Singer 301A Purchase Dilemma
 

Only two machines???????????????????? I have eight and only three are vintage. They are like people. Each has a different personality!

I hear the 301s to a great job with FMQ. I'm hoping to get my Mom's someday. When/if I do I'll have machines in three separate areas of my house - my sewing room (Viking), living room (301) and basement (FW). That way I can sew while watching TV or in between loads of laundry. I also layout quilts on the bed in the basement so it makes it easier to have a sewing machine right there. Like you, I don't want to be a collector. I think three will be my limit.

I have a 301 but I never use it because I love my FW so much. Lately though I have been sewing bags and I've been using my 401 and 201. Some day I'll find the perfect use for the 301. I say buy it!

Have you seen this thread, yet:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...d-t168818.html

I think that you might find that each model has it's own pros and cons. As for me, I like having more than one machine because sometimes I have more than one project going at the same time. This way I don't have to worry about changing thread colors, etc.

the slant needle is so much easier on neck and sholders, visability is fantastic for the perfect scant 1/4 inch that said the price is kinda high unless it includes the table....love FW but they can move around a bit if sewing something large and they do not have the slant needle

I use my FW and my 301A and my Bernina, and my serger and hope to get my treadle up and going this year!! My kids think I'm nuts-but I like all of them and use them for different projects. The 301 is a good machine and I think you would enjoy it and would still use your FW. Good luck with your decision.

I also have a older Featherweight but just love the slant needle on the 301. To save my really expensive computerized machine from any damage I also use my 301 to sew patches on my husband's leather biker vest...and it doesn't seem to struggle with them a bit.

I have both 301 and 211, plus a few other vintage and modern machines....9 in all. All the above comments are true...each machine has it's own personality, and I use them for different things, and just because they are fun to sew on. My 301 is my go to machine for quilt piecing, my modern Brother is for doing zigzag for machine applique. I take my Featherweight to any classes or retreats, or to sew at my friend's house. My treadles sit at home, but I love sewing on them. I have 2 model 15s waiting to be cleaned up and an antique Davis Vertical Feed to put in some kind of base so I can sew on them, too. I have a 99 that I put a hand crank on to take camping, but haven't had a chance to do that yet. So, you see, different machines for different reasons.

My grandson just asked me why I had so many machines (as he cleaned up my garage) and what was I going to do with them all. My answer....1 for each thread color so I don't have to change the thread/bobbin out! Thought that was as good an explanation as I could come up with on the spot!! LOL

I don't have a FW, but I do have a 301. I love it, and sew on it more than the 15-91, the treadle, the Wards signature, the old Kenmore, the Viking Rose, or the Pfaff expressions 3.0. But I do still sew on the others. I just do different things on them.
I primarily use the 301 because I can sew in the evening or at night, and not keep anyone up (except the cat, he thinks he helps me sew). The 301 is such a quiet machine for an electric. It just barely makes any noise, or at least mine doesn't. So, I think you'd like it. It is just a bit bigger than that of your FW.

You will use the FW for piecing and the 301 for quilting the finished, pieced top. 301 machines have ability to drop feed dogs, they have a larger underarm space, they are slant needle, the bobbins are same as 221 and they are all metal gears, hard to find a better lightweight quilting companion. They are very portable and only weigh about 17 lbs.:)

The 301 is a slant needle. You have to have slant needle feet. I am pretty sure the FW is not a slant needle but the feet are readily available.

I love my 301. Just sewed on it this afternoon before coming to work. Have a headache today so the quietness is appreciated!

Unfortunately there are no "good" walking feet available for the 301. There are many that are marketed as fitting the 301 and they do, but they are too wide for the feed dogs. There is not one walking foot one the market that will do what it's supposed to and that is feed the top in conjunction with the bottom feed dogs. I'm hoping that eventually some one will get smart and engineer a proper walking foot for the 301, as of now you can either got without or buy one of the modified ones for sale that will fit, but won't work 100% like it should.

Your 301 will take different feet from your FW.

