Garage Sale Find, HELP QUICK

Jul 31, 2006 16 Replies

Went to a sale in the neighborhood. Found a Singer Touch and Sew. It's a portable. It was sitting on the floor and I couldn't get the serial number or the model, just that is was a Touch and Sew.



No accessories or manual, has foot pedal and cords with it, just one foot. The one foot tells me it zig-zags.



It is emaculate. Price is $90.00. I said that was high. The lady had asked her father what he wanted for the SM.



We talked for a while. I was sorting through all the fabric that was for sale also. One dollar a yard. She sold the cottons I picked out that totaled 7 1/2 yards for 4 dollars.



The lady told me to come back because the sale was going on for 3 days. I have a feeling I might be able to get this machine, if it isn't scooped up first, but at a lower price.



So what do you think I should offer for it. Can't find anything like it on e-bay except for a Little Touch and Sew, the child's model.



HELP!!!!



Kate T. South Mississippi



Hi Kate,

I found a "Golden Touch and Sew" listed here

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For what it is worth, I used to own one of these and I wouldn't pay that much for it. The model you are looking at could be very different, so ignore me :-) I was just not happy with the Singer. It is still around someplace at my sister's house. If this doesn't work out for you let me know. Maybe we can arrange something.

Rita L.

Kate T. wrote:

Touch and sew machines are often called touch and swear. They aren't Singers best made machine. I might give $20 for one but $90 should come in a cabinet with every accessory made. There are just too many of them around. There were several touch and sew models. There is one that you can wind the bobbin while still in the machine. I have a friend that has that particular model because she has trouble with her hands. Her husband does machine repairs though. I'd pass but that is just my thought. Irene probably knows a lot more than me about these machines. TAria

Kate T. wrote:

There's one listed on craigslist.com (Cleveland) with cabinet for $25, if that's of any help.

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Kudos to you on the great fabric score! :)

NancyB

I and several friends have called this machine the "Touch and Swear". One friend called hers the "Touch and Repair."

You might want to take that into account. I think $90 is way high.

I bought a Kenmore at a garage sale for my daughter. It was from the same era. It came with dozens of cams including monogrammers. I paid $25 and another $80 to tune it up and fix the bobbin winder.

L>Went to a sale in the neighborhood. Found a Singer Touch and Sew.

Golden touch doesn't refer to the fabric; its what was done to your wallet when you purchased it!

klh >I and several friends have called this machine the "Touch and Swear".

She would have to pay me to take it. This was not one of Singer's better products.

Sherry Starr

Keep going to the sales, Kate. One day you'll find a treasure. Touch and Sew wouldn't even make a good boat anchor. Polly

"Sherry Starr" wrote > She would have to pay me to take it. This was not one of Singer's better products.

Thanks for the DO NOT BUY!!!! I thought the price was high but my goodness I didn't realize this was a Dud.

This explains why it looked so "new". It looked like the one on the e-bay auction.

Thanks ladies for all your advise. Hershey's Extra Dark Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts and Cranberries all around.

Kate T. South Mississippi

You're welcome, Kate. If memory serves (and that would be a big event), the Touch and Sew was the first SM that caused gentle old ladies to use really blue foul language. . . not to mention having hissy-fits, the vapors and their hair catching on fire. So glad you asked. We like to look smart. Polly

"Kate T." wrote > Thanks for the DO NOT BUY!!!! I thought the price was high but my

I believe this is the model for which my mother traded her Singer 401A. She hated it from the day she bought it! I remember her throwing things across the room in frustration. Seems like it could NOT hold the tension settings. Can't remember. I have my grandmother's 401A (Grandma bought 2 at the same time, one for her and one for my mother) that DD mentioned she might like to have when she moves into her own place. Fine with me, but I'm a little worried I won't remember how to use it to teach her. Hope it's like riding a bike....(I can hear Polly now....you're doing it wrong if it's like riding a bike..or something much cleverer than that.) KJ

Yup! That's the one I bought for $7 on a garage sale not too long ago. :) No case, no instruction book, no attachments, just the machine, but it works well after I got it all oiled up.

Julia in MN

I may take it in for a check up and cleaning before turning her loose on it. My mother used to oil it for me whenever she came to visit. She never wanted to use my Bernina. It's been a long time since it was babied. Good advice. KJ

I've been away at a conference all week and just got back this evening,

-- I'm sorry I wasn't able to reply to your urgent message :)

Contrary to some of the posts, there actually are two GREAT Signer Touch & Sew models; the 600 and 603. These are the last of the all-metal Singers. (Yes they have the Touch and Sew bobbin mechanism, but after having 6 Touch & Sew machines the biggest problem with these mechanisms I've seen is they get gunked up and not cleaned out well, hence terrible lower bobbin tension...).=20

The early Touch & Sew machines were gear driven (no belts), but later models had plastic gears (and even later models had belts) so if you can find one of these earlier ones, go for it. But NOT FOR $90 :) I paid $30 for my 603e and she came with EVERYTHING including a great table, two boxes of attachments, a even feed dog, manuals, etc.

They make a great chain stitch....

Guess I'd have to also ask, does it sew? If not, that means it needs a good cleaning and lubbing....so see what the model number is, and if it sews, is a 600 or 603 ,offer 1/2 price and see if she'll go for it.

-Irene =20

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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