them as much as I like to sew. :)

I have very few machines left on my wish list now, though. I'd like a back-clamping red eye 66 in perfect condition and a fancy parlor cabinet. I'd like a vertical feed machine for which a good range of needle sizes are easily available. I'd like a 15-125 with Gingerbread decals. Those are about it for me. I really need to thin the herd as it is - they've sort of stacked up, here. :)

I am new to collecting vintage machines but I think the same way you do!!

I'm new to it too! We only started this crazy hobby a little over two months ago with Herself's acquisition of a 99 - hmmm does that sound familiar :)

Several weeks ago I picked up two machines that were on my wish list. A 66-1 in decent condition cosmetically but great mechanically, and a 15-91 in about the same shape. The 15-91 was bought specifically for my education in rewiring the potted motor.
The 66-1 cos I had an almost complete set of feet for it and I wanted a machine to match. Now I need a treadle base for it.

My wife and I are in the process of test running each machine to see if we want to keep it or sell it. The two 413s are going to be the first on the block, then perhaps the 3810. After that, we'll go through each one and see how we feel about it. We do have a number of machines that will stay here but other that can go.

Joe

I'd like the parlor cabinet without the machine. If it has the machine then one with immaculate Lotus decals would be nice, though so would another 115, this time with the Owl decals.

An NVF in really nice shape would be good, too - though I think I need to clear some treadle cabinets out of here before I can fit one of those nice Davis cabinets in.

We have a Willcox & Gibbs coming, but without a base so it won't be immediately useable. I love the iron work on the W&G bases. If I ever get a chance to build a universal treadle top out of something other than one of the Singer bases I'd like to find a set of W&G irons for it.

I don't know if I even truly consider myself a "collector", but I greatly admire those who do! I seem to grow fondness for machines that I have seen and incidently gained knowledge about. Often times from posts on forums like this one! Someone will share their really cool machine...and then all of a sudden I see one at a sale...and because I know just the slightest thing about it, it must come home. I try to avoid at this point anything too big unless I LOVE IT because my home is small. I avoid anything I have more than two of...although I'm thinking of getting a thired 15-90 so that all three of my kids will have one. I gravitate towards people powered machines versus electric because...well...electric can be a pain in the you know what.

LOL All of the above - I do have a really ugly pitted pock marked Japanese Clone I just love. It was frozen up not moving when I picked it up - it now moves better than anything else in pristine condition. Who cares what it looks like as long as it does the job. Maybe someday I will fix the finish on it but until then - it works. For Christmas last year my sister and I fixed up mom's little beat up FW. It sews like a champ - ugly but who cares. http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...t-t174236.html

I figure when I buy a junk machine it will either work or it will help another machine to work some day. I usually like to see all the parts on the machine or a really cheap price.

I agree with Miriam on the "really cheap price" part.

Joe

I'd like to add hand crank versions of the 66, 99, 201 and 221 (probably aftermarket for the featherweight). No wiring to worry about, fully self-contained, treadleable if the base is available. Yeah!

Piece of advice: don't take someone's word that the machine works.
I once came across a machine covered in dirt, missing its bobbin case, and all the wiring had been chewed by varmints, and the seller tried to force the wheel to move and tell me it worked! It hadn't worked in years, and I took it home for about five bucks, in the cabinet. The right price for a project.