The colors are great; a metallic dark pearl upper and a standard beige lower make for a friendly machine. Controls are large and move easily, it's a well engineered machine. A real unique design feature is the integrated handle. The styling however may be argued as a little dated in that the forms and surface treatment are actually from a 1940s automotive vocabulary. This I think was odd; whomever was in charge of styling at the time was caught in a previous decade... it may be that the 765 was a corrrective responce. This design was and still is adventurous however just out of step with what was forward looking or "modern" at that time.
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| Jeff Bergman |
I have one of these & love it! I had the option of the 793 when shopping craigslist but chose this one as I loved way it looked & figured it was all that I needed. Like that you include the car pics with these as "old cadillac" is always how I've referred to mine. Only comment is that stitch length & width seem small (as compared to my mom's commercial-grade 1980s machine). Is this common? Was there a different stitch size norm back then?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments, it is a unique good looker!
DeleteI find the stitch length and the ZZ to be substantial; the ZZ is so big that it is suprizing.
A thorough cleaning and oiling is always in order on these old machines.
Service can add a lot to the machine cost but could get it running perfect.
There is one on craigslist here in Portland, OR that looks pretty nice and they want $75 for the machine and case - is this a good price?
ReplyDeleteI have caught the vintage sewing machine bug and just love the looks of this one - I bought a White Rotary a few weeks ago - Model/Serial #1x1q357 - made in 1929 in Cincinnati
Hi Sue, these are cool for the collection. I have adopted a very strict low price policy especially on these Japanese machines because they are around and they come up often enough. I would not pay over half of that unless it is spotless, start at $35 and stay firm! I got another one for $20. Good luck & have fun.
DeleteTom
Hi Tom,
ReplyDeleteI have one these handed down from my grandma. She was an expert seamstress. My machine has been sitting in my basement for years. I once tried to take it apart to see how it worked (before I knew the first thing about sewing). In the process I lost the bobbin case, race cover, shuttle. Could you point me in the right direction on where I could get these parts?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Jen Greenwell
Well this will take a little time and effort but there are a couple of ways to go.
Delete1st start on craigslist to find an old machine hopefully in "for parts" condition, but regardless if you can get a machine for $30 or $40 you will be good.
2nd is sewingpartsonline or some such thing lots of people are selling lots of parts, check at least a couple of sites to make sure pricing isn't out of line.
This machine is identical (mechanically) to many other machines from Japan of the same era (like the White 793.) the bobbin case itself is extremely common but there are some differences, I found good ones for cheap at Joann’s.
This is a very good machine when it's tuned up.
Good luck
You are so kind to reply so quickly. I will try these options first. Thank you so much.
DeleteDo you know how to put the race cover and shuttle back into the machine? Or a you tube directions?
DeleteDo you know how to put the race cover and shuttle back into the machine? Or a you tube directions?
DeleteHi Tom
ReplyDeleteI want to buy acessorie feet for my machine but I am not what foot it will take.ie rotary or short shank. Any help? thanks
It is a short shank and is like many other machines from Japan of that period, mostly all interchangable. You don't need a special foot for this machine; any short should do.
DeleteHello... are you still in the loop ? I just bought a 764 and have a problem with the tension disc. I would so much appreciate your help... Regards
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing you mean the thread tension not the bobbin tension?
DeleteThe thread tension was likely taken apart and needs to be "zeroed out" again, by that I mean get the middle of the range (5) to stitch correctly on 2 - 4 layers of light fabric.
Let me know more and I'll try to help.
What size replacement belt do I need to get for my White 764?
ReplyDeleteI measured 13" or 330mm
DeleteSee: https://www.sewingpartsonline.com/blog/sewing-machine-belts-sizing/
Was that the outside circumference?
DeleteI'm looking at one that is missing the bobbin and needle. How difficult would these be to replace?
ReplyDeleteI'm looking at one that is missing the bobbin and needle. How difficult would these be to replace?
ReplyDeleteNeedles are universal for domestic machines like this and bobbins are very common.
DeleteBring the bobbin case with you to the sewing supply store or local repair guy and get the correct one. You should have about 6 in hand.
Thanks so much! And from a previous post, you noted the bobbin case is a generic item as well?
DeleteShe says she has it, but the pic she sent was to confirm none of the internal bobbin stuff was missing (the parts that would require another machine).
I'm so excited, picking it up today :)
I'm glad I found this site, I just bought a 769 on eBay. For a zipper foot would any low shank do? I have a brother a few years old which I believe is low shank does that mean this foot may be interchangeable?
ReplyDeleteI may have additional questions also once my machine arrives, I'm excited.
Hello, I will soon be the owner of a White 764, however I bought it without a reverse button! Now I cannot find this part without perhaps buying another machine for parts. Blah. Do you by chance know where I can get a reverse button?
ReplyDeleteMine came with that button broken... I was able to glue it back together.
DeleteI was just working with it yesterday! and it really is an amazing machine, although it does not have a centered needle or left & right of center needle position it does have the widest ZZ I have ever seen!
I am going to be selling it soon I hope.
There will be no new parts for your machine however, like many other machines of that era made in Japan have similar buttons, your best bet is to make a craigslist and ebay search notification and wait for one to show up.
Hi Tom! I just bought one of these Fair Ladies and I'm having trouble making the presser foot shaft go up and down. I assume that there is a belt missing. If so, where would it be placed? I looked underneath and see no wheels to hold a belt.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Deb
Well the presser foot shaft is entirely in the top of the machine, so the lever to the back of the machine should push or drive it up by a cam type action, and the spring (around it) should force it down. There is nothing on the underside.
