I am by no means an expert, but I used to collect vintage machines. Sewing machine manufacture works like most other industries, a tender is put out, and companies bid on it. So for instance, Sears Kenmore machines just have the Kenmore name on it, it’s not made by Sears, sometimes they are made by Janome and at other times by someone else, like perhaps Husqvarna. All the machines are made in China (even if they say otherwise). Some modern machines are very well made, are mostly metal, but they cost more.

If you are going to purchase another machine, I would look for old Singers, Kenmores, White and other companies like that, from the 50’s and 60’s are the best years. Look on Kijiji, or Ebay etc. People are always selling old machines for not much money, with a bit of tune-up and TLC, they will sew beautifully for years to come. I good, sound machine should be mostly metal (especially inside), and should have nice solid feel to it.

I have a modern Janome computer machine, and it;s very, very well made, it’s a heavy all metal machine, but I also have my trusty, gorgeous Singer 301A, straight stitch machine, which was made in the 50’s and sewing beautfully! It’s one of best machines Singer ever made (when they meant something in the world).

I am sorry about what had happen, I live in the downtown Toronto,
I want to buy a simple sewing machine to fix hems and other stuffs, once in while i like to do sewing specialy in the winter.

It is very hard to find a good one.. at Sears they are too heavy, Zellers same things as well as wall mart…

A few years ago, I bought a sewing for $300 and I was robbed, it broke down after a year, and the store the purchased it closed down…

Thank you!

I’ve found older Singers and Kenmores at yard sales for 2-7 dollars, once an old Pfaff for 8 dollars. It needed a 40 dollar belt, but it’s a workhorse and well worth the bit of effort we put into it.

Now I’m using my mother’s machine she bought nearly 30 years ago from sears. She “just wanted a new one” even though the old beast works great. She went with another Kenmore machine because the beastly yellowed old Kenmore just won’t die. But she enjoys that it’s lighter and smaller so she can tote it around more easily.

My recommendation: A Beastly Kenmore.

plus, I looked on the sears website. I can still reorder parts, bobbins, and the manual for the old beast. 30 years old and I can still get parts. That’s my kind of machine.