Good price for a Singer 301A?
 

I guess I shoulda asked these questions here instead of the main thread. But please see below as I could use your expertise.

I have a coupla questions for you vintage singer owners. I am going tomorrow to look at a Singer 301A that was listed on Craigslist and the seller is asking $80 or best offer. When I spoke with the seller today he didn't know the overall condition of the machine but said that he knew it was used over one year ago and has been stored in his garage since then. He only wants it gone.

My questions are: What is an averge selling price of a Singer 301A today? What particular things should I look for when inspecting the machine? Would I be out of line to offer him $60 or less? Is $80.00 a fair price? Anything I need to look out for? Any attachments that should come with this particular machine as I know it slant needle machine? Any help you all can provide is much appreciated.

http://images.craigslist.org/5Gb5K65...3502011a4a.jpg http://images.craigslist.org/5I95K95...67167c1306.jpg http://images.craigslist.org/5I55G75...9adba81b0f.jpg

OK, first of all, that is probably close to a fair price if all the following are there: Paint is not peeling from anywhere...these machines sometimes got aluminum rot. The Bobbin case is there. It has some feet. It has the power cord and the foot pedal (2 pieces). No deep scratches or dings. The cabinet alone is probably worth the $60 you want to offer, as cabinets for 301s are very hard to find.

You can offer less to begin with...he may take it! But I would pay the $80 willingly!!

I think that is a good price and I would pay it. Be VERY careful, though, because once you get your first 301 then you will realize how much you love it and then you will find yourself looking for the other 2 colors of 301's....black and mocha....:D .....not to mention the different sized beds on the different versions.

I would pay $80 for that. One thing I do before looking at anything on CL, I ask if the price is negotiable. Most of the time they say yes. Peeps who don't know anything about repairing/servicing a unit have no idea what that cost can add up to be. You will love this machine!

the seller didnt list firm price in his listing he just said he wants it out of his garage. i couldnt understand everything he was saying but i heard that he wants it gone.:thumbup:

everyone thanks for your comments. i have two 15-91's that need new wires. i saw a tute on how to replace the wires so i will try it on one of them to see how it goes. repairs, if needed, can add significantly to the price.

I think it is a fair price. I have a 301A and love it, they are really good machines.

I've seen $150 around here and then gone pretty quick. I've seen $300 and still around. $80 is a good price. Nice table. You can't buy a new one that will do what that one will do for that money. The quality of the new ones is not there. Check it over to be sure it has the bobbin case and test to see if it sews.

I have a two-tone, and I paid more for mine than $80. I'd take it in a heartbeat! Love the cabinet too!

yes get it

thanks will check for the bobbin case. there are quite a few vintage machines for sell in my area on craigslist, lots of singers, many treadles, 66's, 15-91's, many vintage whites, kenmores. sew many and they are ranging in price from $50 to $350+. a vintage machine collector/buyer would have a field day here right now.

I would offer less and negotiate. It is a fair price, but if it needs to go into the shop, you must figure that cost in.

Once you are face to face with him, you have the advantage. He wants it gone, and nobody else is at hand to compete with you. If you can give him cash on the spot and get the machine gone, he will be happy. Chance are he has no money invested in it, and anything he gets is profit to him.

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!

Dayle

I forgot to mention -- I think the standard feet are similar to the ones for a Featherweight, except they are slant. You probably wouldn't use most of them, but if there are none with the machine, that is a great negotiating point. Same for the manual, even more so -- even people who know nothing about sewing machines can see that the manual is valuable. Bobbins are the same as the FW -- another negotiating point if there aren't very many. If it was used by a seamstress, there would be a zipper foot and buttonholer. Walking foot would be nice, but not likely to be present.

Dayle

You are right it does take slant feet - these to not interchange. The feet can be bought on line. Bobbins can be bought on line and manuals are down loaded free.

It's a good price if it has the bobbin case. Any other things included would be nice but not necessary. I've never used any of the "attachments" that came with the 301 and I own 4 of them. Similarly, a manual is available free on the net and I don't consider that valuable. Most vintage Singer manuals are available for downloading(free). If someone offers me something at a decent price, I don't feel the need to insult them by offering a lot less. Bobbins are cheap like Miriam said and would not even be a consideration in my book. Good luck.

$80 is something I would jump right on. I have just bought one just like it in a carrying case, not a beautiful cabinet like yours in is, and dividing 6 into $425 for it means I paid nearly that much for mine, and had to send my son 300 miles to pick it up. I love that cabinet--I have about 6 of them and am running out of space for placing them except out in my husband's shop waiting to be polished and cleaned up.




Jo Ann, I am really enjoying this morning's visit with you all......

I paid $75 for my black 301 in the cabinet. It has all the attachments and the instruction book. I would say it's a fair price.

I think that's a fair price. I have one just like it that was in bad shape when I got it. I cleaned, lubed, oiled and put in a new drip sheet and it works great. Then, I bought a black & did the same things - and I paid a little more.

Get it for sure! You will love the 301, it is my favorite machine, and I have a FW and a newly acquired 401. It is so smooth and dependable.

Wiring Repairs
 

I recently purchased a new foot controller and wiring kit from Sew Classic in Ohio and they were helpful in instructing me. There are also instructions on the internet showing exactly how to do it. Sorry I can't get them from here, but you can just put "Singer 301 wiring" and see what pops up. Please do visit the Sew Classic web site to see all the parts etc. The more we know, the better we can service our machines. We're all they have.

Go for it! You will love the 301 and it is so nice to sew in a cabinet-the flat surface from the machine to the cabinet is nice. I didn't realize how much I had missed when not sewing on the flat surface. Good luck. Lots of information on the net about the 301.

Sound like a fair price especially in a cabinet. Go for it

This is sooooo true! I now have all tree colors and love all of the 301 sisters!

i did get the machine and boy does it need a cleaning. it worked just fine but the tension needs adjusting. the cabinet needs a makeover which i love doing. the cords were perfect, no degrading. no attachments available, just the sewing machine and the cabinet and no price negotiation. it belonged to the seller's mom brought up from arkansas and stored in his garage.

i so have never been a collector of sewing machines. i was the person who always gifted someone else with a sewing machine or serger when i got a new one. i now own four (4) vintage singer sewing machines and i am not sure how that happened. the two 15-91's that i own need new wiring, the 128 is missing the foot pedal and now the 301a which appears to just need cleaning and oiling. i think i was on a quest to get one that i could just set up and sew with and that's how i ended up with 4.

i really wanted a featherweight but now i am thinking why? i dont want to just collect sewing machines, i really want to use them and how many can one person use? i was just looking at a new babylock from my lqs. hmmmm... i am seeing a 12-step program somewhere in my very near future.:D

thanks for all of your help. i will post pics as soon as i get my josephine iv aka "jo" all cleaned up. i will be refinishing the cabinet this weeked also.

Congratulations! I think you will enjoy the 301!
Dayle