That is so sad. My first machine was a Kenmore, 1974, still have it! Dad worked at Sears, so got it on sale and employee discount - my birthday and confirmation gift that year. Dad brought me to his store and the woman in the sewing dept showed me all the neat things I could do with my machine. I loved using it, a real workhorse, all metal. Still use it along with my Bernina 830E. Sears used to sell fabric too.

a cam is an item you insert in a special slot so that the machine forces the needle to move around in a pattern (years ago I had a Montgomery Ward machine which used cams to make decorative designs) Carolyn

My late MIL had an old black Kenmore - she had a buttonhole attachment that came with hers and it worked like a charm. Call a sewing repair centre and have your model number ready and inquire if they can order you an attachment OR ask if they have a generic one that would fit (take the machine with you and get them to show you how it would work when you go pick it up). Check local thrift shops and see what they have..sometimes you can find exactly what you need for little cost. This means you would have to know if your machine is long or short shank....if you had another attachment like a zipper foot, you could hold it against the buttonholer and see if the shank is the same and screw is on the same side. I would definately call some repair places and get some prices or ask about old machine parts - some trade in machines are stripped of parts and attachments and you can get some great bargains. If you have a manual it should show you what the attachment for your machine looks like at least. I think if you need it soon, generic maybe the way to go. Budster

My 1975 Singer Fashion Mate 360 up and died the other day too. I was so upset. Sounds like much the same as yours everything works but the bottom belt and bobbin. Of all the metal parts, it has one plastic gear that disentgrated and that works the works for the bobbin. I was debating on getting it fixed or getting a new one. I used to sew a lot and now its down to hemming and patching and darning. Although I'd like to one day quilt. I too was looking at that same singer model but ended up with a 7436 (more features, same price and just as simple to use). I think they sell these at Walmart. So far I like it, very easy to use. I'm 50, I don't do technical, I don't learn technical, but this is easy. One problem with new machines is they don't fit into the old cabinets because of the free arm (which already I can see is a nice feature after years of struggling with cuffs, sleeves and small spaces) and I'm not sure I like the machine up so high and not have the flat surface the cabinet provided but this model came with a larger surface table that attaches onto the machine which is nice and it has a lot of features I probably not use. There is automatic tension adjustment and I hated for years fighting with that to get the top and bottom stitch to co-ordinate, it adjusts itself, there is a wheel to adjust if you don't like the auto adjustment. And you can see the bobbin is gettting out of thread, that's nice. And no cams for the designer stitches, just press a button. BUT I bought mine at a dealer (all kinds of machines, some very expensive!) and she said the Singers are shipped with a thick oil and I should use the machine a couple weeks to break it in and bring it back in & at no charge they'll put a better silicon oil in there which will improve the performance and it will run quieter. So if you order one on-line or buy at Walmart who is gonna do that? So it seems to me you should do the traveling to a place that actually sells machines where you can sit down and try out the machines and find out these little things. It cost a little more than ordering on-line but unless you get a hundred dollar machine, it is an investment and you are going to want to be satisified when you patch and darn.