OldSewinGear News Reviews & How To's

Spring into Action

12/22/2014

So the sliding cover to the bobbin compartment on your 401A has popped off and you can't get it to stay on. So you take a closer look and discover that the spring that holds it in place has broken.

Now what?

Singer 401A bobbin cover plate

On closer inspection you can see the screw that holds the spring in place. There's just one problem...you can't get to it...
The head of the screw is blocked by the hook and bobbin case. So how do you get to it?

The solution is simple...if you know where to look. The first step is to tilt the machine back and look under the lip of the sewing platform directly below the bobbin compartment.

Slide plate spring with attaching screw.

Beneath the lip you'll see what looks like the end of a screw with a slot in it. It looks like the tip of a screw because that's what it is. In fact, it's the end of the screw that holds the spring in place. You can't access the head of the screw down inside the bobbin compartment, but you can unscrew it from the opposite end on the outside of the machine.

Attaching screw for bobbin cover plate.

Using a standard screwdriver, turn the screw clockwise to loosen. (This is opposite of the usual "Lefty loosey, righty tighty" principle because you're working on the tip of the screw, not the head of the screw.)

Once the screw is loose, remove the spring by sliding to the right, tilting slightly, and lifting out.

Remove spring by sliding to right and tilting slightly.

Replace the broken spring and reverse the steps to tighten the screw. Once the spring is fixed in place, reattach the sliding plate. Position the plate behind the spring and use a small screwdriver to lift the wings of the spring into the grooves of the slide plate. Slide plate towards you to snap into place.

Position slide plate behind spring.

Lift wings of spring into grooves of slide plate as you slide the plate towards you.

There you go, as easy as one, two, three! Want to see it in video?

There, problem solved. Slant-o-Matic models 403, 404, 500, 503, 600, 603, 604 (and other 600-series models) share this same design, so these instructions work for those models too!

Happy Sewing!
Barbara

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

4 Comments

Do I need Special Discs for my 401 or 500?

12/7/2014

15 Comments

This is a very good question, and one I hear often from 401, 500, and 600 owners.

This simple answer?

It depends on how creative you want or need to be.

As shown on the flip-top chart, the 401 has an impressive array of built-in stitch patterns with almost infinite range of length and width variations.

Singer 401 built-in stitch chart

Singer 401A built-in cam-stack.

If you look at the 401's built-in cam stack each cam represents a different stitch pattern. And when you factor in that the 401 can "combine" two cams to create additional stitch patterns, it's pretty awesome what the 401 can do without Special Discs.

But if you want to get the maximum creative use out of your 401, you will definitely want a set of Special Discs.

Why?

Special Disc patterns from 500A manual.

The original accessories kit for the 401 included 5 Special Discs (numbered 1-5) for stitches that are not built-in. These 5 discs can be combined with the built in Primary stitches to produce additional patterns, such as scalloped zigzag.

However, Singer produced a total of 24 Special Discs for the Slant-o-Matic and 600-series Touch & Sew family, which means there are 19 additional discs available.

Some of these additional Special Discs are patterns which are not built-in, while others are duplications of stitches built into the 401. However, even duplicates can add to the range of stitches the 401 can produce.

"If it's already built-in, why would I want the Special Disc too?

The answer lies in the distinction between "Primary" patterns and "Combination" patterns.

"Primary" patterns use a single cam in the cam-stack to produce the stitch. This means that the stitch pattern is unchanged regardless of width and length settings. In other words, a scalloped stitch simply gets wider or narrower but still looks the same. In the sample shown here, the width of Special Disc #12 has been set progressively wider.

Special Disc #12 at widths 2, 3, 4, 5 (Primary)

On the other hand, "Combination" patterns use two cams in the stack to produce the stitch pattern. Which means that a change in stitch width affects the movement of both cams, which can greatly affect the overall appearance of the stitch. Note in the sample shown here how the appearance of stitch setting DP changes when the width is set progressively wider. The zigzag blocks get narrower as the offset gets wider.

