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New Home 446 What do you know?
dsmasuda Intermediate Member since 8/20/09 Posts: 3	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/16/13 2:57 PM I have an opportunity to obtain a New Home (Janome) 446 and can't find any review. Is anyone out there familiar with this model and can tell me if worth purchasing? $200 (with cabinet) and in pristine condition.
Mufffet   Intermediate VT USA Member since 8/14/05 Posts: 8917	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/16/13 3:07 PM This is some years old - as in decades, and although probably a fine solid machine, for myself I find it 100 dollars overpriced. This is going to depend on your liking the machine - have you tried it? I am notoriously wary of overpriced vintage machines, so if it is worth it to you and you like these machines and it is pristine, well there ya go. Good luck! ------ "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." --Dalai Lama I have sewing machines
Jennifer Hill Advanced AB CANADA Member since 4/11/02 Posts: 1478	Login to reply to this post In reply to Mufffet << 2 members like this. Date: 3/16/13 3:55 PM Hey Muffet, I just googled this machine and IMO, you are just toooooo generous. I'd peg that machine as 40+ yrs old. At least. I'm sure if it is complete, it will be a fine stitcher, but paying more than $50 for any Japanese machine of that vintage is rather a stretch. If the seller paid me $20 to take it off their property, it may be a fair trade. Jennifer in Calgary
zanylady   Advanced MD USA Member since 5/6/09 Posts: 170	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/16/13 5:47 PM What does "pristine condition" mean?If it has everything, that means manual, attachments etc. and has been serviced very recently, like when they put it up for sale and if it does do everything its supposed to do. . With the cabinet (if its in good shape) I would probably sell it for $65. I do sell machines at a flea market. With Baltimore or Washington buyers I could probably $85 but in York I would ask $75 and come down to $65.
sewfrequent Intermediate TX USA Member since 6/27/03 Posts: 2906	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 3/17/13 7:48 AM That's a really fun machine. My janome dealer has fondest memories of it and remembers when it was new. The street value is low ...in DFW, it'd go for $75-ish. If you really love it....it isn't foolish either to acquire it, appreciate it, enjoy it and pass it on when you're ready! Try offering less-- IF CL item, they expect it. If via dealer, same is true. We over-pay for the brand new machines too. There's about the same % of mark-up involved even before tax and those don't come with furniture attached.
Mufffet   Intermediate VT USA Member since 8/14/05 Posts: 8917	Login to reply to this post In reply to sewfrequent << Like this post Date: 3/17/13 10:50 PM Yup - you all are right as I would never pay any more than 75 probably for an old machine of any kind, and maybe I might spring for 150 for a featherweight but no more. Really. This one could be a great machine, but what everyone says is fair! ;) ------ "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." --Dalai Lama I have sewing machines
TeeGee Intermediate CANADA Member since 11/13/04 Posts: 258	Login to reply to this post In reply to dsmasuda << Like this post Date: 3/17/13 11:02 PM Hi,in my neck of the woods I have seen the New Home 446 in a cabinet as well as other old New Home brand sewing machines for sale at thrift stores between 25-50 dollars,depending on the condition. I saw an Elna 64 in a cabinet for 20 dollars.I bought the Elna sewing machine,because I needed all the cams and accessories for another vintage Elna model and left the cabinet at the thrift store. New Home 446
THX1141 Member since 3/23/13 Posts: 2	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/23/13 7:24 PM As it happens, I was looking at a New Home 446 on eBay where I live for £20 (not pristine but reported as working). I don't know a thing about sewing (I'm a 28 year-old male and we did have sewing lessons at school but they were pretty basic and the shorts I made were awful). Anyway, I want to sew hems in a curtain swag that I'm making for my mother's bedroom and I don't much fancy doing it by hand. I'd also like to be able to repair some of my shirts and jeans in some creative way. Would I be likely to regret getting such a basic machine? What stitches would I be likely to miss from a newer machine? There's also a 676 on eBay. Both are near where I live which would make for convenient collection. The photo bellow is from the 446 eBay listing - what are those things? Do modern machines use them? Thanks you guys! -- Edited on 3/23/13 7:28 PM --
Jennifer Hill Advanced AB CANADA Member since 4/11/02 Posts: 1478	Login to reply to this post In reply to THX1141 << Like this post Date: 3/23/13 9:43 PM I think this machine would be ideal for the uses you mention, and you can't beat that price. The main stitches you would probably find on modern machines that this one cannot do are what we call "reverse motion" stitches - where the stitch mechanism controls the back/forth movement of the feed dogs, as well as the side-to-side movement of the needle. Such stitches are not necessary for basic sewing, although many folks do love them. Those thingies in the box you show are stitch cams, which are mounted on a holder on the machine to make the fancy stitches illustrated on their tops. Modern machines generally use computers to drive the stitch mechanisms, although mechanical machines would have a built-in camstack to made a variety of stitches, but usually not that many. Jennifer in Calgary
THX1141 Member since 3/23/13 Posts: 2	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/23/13 10:26 PM Thanks Jennifer, I really appreciate your advice! -- Edited on 3/23/13 10:26 PM --

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