Price?
 

What would you pay for a 401a in a cabinet with cams, extra feet and an old singer oil can?

There are a lot of variables in that question. The best thing you can do is start looking at your local Craig's List to build up an idea of what a fair price would be in your area. What I would pay can be a far different amount than what you would pay. I also tend to be a bottomfeeder, I don't have the finances to spend a lot on machines. Around here if I really, really wanted one, say to complete a collection, maybe up to $100 but most likely I would wait for a less expensive one to come along. I just missed a free one last week.
If it's under $50 and is in decent shape you're not going to go wrong.
The cams and feet are a big plus but they're easy to get on Ebay. Maybe add another $20 to $40 for those.
My 2 cents,
Rodney

There are a lot of variables. Has it set in an attic for a few years with dried up oil so that parts don't move? Has someone gone over that machine to make sure everything works? Expect to pay more for the machine that has been carefully gone over. It can take hours not minutes to get one of those machines running.

everyone has different budgets- and feel differently about what they would pay for something- we really can not tell you what is 'reasonable' ... I've seen one person pay $150 for something that the next person would not pay $25 for- and then someone else say- 'what a deal, I paid $300 for mine' .... it's all relative & it's all personal ... what is it worth *to you* if you are thinking about buying it....and if you are 'fishing' to see what to try to charge for one you want to sell....then check out ebay, dealers, amazon, other sources to see what other's are asking for, and actually selling them for.

I wish we did not talk about price on here - there are forums where you aren't allowed to. Price doesn't really matter when you want the item. Price doesn't really matter when you consider what people spend on new machines. Just use good common sense - buyer beware - you get what you pay for... all that kind of thing.

wow, such good advice. Remember how many hours, literally, it took me to get my 401 working. Thanks to you all who helped me. And I hear about the lucky folks who find Featherweights for practically nothing while it took me again, not to overuse the word, but "literally" years of many a garage sale, estate sale and flea market between here and Atlanta to even see one in person and I paid about $150 if I remember, with no attachments, and no case, but did have a bobbin case and I was thrilled at that. You are right, Miriam, price doesn't matter if you really want them - as long as the budget allows!!

I have to admit I enjoy talking price but it really is all relative and that's why it ok to me. Personally, it depends on the condition of the machine, the cabinet and what extras are coming with it. Also, how badly I want it. Is it one you've been looking for? Are they rare or common in your area? And what's your current budget like?

Rodney! "bottom feeder"?? :eek: I've never seen it in quite those terms! I prefer to think of myself as thrifty and an amazing bargain hunter lol!

:D I think there are a lot of us here that buy low mostly because we have interest in fixing.

"Needs fixing" price is a lot lower than in "perfect working order" price.

I pay what it takes to get what I want. I paid $250 for one, but I was after the cabinet and didn't really care that it came with a 401a with all the attachments. I didn't even really want the machine as I already had a couple of them.

I also paid $100 for one in a decent cabinet with all the attachments - and I was after the machine with that one, the cabinet was too "new" for what I collect. Though I'm actually using it as it's got a lot of storage.

And then DH picked one up for $50 in a small cabinet.

We only paid $25 for the 401g, and it came in a really beat up cabinet, which we left in GA but son has not gotten around to having a bonfire yet, so it's still in his garage.

So mostly - price is more of luck issue than anything else.

I agree. I specifically look for needs love machines or broken ones.