Built in stitch DP at widths 2, 3, 4 (Combination)

While this does add some variety to the built-in stitches, it also means you are somewhat limited when using built-in stitch patterns if you want the pattern wider or narrower.   The 401 and 500 have seven built-in "Primary patterns. They're shown on the top row of the chart (see photo above) inside the flip-up lid.

Which is where Special Discs come in. Special Discs are considered "Primary" patterns, so they look the same regardless of width. Clearly an advantage in some situations.

Another advantage of using a Special Disc is that two-needle stitching only works with "Primary" patterns, because the left-hand stitch selector has to be set on "A." So if you like the look of a "combination" stitch but want that stitch in double-needle, you'll need to use a Special Disc.

Built-in Primary patterns can also be combined with certain Special Discs to produce additional stitch patterns.

The final advantage of Special Discs is that they are just plain easy to use. Pick a pattern, pop it in, and away you go.  No messing with dials or charts.

So, DO you need a complete set of Special Discs for your 401, 500, or 600 sewing machine?

Bottom line, it's up to you.  The choice is yours.

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

For additional information about Special Discs see the articles:
How to Use a Singer Special Disc
Disc-o-mania! Special Discs & Fashion Discs

15 Comments

Kid Stuff - Singer Toy Sewing Machines

11/22/2014

3 Comments

Singer Sewhandy Child's Sewing Machine

Last summer I was at a craft market selling jewelry re-purposed from old sewing machine parts when a customer mentioned she'd just seen toy Singer sewing machines at a nearby garage sale.

I told my sister and business partner, "You're on your own, I'm taking our petty cash..." and I was gone.

A few minutes later I was the proud owner of not one, but two tiny sewing machines. Best of all, I paid less than $20 for the pair.

My ownership of the first one (pictured above) lasted less than an hour, because my sister wanted it. It was the same model she had (and lost) as a child. Our big sister still has hers, though (pictured below). They received them from our uncle in 1959 when he took over management of a Singer store in Barstow, CA. He found two leftover toy machines in the storeroom and gave them to his nieces (my sisters). He gave his mother (my grandmother) a 221 Featherweight, which is still in the family today.

My sister's Singer Sewhandy Model 20

My sisters' toy machines were the tan Singer Sewhandy Model 20.

Singer touted the Model 20 as a "a real sewing machine - not a toy" because it sewed an actual chain stitch and could be used for making doll clothes. It's probably the most recognizable of the Singer 'toys', with an all metal body, hand crank, pedestal base and clamp for fastening to a table top.

The Model 20 was initially made in black to complement the traditional black & gold machines, but was later offered in tan to complement the tan and mocha machines (301, 306, etc).

Singer Sewhandy Electric Machine c.1959

As the sewing machine models changed with time, so did their toy counterparts. By the late 1950's the Slant-o-Matic machines rendered the hand-crank model passe, so Singer introduced the Sewhandy Electric, "a "real electric sewing machine for the young seamstress."

It sold for $24.95 and was styled to match the modern slant needle machines. It's constructed of metal and plastic, with an orange and tan plastic carrying case. (It was shortly after the introduction of the Sewhandy Electric that my uncle found the unwanted Model 20's in the storeroom.)

Happily, the second garage sale machine was a Sewhandy Electric. I wanted one to put on display in Dad's workshop as a tribute to the many 401's that have graced his bench.

Singer Little Touch & Sew

Time marches on, though, and before long the advent of the Touch & Sew heralded yet another update to the toy machine.

The "Little Touch & Sew" came in several colors to complement the full-size Touch & Sew machines.
Unlike its predecessors, the Little Touch & Sew was nearly all plastic and not as sturdy as the earlier toy machines. (I recently picked up the one shown for $5 at a local thrift store.)

So how were Singer toy machines marketed? Singer's salesman would amuse the customer's child with a toy machine while he demonstrated a full-size machine to the child's mother. The toy machines were sometimes included as a "gift with purchase" of the full-size machine, so Mom and child could have matching machines:

I hope you've enjoyed this small glimpse into the fascinating world of tiny sewing machines. Believe me, this barely scratches the surface. There are avid collectors of just toy machines and there are literally dozens if not hundreds of models made by many different makers.

