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Auto Reel vs Touch & Sew

7/22/2013

14 Comments

 
PictureSinger 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
Picture
Singer 600 Auto Reel
Picture
Auto Reel nameplate
Singer 600 Touch & Sew
Serial Number AN689066
Picture
Singer 600 Touch & Sew
Picture
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. 


14 Comments
Patrick
3/9/2015 08:50:46 am

Would other Touch & Sew models (ie 630, 648) also be all metal slant needles?

Reply
OldSewinGear
3/11/2015 02:28:20 pm

Patrick,
Several of the 600-series Touch & Sew machines have steel gears, but you can't go by model-number alone. 600, 603, 604, and 626 are most likely to have steel gears, but sometimes have plastic or nylon. I recommend pulling the bottom cover and checking before buying any Touch & Sew.
Thanks for visiting,
Barbara

Reply
Adriaan
5/12/2022 01:06:38 am

Hello, I just wanted to say the 611G also happens to have steel gears, however it sadly doesn’t have the auto-reel mechanism 😔

Paula Vickers
10/5/2016 08:56:18 pm

Have one and love it!!

Reply
Christine
10/20/2016 02:09:09 am

Hi, I have a Singer 620 and a Singer 740. They have plastic gears and, sorry, you can see it in the stitch! It doesn't have that perfect result as an Elna Special(1969) or the Phoenix. Maybe the ones with metal gears give better results. I love the extra parts, but with Singer's history that is not surprising.

Reply
Wilfredo González Jaimes link
5/10/2017 06:03:27 pm

Tengo una máquina de coser Singer modelo 600 Fue la primera en utilizar el devanado mientras funciona la máquina La dejé por tener los piñones o engranajes de hierro o acero

Reply
Rebecca
10/24/2018 11:43:33 am

What type Needle do I purchase for a Touch & Sew?

Reply
Daniel
5/13/2019 04:21:42 am

HA X 1 / 15 X 1

Reply
Martha K Gish
4/7/2019 11:30:18 am

I have one with metal gears. and I am on year 53 of using it! I love it... and the wind in bobbin. Hubby keeps it lubricated for me. Mine was next to top of the line when I got it back in 1966.....Made all my clothes back then...believe me, it has been used a LOT.

Reply
Daniel
5/13/2019 04:23:44 am

Wonderful! Thanks.

Reply
isabelle klar
5/2/2020 02:40:28 am

Mirrors my experience exactly; it was considered top of the line when I bought it and I still consider it that. I had four children and I sewed for all of them, even made suits for the boys. Still works like new.

Reply
David Fry
9/5/2020 05:37:17 pm

I just bought a Slantomatic 600 with the man ual but no accessories for $5 at a yard sale. All metal and the insides look great. I haven't started to get it adjusted as I need to read the whole book to familiarize myself with it. I haven't sewed since learning on my mother's old Dressmaker machine in the late 50's early 60's, but can't wait to get to work with it. Any suggestions? I lubricated it first.

Reply
Jim
10/15/2020 06:30:23 am

How does one adjust the bobbin winding on a 600 slant-o-matic? Mine sews great, but refuses to wind bobbins anymore.

Reply
Richard Beman link
11/11/2021 03:25:42 pm

One of the reasons "bobbin winding" may be problematic may possibly be something as simple as the bobbins you are using. I bought some that were "Chinese made" and they did not have the proper configuration on the bottom of the bobbin to "catch" it when the winder is engaged.. I ending up throwing away some I purchased and found "genuine Singer" bobbins on line on the "Cutex" site and they seem perfect..
Regards, Richard Beman

Reply



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