OldSewinGear News Reviews & How To's

"Must Have" Sewing Machine Accessories

7/31/2013

Singer 500A Accessory Box

So you're looking to invest in a vintage sewing machine and wondering what to look for in accessories and attachments.

Getting confused?

You're not alone. So let's take a look at what you'll need.

First of all, it's a good idea to acquaint yourself with what originally came with the model you're shopping for. Do some comparison shopping on eBay to get familiar with what a basic package for your model looks like. Then purchase the best equipped machine in the best condition you can afford.

Singer 401A instruction manual

Keep in mind that you can always fill in any gaps later, but the basic "Must Haves" for ANY machine include the following:

Instruction manual. Original paper is best, but a CD copy or download is a good choice too. A good manual will explain the basic functions of the machine but also cover routine maintenance and adjustments to keep your machine in good working order. Singer's website offers free downloads of many of their manuals.

Screwdriver, lint brush, & machine oil.

Screwdriver & Lint Brush Set. These are essential for adjusting bobbin thread tension, tightening the needle clamp and presser foot, and for attaching feed dog cover plates. You need large and small standard screwdrivers for most Singer machines. A lint brush is handy for keeping your bobbin compartment clean.

Machine Oil and Motor Lubricant. These are a must to keep your machine running smooth and strong. Apply as directed by your machine's manual.

Vintage Class 66 Singer Bobbins

Extra Bobbins. If you do any amount of sewing you'll need extra bobbins right away. Plan on purchasing a package if your machine doesn't come with extras.

That's the basic starter equipment you'll need for any sewing machine. So what else might you need?

Inside Singer 401A accessory box

Let's take a look at what came standard with a 401A Slant-o-Matic.

The 401A came equipped with a hard plastic accessory case with a lift-out tray. Divided compartments held the following:

Singer 401A accessory box insert tray

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

Singer 401A accessory box bottom tray

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)

As you can see, the 401A sewing machine came with quite a package of accessories, but there were additional items that could be purchased separately. These included Buttonholers, Even Feed Walking Foot attachments, and additional Special Discs for added creativity. (See the article "Do I need Special Discs for my 401?" for more information.)

So if you're looking to invest in a vintage sewing machine, you can start with the basics and build from there, or you can look for a machine that already comes with all the bells and whistles!

Happy Sewing!
Barbara
OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

16 Comments

Penguin Dreams and Stranger Things

7/25/2013

12 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, in an article about the Singer Automatic Zigzagger, I made the comment "sewing machine attachments, especially the really old ones, can be pretty strange looking." I went on to liken some of them to torture devices, spiders, and bugs.

But yesterday I met a new one and this one is pretty cute. And it has a cute nickname too!
Meet the "Penguin." Officially, it's the Singer Walking Presser Foot, Part #160741, but it's nicknamed "Penguin" because it actually looks like one, with its black and white body and waddling feet. It even has a little flipper wing lever at the side.
The instruction sheet has a 1953 copyright date.

Singer Walking Presser Foot Part #160741

"The Singer Walking Presser foot is designed to produce superior stitching on fabrics which, by the nature of their texture, surface, or weave, tend to ease, stretch, or adhere when stitching." - Singer Walking Presser Foot instructions ©1953

Singer Walking Presser Foot box

Designed to work with low-shank, straight-stitch Singer machines, the Penguin is one of the rarer vintage Singer attachments.

Because of their rarity, novelty, and practicality, Penguins are highly sought after accessories for the 221 Featherweight. After all, the Featherweight is pretty cute, but a Featherweight with a Penguin? Priceless!

Like all walking foot or even feed attachments, the Penguin functions by moving the presser foot in time with the feed dogs so that fabric layers are fed uniformly. This is a huge advantage for quilters because it insures that pieces and batting are fed evenly and line up perfectly. Walking foot attachments are sometimes called "plaid matchers" because they help ensure that plaid designs or stripes match up perfectly along a seam.

Penguins are apparently pretty rare. Dad and I happened across this one yesterday in the drawers of the cabinet of a Singer 306W Swing Needle. It's always fun discovering something we have never seen before.

A review of eBay sales revealed that only a few Penguins have been listed and sold recently and they fetch pretty high prices from folks looking to complete their Singer attachment collection.

I'd love to keep this one, just for the fun of it. But we're in the buying and selling business, not the collecting business, so this one will be finding a new home very soon.

Sure was fun to see and play with, though.

Happy Sewing!
Barbara
OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

12 Comments

Auto Reel vs Touch & Sew

7/22/2013

15 Comments

Singer 600 Auto Reel Sewing Machine

Pop Quiz, everyone!

What do you think when someone says "Singer Touch & Sew"?

Great machine? Plastic garbage?

What do you think when someone says "Singer Auto Reel"?

Great machine? Plastic garbage? Never heard of it?

Sorry, trick question. "Auto Reel" is what Singer called their new 600 Slant-o-Matic before someone thought up the name "Touch & Sew."

In fact the only difference between the earliest 600 Touch & Sew and the 600 Auto Reel is a new nameplate and a couple of rivets.

Time for a side-by-side comparison!

Singer 600 Auto Reel
Serial Number AN663953

Singer 600 Auto Reel

Auto Reel nameplate

Singer 600 Touch & Sew
Serial Number AN689066

Singer 600 Touch & Sew

Touch & Sew nameplate riveted over top of Auto Reel name.