For now, I'm content with my garage sale finds!

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

3 Comments

Rock-a-bye Baby: Singer 301 Cabinet Cradle

10/26/2014

16 Comments

Singer 301 Slant Needle Sewing Machine

So you're the proud owner of a Singer 301 Slant Needle "Featherweight" and you've decided you want to install it in a cabinet.

So you turn the machine around...

Singer 301 rear view.

Uh-oh, something is missing.

The good news is your eyes are not playing tricks on you.

The bad news is that unlike every other full-size vintage Singer, the 301 does not have the holes for mounting cabinet hinges.

So, now what?

Relax. There IS a solution, and I'll get to it in a moment.

But first, a quick history lesson:

301 has no hinge mounts.

Like the 221 Featherweight, the 301 was designed to be a light-weight portable machine.

The full-size 301 weighed only 16 pounds, had a built--in carry handle and came in a convenient carrying case.

To complement the perfect portable machine, Singer designed some brilliant cabinet options.

One option was a lightweight folding card-table with built-in support brackets. Space-saving and simple for a small house or apartment.

But Singer knew some customers would want to use their 301 in a full-size cabinet. Which presented a bit of a problem. After all, anchoring the perfect portable into a cabinet with fixed hinges rather defeated the purpose of designing a portable in the first place!

Singer 301 cabinet cradle (part # 170112)

So Singer devised a creative solution.

First they offered the 301 in two configurations: long-bed and short-bed.

The long-bed version was intended for portable use only, but could also be used in some card tables. (Long-bed card tables are still out there, but they are hard to find.)

The short bed version was paired with a clip-on bracket/cradle  (Simanco part # 170112, shown above) which mounted inside the cabinet using standard swivel hinges. The machine clipped into the cradle, turning the perfect portable into the perfect cabinet machine. But with the press of a lever the machine could be quickly removed for portable use.

It's an odd-looking contraption, but the perfect complement to the "Full-Size Featherweight."   (NOTE: Some Singer cabinets are not compatible with the 301 cradle because the front edge support brackets cannot be installed.  See photos and additional note at end of article.)

So what does this look like? First, let's take a look at how the cradle attaches to the machine and how the quick-release lever works:

Next, we'll look at how to attach hinges:
(Note: hinges are shown being installed on a 401 but the installation process is identical for the 301 cradle.)

Finally, we'll take a look at how the machine with cradle mounts in the cabinet:

See "Hide and Seek - Singer Sewing Machine Cabinet" for video demonstration.

Yep, it's that simple. Keep in mind, however, that this only works if your 301 is a short-bed model. If you have a long-bed 301 then you'll either have to modify the machine or the cabinet for it to fit. Or you can keep your eyes open for a card table designed to fit the long-bed. These are pretty rare, though.

301 cabinet cradles are usually available on eBay. Check your cabinet to see it if already has the front edge support brackets. If not, you'll want to look for a cradle that includes them. Check your machine to see if the hinge mounting set screws are already in place. If not, you'll want to make sure set screws are included in when you purchase the cradle and/or hinges.

There, problem solved, just as promised at the beginning of this article!

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

See "Got Steel? Singer 301--the Featherweight's Big Sister" for more information on the Singer 301 Slant Needle.

See "Hide and Seek - Singer Sewing Machine Cabinet" for video of setting up and stowing away a sewing machine in a cabinet.

Note: The front edge support brackets require a flat surface on the inside edge of the front lift panel. Some cabinets have a protruding lip which supports the front edge of the machine, which will not work with the 301 cradle. Please review the above photos to see how the front edge support brackets attach to the cabinet and see below for examples of a cabinet that WILL NOT work with the cabinet cradle.

Special thanks to readers David, Lisalu, and Ann for sharing experiences and research that led me to make significant revisions to this article in the interests of accuracy and clarity.

