Picked up my 1961 503A ...
#1
Picked up my 1961 503A ...
and she is beautiful! Sews beautifully! Came with 12 cams. Turns out the machine was placed in an old home ec cabinet by my friend's OSMG in the 60's and his wife used it for years before my friend bought it. The cabinet is super ugly (I know, some of you think the machine is ugly, also). The cabinet is made with a Formica top which can fold down out of the way or fold up to give tons of table space behind the machine! Too bad the 503 is not as good at FMQing as my 15-91, the cabinet is perfect for FMQing! Thinking about backing my 15-91 cabinet up to the back of the 503 cabinet for FMQing... Would take up a lot of space in the sewing room, though...
Here she is, in all her ugly glory! Can't beat the price: free!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]532798[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]532799[/ATTACH]
Here she is, in all her ugly glory! Can't beat the price: free!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]532798[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]532799[/ATTACH]
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,963
Your machine looks very nice, and in good codition too. I am emvious. I would keep the table, it's not bad at all, a simple 1960s look. Is it teak? I love those folding tables and cabinets, a must if you don't have a dedicated sewing room. I would give it a chance for free motion too, it has the drop in bobbin, but it has a lot to do with tension and adjustments.
#3
My wife had her Singer 401A in hers, and then had me mount a 301A cradle in it, and she has her Singer 301A in it now. She uses the combination to FMQ.
CD in Oklahoma
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 673
That cabinet won't win any beauty contests, but formica is great for sewing - it's nice and slippery and a cinch to clean. Plus all that room - after you use it a while, I'll bet it gets prettier in your eyes. The 503 is a terrific machine too; looks right at home in that sea of formica. Did you get cam #11 (ribbon)? It's my favorite.
#7
Actually, we’ve found, that if you stack enough plastic tubs full of fabric, quilt blocks, thread, crafting supplies, rarely-used sewing tools, and other junk up under the cabinet, surrounded by a cute curtain made from fabric with vintage sewing machines printed on it, the style of the cabinet becomes a non-issue. The large work surface then becomes the main focus of attention.
CD in Oklahoma
CD in Oklahoma
Last edited by ThayerRags; 10-08-2015 at 07:01 AM. Reason: Added a photo.
#9
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Victorian Sweatshop Forum
Posts: 4,096
Linda or CD, can you please post a pic of the cabinet that shows how the back part is held up? I have a blond cabinet almost identical to this but mine won't stay up. When I open the cabinet, the top just flips down the back of the cabinet, it won't stay flat and I can't figure out how to get it to stay flat like yours. I hope this makes sense I just woke up and I don't drink coffee.
Cari
Cari
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