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Kenmore Users

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Susan

Manual for Kenmore 10 - 385. 81510?! 1 Reply

I need one!!!! The needle won't go up and down.

Tagged: 385, 81510?!, 10, Kenmore, for

Started by Susan. Last reply by L Hutch Sep 28.

Deb

Kenmore 158-14-101 Question

New to group so please bear with me on my first post. I have a Kenmore Model 158-14-101 sewing machine in a cabinet available to me and the price is right, can anyone tell me anything about this mo...

Started by Deb Aug 7.

Gayle Christopher

Store Brand Question 5 Replies

Many years ago, my mother's neighbor said that she absolutely had to go to a certain store, like Sears, Montgomery Ward, etc., for different appliances. She told me that the store brand appliances ...

Tagged: parts, brand, manufacturers, machine, Sewing

Started by Gayle Christopher. Last reply by Phyllis Jul 27.

Susan

A Kenmore for $2.50! 1 Reply

Check this blog out! Laura bought her daughter a Kenmore for $2.50! It cleaned up beautifully.

Tagged: blog, Laura, thrift, kenmore

Started by Susan. Last reply by Phyllis Jun 24.

susan romine

Attachments and Feet and Decorative threads 5 Replies

As mentioned in my comment, have collected as many feet and attachment accessories as I could find. Now that I am retired, I hope to experiment with all of them to see their designs in real life, a...

Started by susan romine. Last reply by migdalia Jun 21.

Comment Wall (43 comments)

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43 Comments

Katie Comment by Katie on September 1, 2009 at 9:41am
Hi Everyone,I'm new to Kennmore Users Group.I currently have two Kennmore Sewing machines that I use quite often to sew the dolls that I make,sew quilts and make my own outfits.I have the Kennmore #385.19606 and the Kennmore #385.19365991.Happy sewing.Katie
Alie Stevens Comment by Alie Stevens on June 25, 2009 at 5:46pm
$135 in 1956 today would be equal to 1,058.99, according to DollarTimes.com where they have an inflation calculator. I was curious so I checked it out. I can't imagine the average home sewer back then being able to afford $135 machine.
Phyllis Comment by Phyllis on June 24, 2009 at 4:41pm
Another Kenmore enthusiast here. My first was bought, to sew myself maternity clothes, in a Sear's Vineland, NJ store early 1958. It was work horse. Circa 1975, the stitch tension went awry. Was able to get the part because this happened 3 years before the 20 year limit on replacing parts went into effect. However, I have yet to get the part put into place.

The following URL might be of interest to members.

http://www.ismacs.net/sears/sears.html

My machine is near page end, with the caption below reading -
Perhaps it was an answer to Singer's popular Model 301? The "Kenmore 71", manufactured by White, was a rotary model made of aluminum and weighing only 17 1/2 pounds. It sold for a pricey $134.95 in 1956

Over the years since the early 1990's, I have purchased Kenmore's for my daughter, son, and most recently 2006.

Though I do know there are sewists who abhore anything "Kenmore."
Phyllis Comment by Phyllis on June 24, 2009 at 4:21pm
Alie - Can appreciate your being slightly bummed. Any plastic part can present a problem. Having the other pieces does indeed make up for the irreplaceable part.
Alie Stevens Comment by Alie Stevens on June 24, 2009 at 11:29am
I'm slightly bummed. My recent find of the vintage kenmore for $20 has just been declared unrepairable by my sewing machine repair man. It was sewing but the stitch length was messed up and when he looked at it he told me that the ONLY plastic part on the whole machine was cracked - the disc connected to the stitch length button. And Sears doesn't make that part anymore. It will sew but only with a basting stitch length. The good news is that the ruffler attachment I got with it, (not to mention all the other attachments) is worth more than $20. AND I can use those and the cams on my other Kenmore. He's giving my working Kenmore a tune-up. I can't wait to get it back, I have soooo much sewing to do!
M J Isenhart Comment by M J Isenhart on June 20, 2009 at 11:26pm
Thanks Marty. It is nice to know I have a vintage. I bought my kenmore in 1979. It is still going strong. I have had no problems with it. I thought about getting a new machine, but not any more.
Margaret "Marty" Cobb Comment by Margaret "Marty" Cobb on June 20, 2009 at 7:33pm
A sewing machine is considered vintage at 25 years old. An antique sewing machine would be 75 years old or older. Kenmores last forever it seems.
M J Isenhart Comment by M J Isenhart on June 20, 2009 at 6:39pm
What age is considered Vintage for Kenmore sewing machine?
susan romine Comment by susan romine on June 20, 2009 at 6:11pm
Sinclair's sewing machine repair manual was available years ago at my library. Its probably out of print by now, but, if found it has many helps for the not-so-obvious adjustments for the iron-horse machines that aren't just quite right. Grab this old book if you find one. I believe they spanned different shuttle shuttle styles also.
When one of my Kenmores 'adjusted' itself when dropped on a concrete floor I was able to get the machine parts realigned and set back where they belonged before jarred out of place.
Alie Stevens Comment by Alie Stevens on June 19, 2009 at 2:57am
I just picked up another Vintage Sears Kenmore sewing machine for $20! It came with the cabinet, bench, cams, attachments, manual, and these "Sew by Color" instruction cards. It looks like everything was kept with such care, and the attachments are in beautiful condition. It belonged to someone's grandmother. I didn't get it as cheap as Laura did hers, but this is such a deal!

It is missing the bobbin case, which seems odd since everything else has been so well kept. But, I think I can replace that with no problem.

Here's some photos of the old girl.



 

Members (54)

susan romine Phyllis Bonnie Margaret "Marty" Cobb migdalia Susan Jennifer Richeson Wilma Ramsey HeyJudee L Hutch Gayle Christopher Deb Rachel lois M. Morgan Bobbi Barbara H. Llera Miranda Shari Sheri jmaria Ambergirl134 Lee kathleenhood Kay bapace Terrie Lil oola Gerrie Janet Gangloff Dianne
 
 

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