Singer 401A Sewing Machine

[beekeyknee]

Here are some pictures of my recently restored Singer 401A. I obtained a service manual and bought some Tri-flow grease and oil from Jenny at Sew-Classics.com and went to work. It took several days and a lot of work, but it was worth it. This thing sews like nobodys business. It will sew through six layers of denim with out a fuss, when its working well.

 

[beekeyknee]

Underneath view.

 

[beekeyknee]

Underneath view 2.

 

[beekeyknee]

Arm with cover off.[this post was last edited: 3/27/2011-05:50]

 

[beekeyknee]

Arm with cover off 2.[this post was last edited: 3/27/2011-05:50]

 

[beekeyknee]

End of arm.

 

[beekeyknee]

Complete view of arm with cover off.

 

[beekeyknee]

Back view.

 

[beekeyknee]

Face plate end.

 

[beekeyknee]

Angled view with arm cover and face plate off.

This machine belonged to my grandmother. I believe she bought it around 1959-1960.
It goes in a nice maple, "Early American" style cabinet.

 

[aegokocarat]

hay beekayknee lovley restoration of it.
the only sewing machine brand that i always go for is husqvarna viking.
after finding my love for quilting and sewing in a john lewis shop,my mother taught me how to use her sewing machine whitch is a toyota from 1996-7, i found it to be a little clunky for my use and during a sewing lesson in school i noticed that the machines were husqvarna viking. i fist picked up on how easy to thred these machines were and then i noticed that they preformed with exelent results and finnishes so back in january i bought this modle

 

[norgeway]

401

I have worked on many of these, my mom had one and a 301 she bought new in 58, I still have the 301, the 401 went to my aunt, both were fine machines, in every way as good as the best European machines,and a lot easier to work on, its a shame that Singer went down the tubes!

 

[whirlcool]

How did you get the insides so clean? There is not a spec of dust anywhere in there!

 

[beekeyknee]

Cleaning Inside Sewing Machine

I bought a rectangular plastic container and a two and one half gallons of white kerosene, took all the electrical components out of the machine, took the top off the machine and poured the kerosene down through it. Then I got a coffee cup and dipped up the kerosene in the container and poured it through the machine repeatedly while turning the machine upside down, then right side up until it was clean. As I was taking it apart I would have to clean old hard grease off parts with a tooth brush and appropriate cleaners before reassembly.

After I was done I poured the kerosene back in the jug with a funnel to save for my next cleaning project.

 

[sudslock1]

Good Machine

Always loved that vintage of Singer machine. I have a featherweight that I love but of course only being a straight stitch machine it has its limits. Singer really started to go down hill when they brought out the "Touch & Sew" machines. When I worked for Bernina the techs always called them "Touch & Swears" or "Touch & Throws". You did an awesome job cleaning up that machine. Looks better then it did from the factory.

 

[hydralique]

Beautiful Machine!

Thanks for posting the "money shots", it's just as pretty inside as out! Wonderful too that you've been able to keep a machine with a family history.

 

[mattl]

I bought what I think is the coolest Singer ever made-- The Rocketere!  I'll have to

get aa few shots of mine, a friend has it at the moment, but there are some shots I found on line.  Luckily mine is almost as pristine, someone too very good care of it!

 

 

[ironrite]

Very beautiful machine. Nice to see one with all metal parts instead of today's plastic stuff.