Singer 503A

I have three machines currently on the bench: a Kenmore 30-stitch made by Janome, a Pfaff 130, and this little number: the Singer 503A.

I've never been too interested in acquiring one of the Rocketeer models, yet I saw one in a local Value Village and stood in front of it for several minutes: Worth the effort or not?  I checked the price tag: $6.99 minus a 20% discount.  Well, here it is finally getting some needed attention.

When I initially brought it in the house, I set it aside for about 2 weeks.  My friend Janet mentioned the Rocketeer in her blog and I became curious: Don't I have one of those?  Why yes, I do.  No attachments were included save a zig-zag foot and the zig-zag cam but it came in a cheapie Singer table and both original knee and foot controllers were included.

I plugged it in and it runs.  In fact, it runs quite well.  It's very fast and has very little vibration, is strong, and makes a pretty stitch.  The zig-zag isn't wide but it's precise.  This would make an excellent primary machine in a sewing studio, especially if lots of denim and twill were on the agenda: 8 layers of Levi's like buttah and I didn't even replace the needle that was on the machine. 

It had and has some issues:

• Filthy.  Not smelly but dusty and splattered with unidentified substances.
• Bobbin winder tire in the process of shredding and shedding.  The machine's interior surface was covered with tire flakes.
• Broken right cover hinge (right, as you face the machine's front).
• Large paint bubble on bed that has broken, revealing the metal beneath and a number of smaller dings where the broken hinge provided a wrestling match with thumbs various and sundry.
• Label glued on the back reading: REPOSSESSED MACHINE.  I considered removing just the RE.  I'm now in the process of trying to remove the whole thing.  The skin underneath my thumbnail is sore.
• Original spool felts are loose, as the double-stick on the pin anchors was attracting every bit of lint within 2 feet, yet the felts wouldn't stay.

The exterior is clean and I've oiled and half-assedly greased it.  The interior is cleaner.   Yeah, I missed a few spots but it's one heck of a lot better than it was.  I've ordered a set of vintage hinges so the top cover will be operating as it should.  The bobbin tire has been replaced but I think it's just a shade too big so I'll be ordering several of the correct size.  The light bulb works.  Tension has been adjusted, top and bottom (and I've always found Singer tensions to be fiddly and tend to vibrate out of adjustment; this one is no exception).

Do I invest in the Singer LBOW touch-up paint kit (over $30) or leave that for the next owner?  (I'm not keeping this one.  I'm just here for the educational experience and life enrichment.  And the refreshments.)  If I were repairing a steady stream of similar Singer machines, it would be well worth the cost but I'm not a Singer fan (although I like this machine much better than I thought I would) and hardly ever see them priced in my bargain basement range.  Hmmm, what to do?