Can Anyone Recommend An Electric Sewing Machine ?

[silka]

I just need a cheap basic one, nothing fancy ?

[dannyk13]

Plenty of choice here:-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p1883.m570.l1313&_nkw=basic+sewing+machine&_sacat=0

[eleanor2]

Hi silks,
I’ve had a ‘New home Janome’ for a few years,though this will be an old model now. This link shows a Janome and isn’t a bad price.

[eleanor2]

https://uk.bestreviews.guide/sewing-machines?origin=google&google_params%5Bmatchtype%5D=b&google_params%5Bnetwork%5D=g&google_params%5Bdevice%5D=m&google_params%5Bcreative%5D=355040613994&google_params%5Bkeyword%5D=&google_params%5Badposition%5D=&google_params%5Badgroupid%5D=73505153642&google_params%5Bcampaignid%5D=2030206989&;bs=&google_params%5Bfeeditemid%5D=&google_params%5Btargetid%5D=dsa-437115340933&google_params%5Bloc_interest_ms%5D=&google_params%5Bloc_physical_ms%5D=9046630&google_params%5Bdevicemodel%5D=&google_params%5Btarget%5D=&new_api=true&dest=0&sys_id=0%7C491&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsMT4xpyO6wIVBuztCh3RPQJyEAAYASAAEgLLJ_D_BwE

[alavahalf]

You just can't go wrong with a Singer. This one is a bargain and will still be running in a 100 years time.
Good investment as they are now rising in value. Spares are readily available, although you are unlikely to need them as these machines were so well built. They are semi industrial and will cope with leather and heavy fabric. My wife is a seamstress and has 3 Singer machines, she wouldn't be without them.
Use one of these and you will never want a plastic one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293671284070

Check your local Fri Ad and Gumtree.. another one to look out for is a Singer 201k ..

[eleanor2]

Yep, Singer are of course well known brand and reliable!

[dannyk13]

Bought a Brother sewing machine in the early 60s, cost £27, and it is still being used by my daughter.

[woofgang]

Singer are nowhere near as good as they used to be. My first choice would be Brother, second choice Janome. It really does depend though what you want to do with it? Nothing cheap will sew heavy fabric (or not for long anyway!)

[alavahalf]

It was a lot of money danny, much more than a weeks wages I guess .. the older Brothers used exactly the same bobbin and shuttle mechanism as the Singer and were manufactured with the same Victorian Engineering skills. Another one that will still be around in a 100 years !

[eleanor2]

Yes Brother,another great brand.

[dannyk13]

alavahalf- more than two weeks wages for me.

[alavahalf]

At the time you didn't imagine it would still be running as good as ever .. 60 years on !

[dannyk13]

No, and has never needed any repairs.

[alavahalf]

Woof that is why I recommended an old model, the 185k from 1958 or a 201k from the 1930s. If you are familiar with the old machines then you just wouldn't touch a modern cheap platic one.

[woofgang]

Yes I am, they are lovely machines.

[silka]

Thank you all for your comments

[Tuvok]

Keep an eye on Aldi and Lidl - they sometimes sell Singer, Brother and own brand

[silka]

Tuvok yes they have some good middle aisle items

[lady-janine]

I have a 48 yr old Bernina. Inherited from my mother. All metal and very heavy but works (touch wood) like a dream. She used it every day of her life and I used it most days. Easy to self-service. I know it was expensive when she bought it but you can get them quite cheaply 2nd hand now.

[murraymints]

I have a BROTHER !

[rowanwitch]

Best advice I can give is find somewhere that sells them and can allow you to try them, one may feel right.
I had an old 'new home' that lasted 40 years it was only trouble getting spares that meant it was pensioned off. I now have a second hand reconditioned janome. I reckoned I didn't need another 40 years at my age. Would love an extended long arm machine for quilt making though. Make sure you find one that has all the functions you need. If it's for curtains and dressmaking do you need all the fancy embroidery stitches? If it's never going to sew leather or denim do you need a heavy weight one.