DeleteIf it doesn't move it is frozen and needs oiling and coaxing slowly.
Now if you are talking about the drive feet underneath I would check to see if the darning setting is set up or down, this is an item that regularly freezes and if it is in the down position the machine won't sew.
I found my "Fair Lady" in our neighborhood Goodwill store for $19. She sat in my garage, then in a storage facility while we were house-hunting, then came to the new house and sat in garage here for almost 7 years. I finally got back in to sewing. I was using my Brother ($400 machine from walmart) one day when suddenly I remembered the old White! Husband pulled it out and we cleaned it, etc. Realized it needed service. Took it in to sewing machine store and waited 7 weeks to have it returned .. Just tried sewing with it today, after this long journey, and Wow! Was it worth the wait!!! I am in love with it! It sews like a dream. It is so fluid and quiet too. Mine happens to be in great shape, minus a couple of chips in the paint that are small and one deep scratch that the guy put in it while he was servicing it recently (boo)! This is a STURDY almost industrial type machine that can handle curves and stops and turns and twists anything you give it to handle. I will be sewing on my 1964 White machine for years to come. :) Beautiful machine. Hope all of you enjoy yours! *M
ReplyDeleteI have a 764 in excellent condition, however mine came as part of a really nice "hideaway" table. Have you come across this sort of thing in your journey? I'd like to sell it, but obvs it is too large and cumbersome to ship.
ReplyDeleteI confess to having bought and pulled the machine from many the cabinet, they are not worth the trouble of taking.
DeleteUsually the seller doesn't mind, I offer to help them carry it out to the street but I sure don't want another cabinet.
I have 764 and the tension knob has popped out of it. I have the assembly and the spring but am at a loss as to how to install it so that it stays in place and lets me sew with the machine. Can you help me out?
ReplyDeleteHi, this is a standard tension assembly; the same as millions of other Japanese machines modeled after the early Singers.
DeleteGoogle: "sewing machine tension assembly diagram" images you should be able to see the concept
I just ran into this problem... to a while to find it but there's a set screw inside the metal housing for the knob. you can remove the housing by loosening a screw near the face plate thread guide.
DeleteHi there, I pulled my White 764 out yesterday and have been messing about with it for the last couple days getting it back working right. I think I've been running it with the bobbin winder pressed against the wheel and, I think its now ground down and as such will not wind a bobbin :( Do you happen to know what size of a tire this machine takes? And how to take it off/put a new one on? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think Joann's sells a package of different sizes, its just a big rubber "O" ring
DeleteJust pry it off and stretch the new one on
Thanks! I've been trying to get my thread tension assembled correctly and I *think* I need a new check spring... again, any idea what size/type these take? Sounds like most of these sorts of parts are/were standard, but just wondered if you knew!!
DeleteThat may be the one part that is a little unique but many versions will work.
DeleteIts about the position of that spring relative to the small hook in that tension assemble
Good Luck!
Hi there, me again. I just discovered that my grandfather still has my grandmother's old Singer sewing machine from the 1960s - I glanced at the manual and it said 1963. I honestly love my 764 (After greasing and oiling up some of the parts, and letting it sit for a day or so, its running 100% fine again! :), and am just curious what the chances of it fitting in the singers' cabinet are...
ReplyDeleteHmm, it is possible that it will fit, easy enough to try.
DeleteTake the singer out and drop the White in, or measure the length & width of the bed, the bed sizes are very similar but not the same
It appears that the clutch nut on my White 764 is not engaging. If I hold it and turn both the hand wheel and clutch nut the needle will go up and down otherwise when I try to see the hand wheel flies around but nothing else moves. Could the machine just need lubricant. I doubt if it’s even been done. Been in the family for 50+ years.
ReplyDeleteI'll like to sell it
ReplyDeleteI loss the pedal ????? do you know where I buy the remplace
ReplyDelete/////
ReplyDeleteWhat would one of these be worth today? It has never been used and I believe still has the original owners manual with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the information on the 764. I found one at an estate sale in December for $9, and couldn't pass it up. It works well. I think I may need to adjust the tension disk, but it came in handy within a week of acquiring it when my main machine stopped working. It have beautiful stitches, possibly more consistent than my Husqvarna. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me if the White 764 needle placement is left homing? I can’t find where to adjust
ReplyDeleteMy 764 needs the whole tension assembly. Any idea where I can purchase one?
ReplyDeleteHello, I just received White 764 sewing machine with matching fold out table. My machine seems to be in excellent overall condition except its missing the knob located under the "WHITE" name or right beside the needle assembly. Do you know what this knob is for ? or what it is called? Do you know where I can find a replacement? thanks Harmen.
ReplyDeleteHarmen, this « knob » is the tension assembly. Ebay is a good place to hunt for parts. Good luck!
DeleteHello, we are looking for a hook gear for a white 764 fair lady sewing machine. The one we are trying to fix was given by my mother to my daughter to teach her how to sew. We are hoping to fix this sentimental machine. Anyone have one ?
ReplyDeleteHello I am wondering if I can use a heavy bonded nylon thread with this 764. #138-#207??
ReplyDeleteI need a manual for this machine . I recently bought one and I have lot's of project's that need sewing. So I need to learn how to use one . Or a tutorial would probably work. Thanks. Bob
ReplyDelete