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Which Disc is Which?

6/7/2014

20 Comments

 
PictureSinger top-hat style Fashion Disc
Still puzzling over whether that box of Touch & Sew discs will work in your 401 or 500 Slant-o-Matic? 

You're not alone.  In fact, that is one of the most common reader questions I receive..."will these discs work?"

If you've already read the articles
"Disc-o-Mania! Special Discs & Fashion Discs" and "How to Use a Singer Special Disc" then you already know that the 400 and 500 series Slant-o-Matics use a hard black plastic fashion disc with a raised center, commonly referred to as a "top-hat" cam.

So you're in a thrift store and see a set of top-hat cams in box marked Singer Touch & Sew Model 648 or 758 or whatever and you wonder...will these work? 

The simple answer is: maybe yes, maybe no. 

Let's take a look a the different discs Singer manufactured between 1950-1975. 


Singer Fashion Discs & Flexi-Stitch Discs.
Fashion Disc and Flexi-Stitch discs - bottom view
Pretty confusing, right?  So which disc is which and which machine do they work in?  Let's take a closer look.

Note:  I've only listed model numbers that are known to work with the disc shown.  Discs may also work in other models but have not been tested.

PictureSinger Fashion Disc
Fashion Disc
Small, flat disc fits vertical needle machines such as 306 and 328.


PictureSinger Special Disc (Type 1)
Fashion Disc / Special Disc (Type 1)
Top-hat style disc with slim center ring with 2 adjacent holes.  Fits 401, 403, 411, 431, 500, 503, 600, 603, 626, 648

PictureSinger Special Disc (Type 2)
Fashion Disc / Special Disc (Type 2)
Later top-hat style single-layer disc with wide center ring surrounded by 4 holes.  Fits 690, 700, 758. 



PictureSinger Flexi-Stitch Disc
Flexi-Stitch Disc
Double-layer disc with top-hat center ring surrounded by 4 holes.  Fits 690, 700, 758
. (Often packaged with single-layer type-2 special disc.)



PictureSinger Flexi-Stitch Disc
Flexi-Stitch Disc
Double-layer disc with top-hat style center ring with one adjacent hole.  Fits 740/760.  (May be packaged with single-layer type 1 special disc.)



PictureSinger Futura Disc
Futura Disc

Flat reversible disc has a pattern on each side.  Fits Futura models. 


So we can see at a glance that the small flat disc and the larger white discs WON'T work in a 401 or 500 machine. 

(The white discs are double-layer discs designed to work in machines with two cam-followers.  This allows patterns which move the fabric forwards and backwards to produce complex designs such as Greek Key, Flowers, or Ducks.  While Elna and Necchi were producing double- and triple-layer discs as early as the 1950's, Singer didn't catch up until they introduced the 700-series Touch & Sew models in the late 1960's.)

So the white discs are out, but you may still be confused by the two styles of black top-hat discs (I personally call them Type 1 and Type 2, but it's not an official name).  So let's compare them side by side:
Type 1 (left) & Type 2 (right) Special Disc comparison
Type 1 (left ) and Type 2 (right) Special Disc comparison - bottom view
PictureType 1 and Type 2 Special Disc comparison
Except for the thicker center ring and number of holes, they look pretty identical, don't they? 

Which means either one should work, right?  

Wrong.  A closer examination reveals that the later disc is also slightly shorter.


This difference in height combined with the fatter center ring means that this disc doesn't snap firmly into place on the 401/403, 500/503, and 600/603 models.

The issue can be clearly seen when comparing both discs side by side in the machine:



As you can see, the overhanging lip on the later disc hangs up on the post, preventing the disc from seating firmly.  The disc sits crooked and eventually wobbles loose, resulting in an erratic stitch. 

The simple solution is to make sure you purchase the correct disc in the first place.  But what if you can't find the correct disc? 

There is a creative solution.   A dremel tool with a sanding tip can be used to grind down the overhanging lip which will allow the disc to snap into place.  Be careful to remove as little plastic as possible so as not to compromise the structural integrity of the disc.

So there you have it.  Now you know what to look for to select the right disc for your 401 or 500 Slant-o-Matic.  And if you accidentally wind up with the wrong disc, there's still a way to make it work! 

That's what I call a win-win.  

Happy Sewing!
Barbara

OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.
20 Comments
Sally Neckvatal
7/10/2015 12:39:54 am

I really enjoy your articles and the wealth of information you provide. You also write so well which, having just retired from 36 years as a writer, impressed me. So THANK YOU. My collection of VSMs had grown from five to more than 30 since I retired 6 months ago.

Reply
OldSewinGear
7/19/2015 01:00:35 am

Thank you! I love writing about these old machines, and I appreciate hearing from readers. Sounds like you have a wonderful collection in the making. Enjoy your retirement!
Barbara for OldSewinGear

Reply
Ruby
11/24/2015 02:36:59 pm

Thanks. I was going to sell the discs that came with my SInger 603 Touch and Sew until I read this. I have several 401's, a 403, a 503, and a 603. I can use them on all of my machines.

Reply
Nadine
3/12/2023 04:52:58 am

does 603 cams fit 646 machines?

Reply
Monica
3/30/2017 06:30:50 pm

Is the photo on the right a disc from the 600 series which has meet with the dermal tool or is is one from the 400 series? I own a 403 a which is my favorite top stitching machine I have ever owned yet straight stitch is all it has ever done for any project as the discs are from a later machine.

