Would like to know what you would pay for this machine
 

I hope you can get to the ad and see the pictures. The cabinet is in rough shape. Seems to be from 1906. What would you be willing to pay for this machine, or is it in too poor condition? Thanks for any and all input. Blessings, Carol

http://elpaso.en.craigslist.org/atq/3642879708.html

I usually pay between $15 and $25 for a machine and cabinet in that rough shape. It is a lot of manhours and work to restore, repair and service the machine. You can do this yourself but it takes time and lots of elbow grease
Skip

I'm with Glenn -- I wouldn't pay more than $25 for it. the decals are worn and the cabinet sure is in rough shape. Just my 2¢.

Personally- I'd skip it. When I first got the machine bug a few years ago I wanted every treadle I could find, but now I try to find a good cabinet or good machine with nice complete decals and partner them up. It's rare to find both in one buy. I've managed to find 2 good Pheasant decal machines and 1 good Wings decal machine. Keep watching Craigslist, Freecycle, etc- wherever you find antique machines in your neck of the woods. Put the word out among friends and family. Get the best quality machine you can, not whatever pops up.

It's in very rough shape ... both the machine and the cabinet. Machine looks like it's missing the bobbin winder as well so you'll need to add in the cost of purchasing one. The cabinet needs all new veneer's in my opinion.

Machines/cabinets in my area are usually on the high end but I still wouldn't pay more than $20 ... and that would just be to rescue or "practice" refurbishing.

If this is your first vintage AND you want to practice refurbishing ... well it's a lot of work but this machine and cabinet offer a lot of "opportunity" for both :)

I'm with Monroe on this one..very rough and if you wait you can easily find one in much better condition. With that said, it may sew well.

I agree with everyone's comments, especially Monroe's suggestion to check out your local freecycle. A woman in our area posted an 'old sewing machine needs a good home' and I responded right away. She had a beautiful singer from the 60s that was the high end machine of it's time. It was in perfect condition with all the bells and whistles. She just wanted to be sure her mom's machine was going to be used since she didn't sew. I paid to have it checked out, runs great had the original manual, a bunch of stitch discs and a beautiful cabinet. If I felt comfortable doing my own maintenance, it would have been completely free.

Thank you to everyone for your input. I'm going to pass it up. I keep watching freecycle, craigslist, and yard sales hoping to get lucky one of these days. I would love a treadle, and I will keep looking. You folks are all so informative, thanks again.

Get a photo of the undercarriage of the head. If it has three rods running the long way it is a 15 class machine. probably a 15-30, but if it has only two rods crossing the undercarriage of the head it is a 115, and probably worth dinking with.

I Stand corrected-according to the serial # it is a 15 class built in December 1906. That case has to have thirty or forty bucks worth of drawers and irons on it though.