Bottomfeeder is a term carried over from my other hobby: old woodworking machines.
I usually don't have the money to buy a machine in perfect condition with all the accessories so I buy the "bargain" that needs work to get things right again.
You get what you pay for. The low priced machines I buy usually need a little help to get them going again. Many times when you figure the time and money it takes to replace missing and broken parts, you actually save money buying the better machine to begin with. I enjoy the process though. Getting a machine to work again is at least as much fun as using it to me.
Rodney

I feel fortunate for the deal I got from the estate sale of an interior designer. My 401a was in the desk cabinet with the cams and different feet and manual. I love it. Got it cleaned up which didn't need much. Few worn spots on the desk top. My DH used it the next morning to repair a couple spots in a denim jacket. It purred like a cat getting it's belly rubbed. I paid $150.00 and was lucky since lived so close nearby, they delivered. I've seen others priced higher without the cabinet and needing a lot of work. All depends on how bad you want it and the shape it's in. A lot of factors need to be taken into consideration. I look at it as a pay scale $20.00 = needing a lot of work and having to buy a lot of parts to very needed cleaning and lube job to higher what is needed.

I can tell you I bought one at G'will for $69.99 with all its cams & feet, and a poor condition cabinet, and it still needs work.

If I could, I would reach through the computer screen and fix if for you...

This is good reading, and perfect timing for me. I am hunting for a Singer 301 with no luck around my area, (southern Idaho.) Thrift stores around here don't get vintage sewing machines, apparently, according to them. I found out at least one reason today... The thrift stores take any vintage machines in to the local sewing repair shop owner, who donates his time to go through them, fix them, and sell them for the thrift stores. I saw a 99k that just came in today, a 1952, I think it was. Box in sad shape cosmetically but solid. Machine looked good already, no rust, quite clean, it runs, it has quite a few feet, accessories, and manual with it. $75. Gulp. I use my machines, don't just collect, and while I especially want a 301, a 99 is on my "wish list," too.

I appreciate reading all the view points on this aspect.

That sounds extremely fair. There are 301s on CL all the time around here. But never at give away prices. Some people will ship.

I don't trust the idea of shipping a sewing machine. At least, not yet. Someday I may get desperate... It seems like taking such a chance that what you get may not get what was expected, as far as condition? Do you all bid on GW and ebay, and buy off Craigs List? I can just imagine horror stories about damaged machines after bad shipping.

The sewing machine shop owner told me that he had a couple of 301s for a long time 1-2 years ago, no one wanted them and he finally parted them for use on the FWs. :eek: That made me sad.

Not every machine gets damaged in shipping. I think we just hear more of the horror stories.

I got my 401 from an antique store. It was listed on Craigslist as "free sewing machine". So my son and I went and got it. It was in a cabinet all closed up. I didn't know what I had picked up until we got it out to the pick up and my son wanted to look at it. It was a 401 with cams and manual. The cabinet was pressed wood and in bad shape. We got it home and it wouldn't sew a stitch, because the needle was in backwards. Put the needle in right and it works just fine.

Strange. Isn't the bobbin case the only thing interchangeable between the 301 and the Featherweight?

He said the hook, and a few other parts, too, but I don't know enough to verify that, and don't have experience with that. I wonder what others will say about it...

Prim Quilts, that would have been a thrill!

Mark,

The needle plate and hook are also interchangeable. The bobbincase base in the middle of the hook assembly is not interchangeable, as the 'fingers are at a different angles and (I think) thicknesses.

shouldn't the tension change out, too?

Either way, that's not much of a "parting out".

Probably, as so many tension units are interchangeable.

and I am so thankful for that!!!

Thank you for the extra info. Such a shame to take apart a working machine, it seems to me. But, I
guess FWs are worth quite a bit more to sell, so economically it would be good business. :-(

Some times you gotta do what you gotta do to eat when you are self employed.

Kind of like 57 Chevies. When I was a kid 4 doors and station wagons were considered parts cars. The only ones that really drew interest from the old car crowd were the 2 door models. These days there aren't as many 4 doors or station wagons so they get some interest too.
Rodney

Ah, 57 Chevies ..... my favorite car! My former neighbor has a black one that he was/is restoring. Lovely but my favorite is the light blue with the white top (I think they came with a white top?). Met my husband when he had the 64 1/2 Mustang, burgundy in color. Don't we wish we still had that! We went through a few others but that was bought new and is was a beauty. Oops, way off topic but Rodney jiggled my past memories and off I went.