Mickey2

Luckily there's a degree of interpretation to it :- )

Either way, I lean towards the earlier 201 too, with art nouveau type decor on the face plate. I can't remember the correct name for it, but I think the black 201s only had it and the later "pin-striped" version. I can't affort to be choosy, I shall have to accept what turns up and hope the price is reasonable.

NZquilter

I am now suspicious that my 201-2 has been rewired before. There is no classic Singer "S" on the three prong terminal and the wires look great. Is there a way to tell without opening the whole motor?

Mickey2

Do you mean the plug-socket parts with the switch? I don't think there has been replacement parts for these other than original Singer. If the insulation is intact it should be fine, but to be absolutely sure I guess you have to open up and check every wire from end to end. That said, the wiring at the ends of the power cors get much more stress than the rest and should show signs of cracking long before anywhere else.

Cari-in-Oly

Yes there are replacement three pin terminals for Singer machines so it's possible yours has been replaced. Which just means one less thing for you to have to do.

Cari

NZquilter

Yes, it's been rewired already! My DH says probably in the '90's someone rewired it.

Mickey2

I didin't know this, I have never seen replacement terminals with the power switch. New info all the time here in the vintage section , and I have seen a few 201s. That said, the potted version is few and far between here.

leonf

Even a better deal if you don't need to re-wire it.

NZquilter

Mickey, shame I can't ship you a potted motor singer. 15-91 are really common in CL, and the 201-2 do pop up occasionally too.

rryder

Congratulations! I’ve been wanting one too- glad you found yours and that it didn’t need co plete rewiring!

Rob

Fledrmaus

Ah, yes, the 201! My very first vintage machine was a 201K in a cabinet, that I got at a country auction in eastern Ontario. It was at the very end of the auction, nobody wanted it, and I knew it was headed for the scrap metal pile that would be bought as the last lot if I didn't do something. So out of pity, I bid the $1 (Canadian!) the auctioneer was asking for and got it. I didn't even know what it looked like; it was still face-down in the cabinet and hadn't been raised up. When I got it home, I saw the model number and did a web search, since I knew nothing at all about old machines, except that it was a Singer. Imagine my surprise when I read that this was considered a Cadillac among Singers, the best model for domestic use they ever made! Mine's a late model - it's that tan colour, and they'd switched over to aluminum from all steel, but it is an absolute warhorse. In great condition, too; all it really needed was oiling and a new spool pin.

Since then, I've acquired about 25 machines in 3 years! I really like the Japanese clones because of their cheerful colours, but the 201K is the one I keep going back to for actual sewing.