400-Series Slant Needle

401A Slant-o-Matic

Fully automatic, heavy duty household sewing machine featuring: 

• Zigzag and decorative stitch patterns built in. 
• Auto-stop bobbin winder
  
• Stop-motion clutch handwheel
  
• Slant needle
• Class 66 bobbin
• Steel-gear rotary hook
• Direct drive motor. 
• Double-capacity thread tensioner
  
• Double-needle decorative top stitching

Manufactured at Anderson, South Carolina, USA. 

403A Slant-o-Matic "Special"

Semi-automatic, heavy duty household sewing machine.  Requires discs for zigzag and decorative stitching.  Slant needle, class 66 bobbin, steel-gear rotary hook, direct drive motor.  Manufactured at Anderson, South Carolina, USA. 

404A Slant Needle

Straight-stitch only, heavy duty household sewing machine.  Slant needle, class 66 bobbin, steel-gear rotary hook, direct drive motor.  Manufactured at Anderson, South Carolina, USA. 

401 (401G) Slant-o-Matic

Fully automatic German-built 401 features:

• Top-mounted bobbin-winder
• "Thread control" feature.
• Treadle capable
  
• Zigzag and decorative stitch cams built in. 
• Class 66 bobbin
• Steel-gear rotary hook
• Direct drive motor
• Lighter weight casting than 401A​

Manufactured at Karlsruhe, West Germany.

411G Slant-o-Matic

Manufactured in Germany and marked 411G.  Similar to 401G, with added chain-stitch option, treadle capability, top-mounted bobbin winder, and additional thread regulator.  Lighter-weight cast metal housing than American-built 401A. 

Read More

• How to Buy the Singer 401 of Your Dreams​ 
• Singer 401 vs. 403...Which is the Machine for Me?
• The Times, They Were A Changin' 
• Which is better?  Singer 401A vs. 500A Rocketeer
• ​"Must Have" Sewing Machine Accessories
• Do I need Special Discs for my 401 or 500?
• How to Use a Singer Special Disc
• Lever Alone...the Wandering Stitch Length Selector
• Singer 401A's Dirty Little Secret
• Get the 4-1-1 on the 411 Slant-o-matic
• Amped Up...When Bigger is not Necessarily Better
• The Machine that Started it All...Singer 401

Accessories

401A Accessory Box

The top of the line 401A was equipped with a hard plastic case with insert tray.  The machines came with 5 Special Discs, but box holds only 4 discs because the fifth disc was in the machine.  401A accessory boxes are typically cream in color while 500A accessory boxes are typically tan (mocha).  

401A accessory box contained:   

Top Tray

• Instruction Manual
• 4 Bobbins
• Zigzag needle plate
• Straight-stitch needle plate
• Adjustable edge guide
• Standard zigzag presser foot
• Special purpose presser foot
• Button presser foot
• Straight-stitch foot​

Bottom Tray

• Hemming foot
• Zipper foot
• Multi-slotted binder
• Ruffler
• Oil bottle
• Large screwdriver 
• Small screwdriver 
• Lint Brush 
• Special Discs 2, 3, 4, 5  (Disc 1 was inserted in machine)

​Read More:  

• "Must Have" Sewing Machine Accessories
• Do I need Special Discs for my 401 or 500?
• How to Use a Singer Special Disc

The 401 instruction manual dated 1957 has a tan cover.  Later manuals dated 1958 are red & green.

 Foot Control and Storage Bag

Machines purchased with a carrying case included a storage bag for the foot control.