Thread: Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell

Originally Posted by Candace

My neighbor just gave me this machine. It's a White 77. It belonged to his aunt and he's had it in his house taking up space for a loooong time and wanted it to have a good home. It's in a neat desk with lots of unusual compartments, with all original attachments and manual. The cert. with it says it was sold in 1951. It's in excellent condition from what I can see in my fairly dark garage. When it warms up I'll play with it. The manual says it takes White Rotary needles. Are these special needles? Anyone have this machine?

Just standard 15x1 needles.
If you use the light, be careful reaching under it to flip the presser foot up and down.
I like the large bobbins it uses.
I have one from 1940 and its one of my favorites.

Originally Posted by Candace

I haven't had time to look at it really...but is it a standard low shank machine? I'm wondering if any of the quilting attachments that I already have will work with it?

real simple - mine is one of those screw down kind of shanks

Originally Posted by Candace

Yes, but Miriam, don't we have different machines? LOL:>

beats me - I should go take a picture. shoot - I just sent a pm to myself.... do you think I know what end is up???

Sooo....or seeeewwwwww.....what is the difference between the 301, 401, 501, 402, 403 and 503 machines??? Does each one use cams? Did each one have an added feature? There is a 402 in a cabinet for sale on our local "for sale" group and I didn't even know they made a 402!! Just trying to sort out these models and if I truly still want a 301 or would something else be just as nice. I already have a 401. Thanks for any help.

Got a chance to go to town today, so went into a little sewing machine shop there just to check and see if they might have needles for my new girl. Told him I thought I needed 20x1. Just about fell over when he went over to some little drawers and came back with some needles. I had taken the needle from the machine with me so we compared and sure enough. So bought a couple. Got word this morning that sew-classic had mailed my belt. So should be all set to go when it gets here. Worked with cotton balls an sewing oil and got it cleaned up. Can't even say it was dirty only used a small handful of cotton. I feed her some oil and everything spins sooo smooth and the peddle just seems to glide. What a difference the feel was and I thought it was good before the oil.
While hitting second hand stores the other day I found a bag that had a shuttle and a couple of bobbins in it. They won't work. Shuttle is to short & neither of the two bobbins are the right ones. Am thinking they belong to a Singer machine. So will need to keep hunting for bobbins!!

Originally Posted by sew wishful

Sooo....or seeeewwwwww.....what is the difference between the 301, 401, 501, 402, 403 and 503 machines??? Does each one use cams? Did each one have an added feature? There is a 402 in a cabinet for sale on our local "for sale" group and I didn't even know they made a 402!! Just trying to sort out these models and if I truly still want a 301 or would something else be just as nice. I already have a 401. Thanks for any help.

Differences between the Singer 500 and the Singer 503 machines - a link to a post I made on this topic a while back. I don't know about a 402 - 301 is a different beast sort of - it has the slant needle but the bobbin is vertical - the 404 is straight sew with a drop in bobbin like the 401 - I think the 404 is a good beginner's machine - pretty goof proof.
Needle threads front to back - bobbin is out front and drop in.

Originally Posted by sew wishful

Sooo....or seeeewwwwww.....what is the difference between the 301, 401, 501, 402, 403 and 503 machines??? Does each one use cams? Did each one have an added feature? There is a 402 in a cabinet for sale on our local "for sale" group and I didn't even know they made a 402!! Just trying to sort out these models and if I truly still want a 301 or would something else be just as nice. I already have a 401. Thanks for any help.

Sew Classic is probably getting a lot of traffic today! I found the reviews of different machines to be helpful: http://blog.sew-classic.com/categori...e-reviews.aspx

If I find one reasonably priced, I might just have to pick one of them up. Everyone is making them sound so good! The "modern" styling might be growing on me, just wish they were some other color than tan--always seemed kind of blah.

Adding: Looks like I was slow on the draw. Very informative post Miriam, I think I missed that one.