Singer 201 lamp
 

The 201 fixture was loose-y in the machine...not bad so I sorta forgot about it until last night when a friend was talking about her's being cracked and needing to be replaced. I did a quick search and found some info on the lamp and saw how it should have a screw at the back end of the fixture that engages the socket. Mine doesn't. Ok so that is why mine is a bit loose. Luckily I have another 201 in the hoard with the screw and was able to find a decent match in my parts bin.

So I brought the new screw in, flashlight in hand to happily pop it in and I see no threads inside. Instead there is what looks like felt. I had to dismantle the lamp to get in there and I find a small black felt circle with a hole in it that looks like a spool pin felt.

The question is, does it belong there or did someone poke it in there to hold the socket better since they lost the screw?

I could go tear the other lamp apart and see what it has but then I'd have TWO torn apart lamps! If anyone knows the answer off hand I would love to find out here and avoid more tear down.

I broke down and tore apart the other lamp.

OK for anyone who needs this in the future, the answer is it DOES belong there. It's just a small circle of black felt with a hole through the center to allow the screw to pass. It must cushion the lamp a bit to avoid chipping the bakelite.

It might be a vibration damper. Too much jiggling can cause the element in the bulb to fail. Experience taught them to put it there for whatever reason.

I have my moms 201....found that little circle of felt when I was about ten, over 50 years ago. Yes, I still use this "old girl" regularly!

Yep. That could be it too. Whatever the reason is is meant to be there.

Debbie, that's wonderful that you are still using that machine! It sure shows the lifespan these babies can have!

Debbie, I think it is wonderful, too, that you were raised with and still use your mom's 201.