16 Comments

Got Steel? Singer 301 - the Featherweight's Big Sister

10/26/2014

22 Comments

Singer 301 Slant Needle "Featherweight"

Looking for a straight-stitch sewing machine? Direct drive motor? Steel gears?

There are a number of phenomenal vintage Singer sewing machines that will fill the bill; 15-91, 15-125, 201-1, 404, and 604 to name a few.

BUT, if you also want a lightweight portable, then the Singer 301 Slant Needle is the machine for you. Especially if you love the Singer 221 Featherweight but want a full-size machine for larger projects. In fact, the 301 is affectionately nicknamed "The Featherweight's Big Sister."

While it shares a number of features with the 221 Featherweight, the 301 is mechanically very different from the Featherweight.

Featherweight-class bobbin

The 301 is the first of Singer's legendary steel-gear direct-drive slant-needle family. Cast in lightweight aluminum, it's the only slant needle that doesn't have a rotary hook placed in front of the presser foot. Instead, the 301 uses the same bobbin as the 221 Featherweight, which mounts beneath the platform to the left of the needle.

Singer 301 "Trapezoid" carry case

The 301 has a flip-up sewing platform extension similar to the 221 Featherweight, and it was designed to be a portable sewing machine. It has a built-in carry handle and was packaged in a distinctive trapezoid-shaped carrying case.

Singer offered the 301 in two versions. The "long bed" version had a longer flip-up table, similar in length to the smaller Featherweight. The "short-bed" version had a shorter flip-up table conforming to the standard dimensions of the 201, 401, & 500.

The long-bed was designed to be strictly portable, while the short-bed could be used as a portable or cabinet machine when paired with a special bracket.

Cabinet cradle for Singer 301

Because it was intended to be portable, the 301 does not have hinge mounts. Which presented a bit of a problem if you want to mount the machine in a conventional cabinet.

Singer solved this problem by producing a funky cradle that clips onto the base of the 301. The cradle has standard hinge mounts enabling the machine to be mounted into a Singer cabinet.

The machine releases from the cradle with the press of a lever, further enhancing it's status as the perfect portable. (See "Rock-a-bye Baby: Singer 301 Cabinet Cradle" for more details. )

Singer also produced a portable table for the 301, similar to the card-table for the 221 Featherweight. But these tables are extremely rare, so happy hunting!

Long Bed 301 in "Trapezoid" case

The 301 head weighs a mere 16 pounds, but the overall weight with foot control and motor is closer to 22 pounds. Significantly lighter than the 15-91, which is a cast-iron behemoth or even the 401 which is cast aluminum with a lot of internal steel components.

When it comes to power, the 301 has the gear-driven chops to handle heavy fabrics but is gentle enough for fine dressmaking and quilting too. It's a domestic machine with a .72 amp motor so it isn't meant for day-in, day-out heavy duty sewing but it will do the job beautifully on an occasional basis.

The 301 also features a convenient drop-feed knob for darning or free motion work. Buttonhole and zigzagger attachments are avaiable for additional creative design flexibility.

So if you love the Featherweight but want a larger machine without belts, the 301 is the one for you! Lightweight enough to carry to quilting classes but with heavy duty power for hemming jeans or tackling light upholstery jobs too.

Got steel? The 301 Slant Needle sure does!

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

Special thanks to readers David, Lisalu, and Ann for sharing experiences and research that led me to make significant revisions to this article in the interests of accuracy and clarity.

22 Comments

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Spring into Action

Do I need Special Discs for my 401 or 500?

Kid Stuff - Singer Toy Sewing Machines

Rock-a-bye Baby: Singer 301 Cabinet Cradle

Got Steel? Singer 301 - the Featherweight's Big Sister

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Spring into Action

Do I need Special Discs for my 401 or 500?

Kid Stuff - Singer Toy Sewing Machines

Rock-a-bye Baby: Singer 301 Cabinet Cradle

Got Steel? Singer 301 - the Featherweight's Big Sister

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