My new Singer 201-2, wiring problems
 

I rescued another sewing machine today. This one is a 1951 Singer 201-2. This first thing I need to take care of is the wiring. The pedal wire is badly frayed where it attaches to the machine and the power cord is frayed where it attaches to the connector to the machine. The only other thing is a missing thumb screw on the stitch regulator. I can get a new power cord from Sew Classic but I don't know where to begin to replace the pedal wire where it attaches to the machine (that's been no man's land for me so far). Here are photos of the machine, wiring, and the goodies that came with it. Can anyone identify the black attachment with all the different knobs on the right (it has Simanco 180981 stamped on it)? It looks like a zigzagger but it has cams with it that look like other stitches too.

That is a zigzagger with the red cam on the top. But those other cams go to a different machine. They don't go together.

Jenny at sew-classic can help you with what you need to fix the wires. While you are at it check the cord from the lamp that runs to the cord block. The lamp cord is usually sticky or cracked because of the old grease in the grease cups. 201's are nice machines. Very quiet.

Joyce,

Your 201 was originally a cabinet machine. The wiring for the controller coming out of the back of the cord block on the machine is the telling detail.

The wiring for an original portable would use this wire set:
{ http://www.shop.sew-classic.com/Cord...ers-SCE123.htm }
And it's not too hard to convert it. All you need to do is make sure the motor and light wires are in the correct place at the back of the cord block.

To rewire it the way it is now use these wires:
Cord block to wall socket:
{ http://www.shop.sew-classic.com/Cord...ORE-SCE122.htm }

Cord block to foot or knee controller:
{ http://www.shop.sew-classic.com/Cord...rol-SCE510.htm }

Hope this helps a bit.

Joe

^ He's right. Check that motor area thoroughly. Every 201 or 15-91 that I collected 10 years ago or recently bought has insulation flaking off it now. It's just at the end of it's service life and I think all of mine need a complete rewire now, motors & all. Ugh. The power cords are easy as pie, especially if just buy a new cord or cord set and don't do it the more tedious way of rewiring it using cut-up extension cords.

Well, I don't see where you set the zig-zagger width. Are you sure it is a zz? OH, I MISREAD THE MESSAGE. SORRY!

The man I bought this machine from said his mother was the original owner and, yes, he told me it was originally in a cabinet but his sister put it in the portable case in later years. Since I posted this I've been doing some reading and see there have been a lot of wiring problems with the 201 as you said MadCow. With the condition of theses electric wires I haven't even plugged it in. I'm wondering if I should replace the foot pedal wires and the motor to wall cord and then try it and see what happens or should I just replace the motor also while I'm at it.

Replace whatever wires are cracked or appear unsafe including those in the motor. The wiring is the only part of the black Singers that doesn't hold up and is pretty easy to replace with very basic wiring skills. For a portable use a double lead cord and save yourself some wiring.

Jon

The little black item with the white cap is a buttonholer. You can see the templates (gray) in the box that make different size button holes. I have one with my 201 and the other 1 with the red cap is with my machine also and had different zigzag sizes as illustrated on the top of the cams. You got a nice haul there. I would replace all the wiring with new and not from extension cords either. My hubby has redone the wiring on some of my machines.

Rain has good info on his blog:
http://vssmb.blogspot.com/
You might have do read the whole blog to find it... :thumbup: