Can someone explain the difference between a Singer 301 and a 301A?
 

I'm bidding on a 301A on Ebay and don't know the difference. Can someone help me?

they are same

Thank you.

Usually the letter at the end of the model means which factory it was produced in.
A is Anderson, SC.

There are a whole bunch of differences between the Singer 301 and the Singer 301A, but for simply getting one’s first one from an auction, that bunch of differences probably won’t matter much.

The 301 was in production at the Anderson SC factory when Singer decided to use the letter “A” along with the model number for the machines made at that plant. There were 301s made at Anderson too, from about 1951 to 1953. There were even some 301-1, 301-2, & 301-3 machines made there.

The best place that I’ve found for information on the Singer slant needle machines (301, 301A, 401A, 403A, etc) is at:
http://singer301.com/index.html

About anything that you’d ever want to know about a Singer 301 is there.

CD in Oklahoma

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Well I have a 301A (grad gift in 1957, and used daily ever since) and my DD has a 301 (recently adopted after a long search)......only difference we have found is mine has a thread cutter and hers does not.....since I use snips I offered to take the thread cutter off my machine and put it on hers' but she laughed and said "no".

So, functionally, what are the differences?

CD, thanks for that link. I had not known about that site, and it's wonderful. I learned some things I didn't know and am all the more happy to have two Singer 301s, which have been and remain my favorite machines. (One day, I will finally find and buy a pristine black Singer 301 in a trap cabinet.) In fact, I like the other top-of-the-line slant machines also, and have a 401 and a 500. I use my slant machines the most.

Karen, did you get the machine on which you were bidding? If so, you will love it. If you have maintenance issues with it, just post in this area. It's easy to maintain.

Cricket

I’m not sure what you’re after Mark. There aren’t many “functional” differences between a Singer 301 and a Singer 301A, other than some are dual-purpose portable and cabinet machines, and some are portable only.


But, on the other hand, nearly any lockstitch sewing machine would have few “functional” differences with any other, since they all sew by making a lockstitch.


CD in Oklahoma

I was just looking for some clarification of your statement that "There are a whole bunch of differences between the Singer 301 and the Singer 301A...", as it doesn't appear to always be the case, though there are several different configurations within the 301 family.