lindawmn

So I found a short bed 301A in it's original case in thrift store for $25. Of course the bobbin case was missing but I had an extra. You bet I looked through Every bin for one! My friend wants it for quilting (she owns a sewing store so I'll trade it for store credit) which is great!

These are slant shaft right? I know the bobbin case is the same as the Singer Featherweight, but I believe the 221 can't share accessories, correct?

I cleaned it up, oiled it and tested it out, and boy does she run well! I replaced the bobbin tire, but the hand wheel/inner wheel is jammed (you can't stop needle motion). My husband had successfully freed these so I'm not terribly concerned there. I hear it's an easy fix.

leonf

Gee. I had to walk 8 feet to double check it. Yep, it is a slant shaft.

lindawmn

LOL Leon - keep an eye out for a bobbin case for this puppy, would ya? Regarding the handwheel, if we unscrew that screw, can we then take the inner wheel off the outer wheel to clean and lubricate it so it moves again?

And does the bobbin winder just fold up or is there supposed to be a spring that snaps it up? My husband thinks it should click up with more force than it does.

lindawmn

Never mind, Leon - we fixed both issues pretty quickly. Now I'm on the hunt for a bobbin case.

sewbizgirl

301 was Singer’s first “Slant-O-Magic. For the bobbin winder, the way yours is working is correct. You just push it up out of the way when not using. No snap, no spring.

ppquilter

Love all of my 301's. I have a blk shortbed and a blk longbed. I have a mocha shortbed and a mocha longbed. And I have a shortbed tan and cream. You got a great deal. I just sewed a leather patch onto a leather vest with NO problem, just lengthened the stitch some. They are workhorses!

Kelsie

Oh, you give me hope. I am looking for one that does not cost an arm and a leg. Lucky you oh but you are not going to keep it. Are you sure? Perhaps you want to try it? What colour did you find?

lindawmn

Kelsie, a friend of mine was looking for a white featherweight and didn't know about the big sisters. I couldn't resist sharing the find with her! I have two featherweights in black, a 15 clone, two 501As (my favorite), and a Willcox & Gibbs. I just don't do a lot of quilting and my friend does, and she travels. She can take this machine with her. If I do decide to get a 301 down the road, I would rather have a black long bed.

lindawmn

My husband is twitching over this design because it slipped some. We went over the wheel and new bobbin tire with a q-tip dipped in alcohol which helped.

Kelsie

I think I will probably buy any that I find, like you I like the blacks but the LBOW looks pretty smart also. We do the yard sales every weekend but SM seem to be rather scarce here. Last weekend I saw a treadle only because I said I was looking for one and the lady said "Oh, come inside I have one." It was not very nice. This weekend after about 20 or more sales and stopping for lunch at a local farmers market, as we left there was a cardboard sign with an arrow so we followed it. There was a portable in its case and a treadle with a book in the drawer for 127/128.
We were talking about this and we have a large influx of Canadians from the colder parts of the country especially when they retire and perhaps the older machines are left behind and then they buy a modern one when they get here if they are going to do any sewing.