I was having a lookie at both machines last night and even got the 9612 running. Quite a nice machine really. It was nice not to have to press a touch screen button a billion times just to select a stitch type or length and also not having a choice of a billion stitch types...there's straight and .... zigzag. Oh and a button hole stitch. That's it! Super!
The few stitches I managed without mangling them up were very nice too. On my first attempt I forgot to pull the top and lower threads and ended up making a very nice thread ball that Garfield would have been proud of. That took some fiddling to free from the machine
Further investigation on the 201k revealed that a screw to pitch the lugs that secure the machine in the table is missing so I need to hunt for one of those. Whether it makes a difference to the actual workings or not I'm not sure but the thread tension mechanism isn't quite all there. I need to source either the numbered dial etc or just buy a while new mechanism. A bit of googling turned some up which looked a bit naff but a few looked original for around £15 so that's next on Bills shopping list. Other than that, I think everything is there
I was also given some cream leather offcuts so I'm thinking I'll trim some of that to use as inserts in the drawers to stop everything rattling around.
Oh and I was given some sewing patterns too. Could make myself a lovely dress or two!