Differences in these two Singer presser feet? 161612 vs. 161455
 

I'm looking at a Singer "Special Purpose" presser foot. I have found two that match the illustration in the 1971 version of the Instructions Manual for my Fashion Mate 252.

One is Singer # 161612; the other is Singer # 161455.

For the life of me I can see only one difference...

The line drawing in the 1971 Instruction Manual shows the side view of the attachment section makes an almost 45-degree angle from the back edge toward the ankle section of the 161612.

A photo of the 161455 on eBay shows this same 45-degree angle making a 90-degree turn before morphing into the angle section.

I don't know if I can copy the photo here.

Do you know of any differences in these two feet? Both are listed as "Special Purpose" with their respective numbers.

I want to say the Fashion Mate is a low shank machine. Is one foot for low shank machines and the other for slant shank machines?
Rodney

I'm not sure what the differences are for the slant shank "special purpose" feet, but there are two listed for slant shank. The numbers for slant shank are 161167 & 163483. The numbers 161612 & 161455 are both for short shank machines. I've checked several sources and get a variety of conflicting info. The 161612 came with the 306 that I got recently, but the parts list from singerco.com site says that 161455 was what came in attachment set 160977 for the 306. I would think either would work. Personally, I would think that the one with more metal (the one coming off 90 degrees behind the foot would be the better one if one uses it a lot. I have seen where the pieces of the foot have broken apart.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Thanks, Rodney and Janey!

I found some more info and now know this too...

According to a site in the UK..."SingerSewingInfo.com.uk." and the subtitled "Singer Sewing Machines 1865-1970", there is a photo gallery showing four versions of the Special Purpose foot I am looking for.

The only difference I see in the two presser feet I was confused about is that the 161612 has a 5mm open slot for the stitching. The very similar 161455 has a 7mm open slot for the stitching.

Janey - The one you mentioned with "...the more metal...90 degrees..." is the very one shown in the 1971 version of the Instructions Manual for my Fashion Mate 252. In the 1974 version of the FM252 manual it had been replaced with a plastic snap-on foot that did not include the raised eye for cording threads.

Rodney - That site also shows the slant shank foot you mentioned, and a "high shank" version. Yes, my little, low-end-but-beloved 252 is a short (and straight) shank.

I am having a lot fun during my way-too-many hours of searching out more info on this circa 1971-1975, made in Italy/France, beginning-of-the-end Singer. I like to think I've added just a bit to my "sewing and its machines" info, too.

I appreciate everyone one on this wonderful board for all the knowledge shared here!

The photo on the left is the 5mm 161612 Special Purpose Foot. I can see how these feet could come apart from the upper sections. I have to get one anyway, to complete my machine with its original accessories. I'm adding the accessories shown in both the 1971 and 1974 manuals. And just to confuse matters, one eBay seller told me his manual had a 1972 manual. I hate to ask him to double check; it could have been his typo on "1971."

This makes sense, the timing sounds right for when sewing machines started going to the wider 7mm zig zag from the 5mm common to the earlier machines. 9mm seems to be common nowadays, and I *think* I've read that new machines are going to 11mm. Holy cow, you'd have to use some heavy stabilizer under a zig zag that wide, and think of how much thread it would use.

Cari

My new Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.2 has a 9mm zig zag. Since its that wide, I can't use the 1/4" foot for piecing quilt blocks, the foot only rides on the left feed dog and it won't sew nicely. I use the regular foot and just move the needle over to where I get a 1/4".
Sharon in Tx

These feet are for making corded buttonholes. I will try to post a picture later.