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Singer 626 Touch & Sew...with STEEL gears!

10/17/2012

Singer 626 Touch & Sew

The introduction of the Touch & Sew series marked the beginning of the end of classic heavy duty Singer machines. Plastic parts took the place of steel, aluminum and other cast metals. The result was lighter and quieter machines, but without the strength and longevity of their predecessors.

Because of this, the Touch & Sew often gets a bad rap in vintage sewing machine circles. However, there are a handful of Touch & Sew models that are graced with the same STEEL gears that drove the 400- and 500-series slant needle machines.

It's not uncommon to find 600, 603, and 604 models with steel gears, but the 626 is another model to watch for. You'll have to remove the bottom cover (which
means unscrewing all 4 feet) to be sure, but your efforts will be rewarded if you see steel gears beneath the
bobbin-compartment.

There are a lot of reasons to love a steel-geared Touch & Sew. They are less industrial feeling than the earlier slant needles, which means a smoother & quieter sewing experience. And the stitch quality is superb, with some of the best satin-stitching I've seen.

The steel-geared 626 is one of my favorite all-purpose sewing machines. It's a joy to use for everyday projects and has the chops to tackle heavy duty jobs too. If you're looking for a great all-around sewing machine without the vintage price tag, keep your eyes open for a 626 with steel gears!

Happy Sewing!
Barbara

134 Comments

Which is better? Singer 401 vs. 500 Rocketeer.

8/22/2012

35 Comments

This question pops up nearly every time I have a 401 or 500 (Rocketeer) for sale on eBay. Both models are excellent heavy duty household machines and are nearly identical mechanically. But there are some critical differences.

Singer 401 Slant-o-Matic

Slant needle
Rotary hook
Steel Gears
.72 Amp direct drive motor
Double-thread capacity tensioner
Double capacity needle clamp
25+ stitch patterns built in
Special Disc compartment
----
Front-mount, exposed bobbin winder
2 top-mount, fixed-position spindles

Singer 500 Slant-o-Matic

Slant needle
Rotary hook
Steel Gears
.72 Amp direct drive motor
Double-thread capacity tensioner
Double capacity needle clamp
25+ stitch patterns built-in
Special Disc compartment
---
Top-mount, enclosed bobbin winder
2 fold-flat, spring-loaded spool spindles
1 removable top-mount spool spindle

So what does this mean?

Simply stated, the 401 is the better-built machine. The Rocketeer is the begining of the end of all-metal slant-needle machines.  It is still metal where it counts, but it suffers from a severe case of 'style-over-substance'-itis. The futuristic "Jetsons" styling is super cool but comes at a price. Enclosing the bobbin winder stream-lined the styling, but the auto-stop kick-out spring is prone to breakage from metal fatigue. The spring-loaded fold-down spool spindles are also prone to breakage.   The removable top-mount spindle is easily lost and can be difficult to replace.

On the other hand, the Rocketeer does allow you to leave the top open while sewing so you can easily change stitch-patterns. The 401 spool spindles sit right on top of the pattern chart, which can be awkward.   The 401 spindles are also vulnerable to snapping off during shipping or storage, but they are simpler to replace than the 500 spindles.

Bottom line?  The 401 is tougher-built, but the Rocketeer is not far behind it. Both models are wonderful vintage Singer machines.

If you can't find a 401 in your price range, the Rocketeer may be the machine for you. A very good condition 500 will typically cost less than an equivalent 401.

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

35 Comments

Singer 401 vs 403...Which is the machine for me?

6/28/2012

23 Comments

So you have a project or cottage industry and you need a heavy duty sewing machine. You've heard you should get a Singer 401, but can't find one that fits your budget. Then you see a 403 and wonder...what's the difference?

Good question. The simple answer is that 401 was top-of-the-line and 403 the next step down. But what does that really mean?

Let's compare:

401 Slant-o-Matic
Fully Automatic

Features:
        Slant needle
        Rotary hook
        Steel Gears
        .72 Amp direct drive motor
        Double-thread capacity tensioner
        Double capacity needle clamp
        Special Disc compartment
        25+ stitch patterns built in

403 Slant-o-Matic Special
Semi-Automatic

Features:
        Slant needle
        Double thread capacity tensioner
        Double capacity needle clamp
        Rotary hook
        Steel Gears
        .72 Amp direct drive motor
        Special Disc compartment
        No built-in stitch patterns

Inside the 401:

Note the stack of steel cams at center right. These are the "built-in" stitch patterns. Special Discs are not required for zig-zag and over 25 other patterns. However, Special Discs 1-5 are additional designs not built-in on the 401 and can also be used in conjunction with built-in stitches to produced additional "Combination" stitches, such as scalloped zig-zag.

Inside the 403:

Note the absence of steel cams. Unless a Special Disc is inserted the machine will only produce straight stitch.

So which machine is better?

The bottom line is: it all depends on what kind of sewing you will do. Both models have the same motor, the same steel-gears, and the same basic design.

If all you need is heavy duty straight or zig-zag stitches, go with 403. It is simpler to operate and a little less noisy because it has fewer moving metal parts. And you can still do decorative stitching with a set of Special Discs.

If you need maximum artistic freedom, go with the 401. It's harder to use at first, but once you get familiar with the controls, you will enjoy the variety and flexibility of built-in stitches. And you get the prestige of owning "top-of-the-line" if that matters to you.

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

23 Comments

The machine that started it all...Singer 401

6/19/2012

1 Comment

Five years ago my mom needed a sewing machine and my sister offered her an old Singer slant needle she picked up at a garage sale for 5 bucks.

Dad said, "We don't want it!"

A former sewing machine repairman, Dad had a lot of experience with "plastic junk" sewing machines. His reaction to Marilyn's offer was due to working on a much later, mostly plastic Singer slant needle machine.

Mom needed a machine for a project, so Marilyn brought over her garage sale find.  One look inside and Dad was hooked. NO PLASTIC!

That's the beauty of the Singer Slant-o-Matic sewing machines. They are nearly 100% metal.  The spool pins are nylon and the foot control housing is bakelite, but the rotary hook, gears, and needle drive are steel. The motor is direct drive, which means there are no belts to break or slip.   All of this adds up to a heavy duty machine that is nearly indestructible.

Next thing we knew Dad was buying up vintage sewing machines right and left just to fix them up.  Mom quickly became alarmed because a fixed income doesn't support a non-paying hobby.  So I listed that first machine on eBay and we sold it for $125. Thus was born Dad's post-retirement hobby/business. He fixes them and I sell them.

And along the way I've fallen in love with these old machines and have learned an awful lot about them.

And it all started with a machine that "we don't want!" Boy has Dad had to eat those words...again...and again...and again!

1 Comment

Forward>>

Singer 626 Touch & Sew...with STEEL gears!

Which is better? Singer 401 vs. 500 Rocketeer.

Singer 401 vs 403...Which is the machine for me?

So which machine is better?

The machine that started it all...Singer 401

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Singer 626 Touch & Sew...with STEEL gears!

Which is better? Singer 401 vs. 500 Rocketeer.

Singer 401 vs 403...Which is the machine for me?

So which machine is better?

The machine that started it all...Singer 401

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