Introducing Bessy

On Saturday afternoon I went to a local thrift store that was in the last half hour of it's 50% off sale.  This particular thrift store knows how to price their items so half off the regular price is a bona fied, truly incredible deal.  


I travelled my usual route upon entering.  I usually save the clothing for last if I am not looking for anything in particular.  I missed her on the way in,  I was already scoping out the jewelry:


no jewelry, on to crafting supplies,
nothing at all! on to men's belts, 
no belts, on to women's shoes, purses and belts, 15 minute closing warning!
nope, on to do a quick scan of the clothing,
nothing there either,
I start heading to the door and it is then that I see her ... under a table, with a box of junk on top of her ... she's in her case, 

the case seems in good shape ... I tentatively remove the top, fully expecting a musty smell but instead I was rewarded with this!

A Baycrest Double Duty

And this is what I paid for her:

She has been WELL taken care of.  Just look at the shine:

See the reflection of the chair behind:

There is no bobbin case but a turn of the hand wheel produces a smoooooooooooth motion.

Some research has let me to believe she is a New Home 444 produced in the 80's (perhaps 60's, that is what I originally thought).  She can do a straight and zig zag stitch and she weighs 45lbs!  I will use her as a portable, holiday machine as well as a whatever I want her to do; I'm sure she'll oblige.  The only insulting thing is that the cheapest manual I can find is going to cost me $10 plus my printing costs. More than the cost of this beautiful, french mint green hunk of Canadian steel!

ETA: Does anyone know how to date a New Home (or Janome) sewing machine?