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(Re-posting from yesterday’s thread):

If things get bad, one extremely piece of equipment that many people don’t have but would need long term would be a sewing machine.

In 3rd world countries, a sewing machine is often a family’s prized possession. In the USA, it is probably the most under-valued and under-priced piece of practical equipment you can currently get.

As far as a practical basic used straight stitch machine goes that you can easily find for cheap (say $10-30 for a bare sewing machine head, $40-70 in a portable case or table with motor, $50-150 in an antique treadle cabinet , I would suggest 1 of these 3 types for ease of use, spare parts, and supplies:

(1) SINGER Class 15 (or compatible— Sold as Kenmore and other brands in the 1950s-1960s). Easy to find bobbins, needles, and spare parts for. Style was still being made in India and China (until Wuhan virus hit). Tens of millions were made by Singer and copies were made in Japan, Taiwan, Europe, etc. All cast iron and steel construction. Can be powered by treadle, hand crank, or electric.

(2) Runner up is the SINGER Class 66 (includes the 99) (or compatible). Easy to find needles, and some parts, but bobbins are somewhat more expensive and spare parts are usually cannibalized from old pre-1960s machines. Made by SINGER from 1900-1950s and also in the 1950s in Japan. Powered by treadle, hand crank, or electric.

(3) In a pinch, the SINGER Class 27 (includes the 28, 127, and 128). Easy to find needles, bullet shuttle and bobbins still made by 1 company in China, spare parts are usually cannibalized from Victorian era machines. These are usually best powered by treadle or hand crank. Many of the antique treadle Singer machines you see on craigslist are the 27 class and are found in treadle cabinets. The good thing about these machines is that they are plentiful, but were last made in large quantities in the 1930s, so spare parts are usually cannibalized as aside from slide plates, shuttle, and bobbins, parts aren’t made.

Honorable mention - White FR (rotary). Uses Singer needles, but oddball bobbins. Excellent, robust machine, but last made in the 1950s so spare parts would need to be cannibalized.

There are many better, fancier machines but they usually either cost more or are harder to find parts for (i.e. Singer 201, 301, 221/222 Featherweight, computerized marvels, etc).

Avoid most oddball makes or very old machines (pre-WWII) for anything other than decoration or a backup machine as many use needles and bobbins that haven’t been made since WWII (i.e. Domestic, Minnesota, Eldridge, Davis, etc). Now, if you can find one for $5 or it’s sitting on the side of the street, that’s a different story. But I wouldn’t advise spending $100 on a machine that you can’t find supplies for when that same money can get you something practical.

You can find pictures online for what these machines look like and then go on craigslist to find them locally.