Vintage Singer sewing machines

[xraytech]

I am looking to buy a friend a sewing machine for Christmas as she hates her 10 year old Kenmore.
Her prior machine was her mothers Montgomery Ward from the 50s, which I understand is a Singer rebadge.

I was thinking of getting a Slant-O-Matic or a Touch and Sew.

Does anyone have experience with either line or preferences.
Also does anyone know of any shops that would have old stock or refurbished models

 

[electrolux137]

I wonder how it was that vacuum cleaners and sewing machines got paired up. Really, they are completely unrelated to one another and the sewing machine is actually not a home-care appliance at all. But it certainly is, or was (not too many of these shops around anymore), very widespread. You could hardly find a shop that was just vacuum cleaners or just sewing machines.

Maybe it was because of the Singer Company, subject of this thread, who used to make both machines.

My mom had, for years, a black Singer electric sewing machine in a wooden cabinet. As a little boy I was fascinated by how the top would open out to a work surface and the sewing machine would be lifted up out of its resting place inside the cabinet. I don't know what ever happened to it but I know she hasn't had it for a long time.

 

[suckolux]

I still have mom's wooden case portable Singer, circa 50? Yes, runs fine.

 

[funvacfan]

Yes to

the Slant o Matic series...no to the Touch and Sew (sometimes called the touch and swear). The touch and sew have plastic gears, and are difficult to make simple repairs to.

Slant o Matic machines are great.

Just my 2 cents!

Guy

 

[louvac]

Stay away from...

..the Touch and Sews. Though a great concept, they are problematic machines because of their nylon or plastic gears. Any Singer machine that is a "400" series model number is a great machine and is a workhorse! Also, the "600" series model numbers are good. I have been told this by a local Singer sewing machine and vacuum repair center many years ago!


 


I know that particularly the model 401 is a really good model to get hold of!  

 

[kenkart]

RE Touch and Sew

The 600 series has the same gears as the 401-403 machines, the later models are the worthless ones.

 

[williamr1248]

Vintage Singer Sewing Machnes

I remember when I was small my grandmother traded her 1930'sSinger machine for a new "touch and Sew". It was problems and more problems. She was very disappointed in the machine and it was very expensive.
My mom had a Singer Slant-o-matic and it never had any problems.
I would not know how to even start to use it but we still have it. It was built
like the early 50's Hoovers. It still looks like a high quality product.
The Singer "touch and sew" is LONG gone. My sister in law got it and got tired of the repairs.
My other grandmother has a small 1940 Singer featherweight and my niece is still using it to this day and loves it.


I had not thought about those old Singer machines for years.
Singer kind of followed the Hoover story. At one time they were the best and it was a slow trip down hill. The name was the same but it was cheaper and cheaper products every year.
Very interesting thread.

 

[compactelectra]

Hans is right

Anything after the 60- series is a touch and swear. Here is probably the ultimate Singer Slant machine - the 500a Rocketeer. Built like a Sherman tank. This one and the 401 were the best and you can still easily get them on Ebay. They are easy to service and all metal. I'm a quilter so I use a number of machines. These are well-loved and long-lived.

 

[compactelectra]

The Featherweight

Is also a wonderful machine. Small but powerful. These are well-loved and in very high demand by quilters. Command high prices as well.

 

[suckolux]

My landlady has the featherweight, in the closet, looks new. I have asked if she wanted to sell it, was her mother's and almost never used.

 

[compactelectra]

I Primarily Use New Computerized Pfaff

Machines - but also have a number of older Singers I use. The 400 and 500 series are wonderful. Still have to get my hands on a 401a. Check out the video on the 500a Rocketeer.

 

[tolivac]

Seen the Singer Rocket sewing machine and the Featherlights(indeed loved by quilters) at the Sew and Vac place near me-I have helpted Mike in fixing some of these machines-those oldies were indeed built like tanks and made to last-and easily repaired.Their timing can be adjusted easily-unlike many new machines were its more difficult.If the timing is off-of course the machine can't sew.Whenver Mike gets a Featherlite -fixes it up-doesn't stay on the shelf long.You can almost consider a sewing machine a sort of home care device-it can be used to make curtains-and sometimes upolstery and seat covers,throw covers for furniture besides making clothes.

 

[danemodsandy]

The Plastic Gear Issue:

It is true that many Singers from the '60s onward used one or more plastic gears, and it is also true that those gears can degrade and cause trouble. The oldest of them is now pushing fifty years old, and plastic just isn't eternal.

The good news is that the gears are readily available and a good sewing machine tech can make these machines perform as they did - or at least, as they should have - when new.

If someone wants a machine that performs well, has a lot of stitches, and uses all the attachments Singer offered in the '70s and '80s, the 1425 is a good bet. It's a cam-stack machine (meaning all-mechanical), but it was functionally equivalent to the TOL Athenas and Touch-Tronics, which were electronic machines. I love Athenas and Touch-Tronics, but it has to be admitted that their electronic components are not really repairable today.

So, a 1425 might be a good choice if you want all the bells and whistles, but don't want electronics to worry about, and don't want to pay the price for a 401 or other late-'50s slant-needle machine.

 

[danemodsandy]

P.S.:

Anyone purchasing a 1425 should definitely budget a trip to the sewing machine shop to have the machine gone over thoroughly, so that any gear problems can be taken care of, the belts replaced, and the timing and lubrication done. This is not a situation peculiar to 1425s; any used sewing machine should get serviced before use.

