annthreecats

Background: My friend recently retired suddenly after her daughter accepted a job 200 miles away. My firend's daughter asked my friend to go with her to be nanny to her daughter. My friend sews, a lot. She has several machines. Today she was in town to clean up some more of her stuff from her house and she called me to ask me if I wanted her Mother's vintage machine. I, of course, said yes, and told her I would be over as soon as I changed my clothes.

She gave me her Mother's Singer Model 401A. My friend was sure that her daughter would not let her walk into the house with another sewing machine and she wanted it to go to a good home. My friend has not used this machine in many, many years (a shame, I know). My friend's Mom bought this machine in the 60's with some inheritance from her father's estate. My friend used this machine from the time her Mom bought it until she went to college and made everything she wore on this machine. She made me promise not to sell it. I told her I wouldn't sell it. I'm looking forward to using it.

I got the machine home and proceeded to clean it up. Just some minor dust and stuck on dirt. When I went through the plastic bag with the accessories in it, there was a foot pedal and some presser feet, but no power cord and no cams. I really would like to get this beauty running again and my question is: Is there someone reliable to buy a power cord from or can I buy one off a seller from Ebay. I saw a couple for sale this evening. I've got to have the machine serviced and I'm going to call my local Singer retailer about doing it. I don't know if he works on vintage machines. One more question, can I get cams for this machine and a manual. Looking at it, I don't even know how to wind the darn bobbin.

Thanks for any help. 8-) 8-)

Lostn51

If you dont mind shipping it I service vintage machines exclusively and I carry all of the parts that you could ever want for the machine. The cams are the same from the 400 , 500, and 600 series machines so they are out there and relatively inexpensive. Those are some really nice machines and you will find the the Slant shank machines like the one you own are more fun to use that your new one.

Billy

dunster

The 401 doesn't have removable cams. It has a built-in cam stack. Lots of information here, and you might be able to get the power cord too - http://blog.sew-classic.com/2008/10/...ne-review.aspx

Candace

The 401 has a bunch of built is cams....but if you want more they are readily available. As are power cords and pedals.

Essiescott

OH you are going to love that machine. It is the one I learned to sew on, they are work horses. Yes you can get much needing items from Ebay, but if your sewing machine guy might have them. The cams are neat to have also. I see them on ebay all the time. I am sure you can find a manual there also. Good luck in getting it going, you will really like it.

Sibyl

dunster

There is a link to the manual on the sew-classic site.

Lostn51

It has the cam stack for the built in stitches and then it also uses the accessory cams for the decorative stitching.

Billy

dunster

You're right, I should have said the 401 doesn't require removable cams.

You might want to join the Vintage Singers yahoo group. There's great information there.

annthreecats

Thank you all for the information. I'm going to get the manual now.

Billy, thanks so much for offering to work on my machine. I'd like to check with my local Singer guy before I ship her. I'll let you know tomorrow if you have a machine coming your way and we can talk about a couple of problems I found with her and cost for your services.

Thanks, again.

deplaylady

They have several built in stitches, also 5 special fashion discs (cams) came with the machine. I have an extra of the #1 cam - the Arrowhead stitch. I have 6 other extra top hat cams, but those stitches are already built into the 401, so you wouldn't need those.

This is my 'cheat sheet of the built in stitches of the 401 and the stitches that I need cams for (a couple I am still on the look out for.)