quilt938

wow! I want another 201 but don't have time to do any fixing up :-( thanks for posting the pics! I have loads of trouble trying to make out serial numbers

Emma S

I feel like I've stumbled into a show of 'History Detective'. So much to know about sewing machines, who knew?

saraw82

That would be a great machine to clean up on put on display if you don't want to fix it up! So pretty!

Rodney

I'm with the others. It's definitely a 201. It's one of the best straight stitch machines made and is worth the effort to make it run. Nobody here is the first or last one to misread a Singer serial number. I've done it several times already.
I hope you decide to keep it and use it. It will most likely end up being your go-to machine for piecing.
It takes standard 15x1 needles and class 66 bobbins if you didn't already know. Both are available pretty much everywhere.
Rodney

Rodney

I went back and looked at the pictures again. The brown flaky stuff is dead shellac. It was used as a topcoat to protect the decals. Don't use anything but sewing machine oil and soft cloth to clean your machine or you'll destroy the decals. It really should have all the old flaky shellac cleaned off and a couple coats of fresh shellac applied. Glenn has some great tutorials on restoring the finish on these old machines here in the forum.
Rodney

purplefiend

The Singer 201 is a wonderful machine! The one I have is a hand crank 201k-4, its the quietest machine I own. Most of the time I treadle it. The grandkids prefer the hand crank

madamekelly

Now I am confused. When I looked up the serial number on IMACS, I learned it was a 127, but then you all told me it was a 201-2 , so I compared pictures and I do have a 201-2, but wonder why the serial number comes back as a different machine. I did double check and the number is definitely an AB349605.

jlm5419

Yes, you have a Singer 201-2. It is my favorite machine, and will likely outlast me. They are definitely worth the trouble to fix up/refurbish.

Macybaby

Did you look at the photo you posted? I can't know what it looks like in person, but it photographs most certainly not as AB. I've got some stamped AB and the B has a very straight back. The photo shows the second letter has a round back.

For the curious - could you take another picture of the serial number? We're all scratching our heads because we all see either a AC or AG

hamchips88

macybaby is correct... i would keep it- as you have time .. fix it.