Sewing Machines

[mattl]

I want to keep an eye out for a decent older sewing machine on ebay and CL. I've been using a really crappy Singer I bought a couple of years ago, the cheap Chinese version, POS!

Had been using my mother's old Futura for decades but it got messed up and the shop said it was too far gone, have no idea why, but an estimate of $300+ to repair turned me off.

I don't sew much, just fix pants and perhaps do some curtains or drapes. What was the last of the "Good" Singers? Would not mind a Futura II for the right price, like the drop top, plus I have all the original stuff and lots of bobbins, am bidding on one on Ebay now.

What else is good?

 

[peterh770]

A Singer 221 Featherweight is primo, and comes with a primo price. They are heavily sought after by quilters. Look instead for a 401 or 500. Heavy as hell, but real workhorses.

 

[yogitunes]

Stick with the Singers with the cast aluminum or iron bodies, I have my Mom's Slant-o-Matic, An Athena 2000, and a Touchtronic 2010...this last one I had in for service about 2 months ago, the repairing dealer offered me several hundred dollars for it, it's the last of the metal bodies, he said they were the best built by Singer not compared to todays Plastic versions.....he said any time I want to trade in he would offer me top dollar.....

The Athena I got for $50.00 at a thrift store
The Touchtronic I got for $100.00 at a sewing repair shop

 

[bugsyjones]

Defintely stick to the ALL METAL construction.

You might want to find a free arm machine if you do alot of pants hemming. Otherwise, the older machines without a free arm are a little harder to do pants and sleeve hemming. (But it can be done, I do it all the time!)

I have two vintage machines: A Singer model 66 from 1950 and a Deluxe Dressmaker Zig-zag model 929 from the 60's. The singer is straight stitch only and the Deluxe has both straight and zig zag stitch. The Singer was an ebay purchase, the other a thrift store purchase. Both were relatively inexpensive. I made sure to get them serviced right away though, just in case something needed adjusted or oiled. They sew very well. I've used the Singer 66 to sew vinyl uphostery, heavy auto upholstery, leather, denim. It just sews right through it. The Singer came with all the neat accessories like the Zig-Zagger attachment and the Buttonholer. They're kind of fun to use once in a while.

I want more vintage machines too. I want a Pfaff model 130 and a Singer free-arm portable.

 

[cfz2882]

probably could find one locally at a thrift shop,salvation army
ETC.-i have also found many older but nice and in good shape
at the dump!-everything from simple,rugged 1950s japanese to
singers and phaffs.The one i have gotten in the habit of using
most is a Ca.1978,polish made,singer clone-with metal gears
and a cog belt from the motor it's quite loud,but has a
powerful motor which i like.
i think certain singers were made in the u.s.a. into the '70s
other singers i have found have been made in italy,england,
canada,brazil,france and japan to name a few.

 

[turquoisedude]

Matt, I have a neighbour down in Ogden who told me she wants to give away several vintage sewing machines! She offered them to me but it's not my thing... I could try and find out what she's got and get some photos if you are interested. Let me know.

 

[sensi-temp]

There is a vintage Singer club on yahoo with lots of info, stay away from any Singer that is white. An Athena is a poor choice, plastic gears for one thing.

 

[norgeway]

Stay away from!!!

Anything Singer from after about 67 or so,Stick to any model up to a 600 Touch And Sew,the later stuff is JUNK with plastic gears,my Moms 1958 model 301 Slant Needle CANT BE BEAT,as a sewing machine mechanic for many years,I like the Kenmore machines ,also Atlas,Morse and especially Necchi and Pfaff,Viking and Bernina are also excellent!

 

[lotsosudz]

I have a slant needle 1958 Singer, model 301 also. I had the bobbin tension adjusted alittle while back, and the repairman offered to buy it from me, on the spot. He says he does not see many in his shop that gets turned in for trade, and when he does, they sell immediately. They are real workhorses, and all metal.
Hugs David

 

[mattl]

Turquoisedude, Thanks, I may take you up on that offer. I'm bidding on a machine on ebay, we'll have to see how that goes.

The Futura I have is from about '68 I think and it's pretty much all metal inside so I feel safe with that model since I know it well. I was making a simple balloon valance the other day for the bath I redid, and it would've taken me about an hour an a half, but I had a 40 minute break in there where I could not thread the needle! This stupid Singer I have has a supposed "self threader", but it does not work. The needle threads from the front so it's difficult for me to do. I can see the hole, but that does not mean I can thread it. My old slant needle singer threaded from the side and even with out looking i had very little trouble threading it. Plus you have to wind the bobbin outside the machine, which necessitates re threading the needle, so one more strike. I want this POS gone!

 

[ironrite]

Needle Threader

Hopefully the link below will go to a picture of a little gadget for threading needles. You lay the thread across one end, hold the thread taught, then run the threader down the length of the needle. When you hit the eye of the needle you push on the back of the threader and a very small blade pushes the thread through the eye of the needle. If you are near a Viking dealer they sell a similiar threader for their 936 Serger.

The threader you describe on your machine has a very, very small hook that aligns with the eye of the needle and then pulls the thread through the eye. If this hook is bent or broken the threader won't work. Machines can vary a bit in design, but usually you have to have the the presser foot raised and the needle all the way up for a straight stitch. Then that little mechanism should line up with your needle.

See if you have any local sewing repair stores. They generally have a ton of older, used machines. The stores I see here have older Singers, usually under $100.00. Be careful of older mechanical Vikings. They are a machine that likes to be used. If they are not kept up, the reverse and zig-zag features can lock up and can be spendy to repair.

Janome 49, 200347008 Push In Needle Threader for All Sewing Machines at AllBrands.com

New, In Stock, Janome 49- Push In Needle Threader 200347008 Push Button Type for All Sewing Machines & Sergers, Home or Industrial, Originally from Elna Switzerland

www.allbrands.com

 

[mattl]

Know what's funny? I dragged out the old Futura today and played with it a bit, seems to be working! First try I had a gob of thread on the underside of the fabric, re-threaded and adjusted the tension and it worked OK.

Interestingly, I had absolutely no issues quickly threading the needle! 5 seconds tops! Difference is the needle assembly is way towards the front, and is well lit. The crappy new Singer has it toward the back and uses a tiny LED for light. For some reason I recall the needle being threaded for the side, I guess that is on the Singer 128 I have from the 40's, this one is front threaded too.

I wish I recalled what the issue was that had me take it in for service, but that was about 5 years ago.