This Singer Electronic 560 Diana is our first electronic machine. Both Jim and Elizabeth were exposed to electronics training while in the military. Jim studied vacuum tubes but none were found in this sewing machine! The 560 sat on the workbench for over a year as we did not get a general purpose throat plate with the machine. That plate is needed for Diana to do anything but straight stitch. We didn't need to put Diana to work as we have other machines that do straight stitches very nicely. After about a year, we purchased another Singer machine having a general purpose throat plate that resembled the correct shape and it was installed in Diana. (The general purpose plate has an elongated opening allowing the needle to freely travel left and right and not just go up and down as in a straight stitch.)

Jim was never able to get Diana to do anything but straight stitch even with the new throat plate. We thought all along that something was wrong with the machine. He spent a lot of time with his voltmeter trying to troubleshoot the electronics.

The problem was solved when the throat plate was removed and the foot control was depressed. This caused the machine to immediately start to zig-zag. Further analysis showed that there is a small micro-switch that is actuated by a correct throat plate for Diana preventing the machine from zigzagging if a straight stitch throat plate is installed--a very good idea, indeed.

That is when we made the posting on a vintage sewing machine site looking for a throat plate. Subsequently, a very nice person provided us with one, and now our Diana is very happy.