Whatever name you call it, the Singer 600 is a vintage Singer slant needle worthy of attention. It's not a very attractive machine with its square styling and gray plastic face-plate. But it's graced with steel gears just like the classic Slant-o-Matics. The horizontal spool pin feeds smoothly and the wind-in-place bobbin is an improvement over the top-mounted Rocketeer bobbin winder.

It doesn't have as many built-in stitch settings as the 401 or 500, but it has the stitch patterns that matter and it sews a fine quality stitch.

Singer refined the bobbin winding mechanism when they introduced the 600E. The bobbin-winder button is located on the front right corner of the 600, but it's tucked inside the bobbin compartment on the later 600E.

So next time you see or hear "Singer Auto Reel" you'll know it's worth taking a look!

Happy Sewing!
Barbara
OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

15 Comments

Under Pressure - Adjusting Presser Foot Pressure

7/17/2013

2 Comments

Pressure adjustment - Singer 401A

Ever wondered what this thing does?

I never really gave it any thought until quite recently.

A few weeks ago I was testing out a Singer 401A prior to listing it for sale and the darn thing WOULD NOT sew leather. The thread would fuzz up every few stitches and then it would break.

I tried everything I could think of. I changed needles, I changed thread, I changed leather. I cursed and swore and kicked the trash can. (Not really, but it makes for a better story!)

Finally I took a deep breath and watched what was happening when the needle was going up and down through the leather. I noticed that the presser foot was "hopping" up and down with each stitch, which created a sawing effect on the thread.

That's when I discovered the importance of this little knob. It's the pressure adjustment for the presser foot. On the machine in question the pressure was too light and the presser foot wasn't holding the leather firmly enough to allow the needle to travel cleanly through.

So I gave the knob a little turn to the right and it was better. A little fine tuning and it was perfect.

500A pressure adjustment

Of course the pressure will need to be backed off to sew lighter fabrics but that's the beauty of adjustable pressure!

On most vintage Singer machines (and Class 15 clones) the pressure adjustment can be found at the top of the machine directly above the presser foot lever.

Turning the knob clockwise increases pressure, turning it counter-clockwise reduces pressure. You should be able to feel increased or decreased resistance when you lift the presser foot lever.

The pressure adjustment looks a little different on the 500A, 503A and 600-series Touch and Sew models. It's located inside the end cover and looks like a wheel with numbered settings. The higher the number, the greater the pressure.

So now you know...that little knob is the key to even greater creative expression and control!

Happy Sewing!
Barbara
OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

2 Comments

Kicked to the Curb: Packaging for Shipping

7/12/2013

3 Comments

If you are buying (or selling) a vintage sewing machine online, it really does matter how the machine is packaged for shipping. A flimsy cardboard box and wadded up newspaper simply does not cut it.

Why?

For starters, vintage sewing machines are often very heavy. Shipping weight for a well-packaged Singer 301A runs about 23 pounds, while the Singer 401A is closer to 30 pounds, and a Singer 15-91 can weigh upwards of 38 pounds. That's a lot of heavy metal that needs protection in transit.

After all, packages aren't handled by people these days. They are bar-coded and fed through automated routing facilities with conveyor belts and bins. Transitions between one conveyor and another can mean a sudden drop of several feet. It doesn't matter whether you've marked the box "Fragile" or "Handle with Care" or "This Side Up." The machines can't read and besides that, they just don't care.

Back when we started selling machines we were advised to package each machine to withstand a kick down a flight of stairs. So that's what we do. And we haven't had a shipping loss yet.

So how should a machine be packaged? Here are some photos of a Singer 15-91 ready to ship:

We start with appliance grade cardboard. As shown in the photos, this cardboard is double the thickness of ordinary cardboard, which makes it more rigid and durable. Next we custom cut and fabricate each box to fit the machine in question.

The box is then lined with a minimum of 2" of foam board to hug the machine snugly on all sides. The goal is to maximize shock absorption by completely immobilizing the machine within the box.

Foot controls and accessories are bubble-wrapped to fit inside the machine. If the accessories do not fit inside the machine we ship them in a separate box.

Machine is wrapped in plastic to prevent foam particles from getting inside the machine.

All cavities are filled with bubblewrap or foam peanuts.

Finally, a foam block is placed across the top of the machine. The block is shaped to fit the machine and protect exposed spindles.

Reinforced tape is used for box seams and all flaps are sealed with heavy-duty packaging tape.

Of course there are other ways to package machines and there are many reputable sellers who take equal pride in their packaging.   Some use shrink wrap or box-within-box packaging, which also work very well. This is just an overview of the process that has served us well for the last 6 years. We've yet to have a machine damaged during shipping. But we always include shipping insurance "just in case."

So if you're looking to buy or sell a vintage machine, take the time to ensure that your investment is well-packaged. There is nothing more disappointing or frustrating than opening the box and finding a broken machine.

Happy Sewing!
Barbara
OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

3 Comments

"Must Have" Sewing Machine Accessories

Penguin Dreams and Stranger Things

Auto Reel vs Touch & Sew

Under Pressure - Adjusting Presser Foot Pressure

Kicked to the Curb: Packaging for Shipping

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"Must Have" Sewing Machine Accessories

Penguin Dreams and Stranger Things

Auto Reel vs Touch & Sew

Under Pressure - Adjusting Presser Foot Pressure

Kicked to the Curb: Packaging for Shipping

News, Reviews, & How-To's

Contact Us

Categories

Archives

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