 

[kenkart]

I still have..

My Mothers model 301 Slant Needle she bought new in 58, its just as good as it ever was, I worked as a sewing machine vacuum repairman several years in the past, the older Singers, along with the old White/Kenmore and Domestic rotary machines were to me the best straight stich machines ever, I like the old Necchi Supernova for zig zag.To me the very best Singer ever built was the 201, which was the top of the line until the 301 came out in 53, smooth smooth smooth running and beautiful top stiching.My Aunt still has her 1947 Free Westinghouse that sews as good as ever, her 1970 touch and sew has been trouble since day one, I bet I have worked on that miserable thing 10 times over the past 20 years, but that old Free just keeps sewing, and she has made tons of clothes as well as draperies etc.she got it when she got married in 47, my Uncle worked as an electrician for the Westinghouse dealer in Lenoir, Leftwitch Electric.She will be 87 in December and still has that machine as well as the only ironing board she has ever had, I have the first iron she had, and it still works, a 47 Westinghouse!

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Hi, Sam... it's good to hear from you and see you posting... I'd recommend a Singer 401A. My grandmother bought one just before she passed in July and I got to play with it... all motor driven, so no belts, and metal gears. Has lots of stitch options, but the machine itself is as ugly as sin!

For me, I like the bells and whistles... I still have an all metal Brother straight stitcher from the 50s, but for real sewing and quilting classes and sit and sews, I take my Brother pc 420 or Bernina Artista 200... such fun!

Good luck with whatever you decide.. I hear those slant shank machines can practically go through a 2x4..... and I've heard of lots of problems with the touch and sews, so I 'd try to steer clear of them if possible.

 

[camelotshadow]

basic zig zag I like my Singer 237

Thats straight stich Brother is a beauty!

60's singer 200 series. (not sure about 70's machines)
all metal gears.

Oiled my 237 & no plastic inside.

Sewing machines & vacs were the domain of the house.
2 big purchases & then it was not a throw away society.
They built them to last least a half lifetime & many are still going beyond

 

[camelotshadow]

Cool

Rocketeer & Featherweight are the bomb!
Would like to have one of each

 

[jodan3399]

My mom had a Touch & Sew Deluxe 750 with all the discs. It lasted a good many years but eventually the gears stripped. It was always going out of alignment and messing up but mom would tinker with it and get it running right again.

I actually learned to sew on it, after it drove me crazy first. I swear that machine hated me.

 

[vacosaurus]

If I were you I would look for a vintage singer on Craigslist. Ther are a lot of desirable models listed there and a lot go resonably priced. Unfortunatly a lot people when a family member gets old or dies they just want to dump their stuff and do not realize it's value.

 

[tolivac]

Another place to look for vintage sewing machines--any of the local Sewing& vacuum stores-often older machines are traded in towards new ones-or the shop may have unclaimed machines he repaired and customers haven't claimed them.Often the place sell them to recoup the cost of the repair the shop put into them-same with vacuums.

 

[compactelectra]

Had The Whole Family

27 for dinner - for Thanksgiving.  Dan Pontow came in to help along with Charlie and Todd.  Dan brought me his mother's (and it may have been his grandmother's) Singer 401a.  Top of the line at the time and still considered one of Singer's best machines.  He also brought the cabinet and stool.  Both in pristine condition.  Here she is on top of the cabinet.  Won't put it in until she goes in to the technician for a tune-up, oiling and cleaning.  Thanks Dan.  It will go to good use.

 

[compactelectra]

When I Stopped In Des Moines

After visiting Greg in Omaha this fall, Dan had me take a look at the machine.  I popped it up in the cabinet and started her up.  Ran through a number of stitches and even though she hadn't been run in a while, she ran like a top.  Dan was amazed when I spun the dials and made all those stitches.  I guess he figured the machine should go to me and would be well used.  Dan - it will be used and appreciated.  I'll make you up some drapes, bedspreads, slipcovers or gowns in repayment!  Singer at it's best.

 

[compactelectra]

Check Out

The quality of this machine.

 

[danemodsandy]

Jealous Much?

Yes, I am!

That is a NICE 401a!

One of my collecting regrets is that I don't have the space to collect "in depth" as some folks do - I have to choose, to concentrate on one thing, because there just isn't room for two of most things.

If I had the room, a 401a would be a hotly pursued machine for me, even if it is a flatbed model. If they had ever made a free-arm version, I might even be persuaded to turn away from my beloved Touch-Tronic.

I've always wanted a 401a in the top-of-the-line "Hampden Court" cabinet, which was a kneehole desk in mahogany solids and veneers. 1958 at its finest!

Congratulations, Fred!

 

[davetranter]

Vintage Singer??

Does a Singer 306K class as 'Vintage'?? I assume that it must, since my mother bought it 50+ years ago. I have now 'inherited' it, as my mother has gone into 'care', and her home sold to pay for it. (Thanks, Tony B.Liar and the U.K. government.) :-(

All best

Dave T

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Sam, you never gave us an update.... Did you find or decide on anything?

 

[vaclover]

..

I used to play with my great grandmothers Singer hand sewing machine and worked throu my fingers a few times with the needle, I still have that machine, I also have my late grandmothers Bernina Favorit 540 with all the special feet and tools, Ialso have a Brother non electric straight stitch and zigzag machine in a cabinet.