Reply
Judi Kidder
3/22/2018 06:45:44 pm

I have new in box discs for 401 and 403 machines. Cams 2 scallop, 3 solid diamond, 13 faggotting, 14 comb, 17 curlique, 18 solid pyramid, 19 block, 20 walls of Troy. Make me an offer as I am clearing my vintage stuff out.

Reply
Regina Helmick
4/13/2018 01:07:39 pm

I am interested in the cams.

Karein Robinson
8/22/2022 08:28:18 pm

Interested in cams

Pat
9/25/2017 04:34:11 am

Stumbled upon this article and enjoyed reading it.

Reply
Edward Tagg
2/28/2020 12:03:48 pm

I have some Flexi-Stitch cams, 202,232,242,243, that are white and flat with red print, that are different to those your photographed.

Reply
Laurie Hopf
8/18/2020 05:15:43 pm

I bought a Dressmaker,absolutely no other I.d on it but ym-40 guessing 2402 but not sure.It uses 1-30 cams.This is my first knowing such thing as cams.Where can I purchase the cams I need?

Reply
Ronald van Zijl
2/3/2021 05:34:59 pm

Hello Barbara,
First of all thank you very much for being such a great source of information.
I bought a Singer 720 with all accessories a while ago and when I started digging into the non modern Singer machines, I found out about the 401 and I was sold, I knew I needed one! I stumbled onto a 401G in a beautiful state with all accessories and mounted in a nice cabinet.
The 720 had the box labeled 700/720 with Flexi Stitch Discs and Special Discs type 1 in it.
The 401G came with 5 Special Discs that appear to be identical to the ones that came with the 720.
Disc # 1 even has the same identification (SINGER 172185) and the same "MADE IN FRANCE" text on it. The only difference I can find is that on the rear side the 720 disc says "D" where the 401 disc says "1".
Halfway writing this I discovered that five of the 720 discs say "SINGER U.S.A.", the other ones "MADE IN FRANCE".
There is one more difference; the slit around the top part of the top hat is wider on the 401G's disc.
Thanks again, best regards from The Netherlands.

Reply
Juan Tarte
9/18/2021 06:30:09 pm

I'm interesting to learn about CAM disc's, can you take pictures of the Flexi-Stitch disc's and Special Type 1 disc's label Made in France, never see it before.

Also your sewing machine is just 720 or it is a 720G?

"G" means was made in Germany, if you don't know it.

Reply
Reed Merrick
2/6/2021 08:01:35 am

I am trying to find the fashion disks for my daughter’s Singer Stylist 401A and am wondering if the disks for the 401 and 401A are interchangeable?

I would appreciate any information you might have on this?

Thank you

Reply
Elaine Roe
2/22/2021 09:29:00 am

I have a box of 30 top hat discs ,I got them with an overlooked I was given but they don't belong to that machine obviously . They look like these ones on here will sell if anyone is interested , they are no good to me .

Reply
Phillip Craft
6/21/2021 08:08:21 pm

Elaine, did you sell your top hat cams? If not I would be interested please email me and let me know. Thanks

Reply
Elaine Roe
6/22/2021 03:20:22 am

Not yet sold , they're yours if you want them . Make me an offer .Thanks

john
9/23/2022 02:02:43 pm

I have a 503A and a 628, both the taller and shorter top-hat discs work fine. That said, on my machines the pin that protrudes thru the disc's large hole is not round as your picture shows. It is more rectangular and does not contact/interfere with the disc's center hub (tall or short). In fact there a litany of very subtle differences between the discs I have collected, probably depending on where or when they were manufactured. Not to be confused with the
Double-layer Flexi-Stitch Disc which is a different story.

Reply
Gail Sanborn
11/16/2022 03:33:44 pm

I have a Kenmore buttonhole maker with two plastic buttonhole plastic disks to make sizes: 15/16 (24mm), 1 1/6 (27mm), 1 1/4 (32mm, 1 1/2(38mm) this is on one plastic disk square with a circle with a number 2 inside it. With a number 45196. The other plastic square disk has the number three inside a circle, and it has the numbers 1/8(22mm), 1 1/16 27mm),1 1/4 (32mm), 1 3/8(35mm) says Keyhole on it and has the number 45197. It has the two other pieces one gold with a knob on it, and one a black box with silver metal. it comes in a plastic box that says Kenmore on the outside. in very good condition and not hurt at all. I also Have a Buttonhole attachment in a green and white box with manual and the buttonhole accessories even has the slip where they bought it from Sears.1956 with five templates.it says it fits fully automatic Kenmore Zig- Zag sewing Machine with the needle in the center position. It says 6785 on the outside on the box on the end. I also have a box of Sears Kenmore cams that are black plastic that says number 7,3,9, 4, 2,1,5,8, a tan knob that looks like a screw buttonhole zipper foot, needle threader with instructions on how to use It. A screwdriver with orange handle, and a guide don't ask me the years because I have no idea. Then I have a Singer sewing machine attachments that goes for class 404 machine there are seven pieces. would like to find a home for them. I got them in among other sewing items at yard sales . I am looking for the cams to a 600E touch and sew machine will be willing to trade or will buy the cams to the 600E machine.

Reply
Tanya Stinson
11/22/2022 06:32:29 pm

I thought I would add that the Type 1 top hat discs also work with the Singer Deluxe touch and sew Zig-Zag 625 machine as well as the 620 and 628

Reply



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