As already posted, although the 221 and 301 can share bobbins, they cannot share feet, the 221 is a low shank machine, and the 301 is a slant shank, but feet are readily available for it. You can get older singer slant shank walking feet on ebay for this machine. :)

here is another 2 cents.........the 301 without a walking foot is like other machines with a walking foot..the way the slant needle feeds and works with the feed dogs (and the visability may play into this) is a joy !!!! the 1/4 inch marking on the plate is accurate and if you sew still able to see the line you have a perfect scant 1/4 inch (using aurifil thread). hope you post photos... mine is light beige and oyster white and has the table.

I have a 301. It's a great machine but enjoy some of the features on a computerized machine more, ie,needle down or up feature, push button reverse. Also, some machines do a secure stitch automatically at the beginning of your sewing project. Also, I think the price is a bit high and you may be able to find a better price if you look for it. 301 is strong, dependable, faster than the featherweight and has beautiful straight stitches.

I think the price is a bit hit on that 301, I love the 301. I have two but paid a lot less.

Well, that may be the case, but I've been watching my local Kijiji and Craig's List (CL), as well as eBay, for several months and can't seem to find one that has been fully restored and guaranteed by the restorer for less. There was a black 301A that recently went for $135 on eBay, but by the time I pay to ship it to Canada, and get it restored, I'm closer to $300.

I see posts on here where people get FW's and other antique machines at roadside sales and Goodwill for like $20, but I have to tell you I have never seen anything near that in the large Canadian city where I live. There is someone on CL right now who is trying to sell a FW - not refurbished - for $500. If y'all know where someone in Canada can get vintage machines for less, by all means, let me know! :)

I don't think the price is unreasonable if it comes with a warrantee and has been completely restored. I own 4 of them and I have to tell you, out of the 4 I've bought at a good price ALL of them have needed several hours of work and sometimes $ for parts. It's great to get a "deal", but 50 year old machines tend to need some attention. Usually they are up for sale because they either don't work or have something wrong with them. Out of the 15 vintage machines I own, I believe there have only been like 3 or 4 that didn't need some kind of work on them. So....if you trust the person and the machine is in very good condition, buy it and you will love it.

Wow, that machine looks showroom new. You are really lucky to find one so mint. I would almost be afraid to sew on it!

Pat

I wish I had known that this summer. At a yard sale they had one for sale for $50 and it even had a cabinet.

Kate - nice to hear you had a good experience with Gus! We have been looking for a nice machine for our daughter, who lives in Ottawa, and since daddy is a 6 hr drive away we think it would be best if she trys to find a machine that is already refurbished that she can bring home and start sewing on, rather than having to wait for fix-ups.
I will tell her to give him a call and see if he has anything she might like.
Congrats on your 301, it looks brand new...but everything he has advertized on Kijiji looks brand new!

Joann

Congratulations!!! My first 301 was a mocha colored one, also. Yours is so pretty!!!! :thumbup:

Here is a link for the Singer Slant Sewing Machine Yahoo group, in case you are interested: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/singer...guid=236813242

Congrats, it's a beauty. None of my 4 are as pristine as this one. Also, you didn't mention it was a long bed. They tend to fetch more than the short beds. So, good for you.

Thanks for the link. I didn't know about this group.

Congratulations on getting "Jean"! She is beautiful!

I have both a FW and a 301 and much prefer the 301. The visibility due to the slant needle surprised me, and I definitely use the quarter inch marking on the needle plate for piecing. The architectural style of the 301 is so pleasing also.

Dayle

Thanks for this, I went and joined this one as well as the FW one.

I have more than 20 vintage machines and I love each and every one of them. They're all different in some way.

I'm green with envy Kate...I have always wanted a 301 more than a FW!

Joann

Hi there, I am in Northern Ontario and I can relate to the lack of vintage machines for reasonable prices! However....I did find my mint black 301 short bed in her case with all of her accessories and a buttonholer, at my local value village for 14.99 and I had a 30% off coupon! Total score! But that almost never happens! I check craigslist in Michigan frequently, if you are near a US border I would check that. I also have looked at Craigslist and Kijiji in Montreal and found some unique deals (I am too far away but my sister lives in Ottawa too) I would like to find that Gus fellows info for my next trip to Ottawa though!

She's gorgeous. Congratulations on your new 301. The 301 is awesome, I just love the slant needle.

I would love to find a vintage machine that was fully restored! I am always leary of the electrical function when I plug these guys in.

I love my 301. My husband is an industrial electrician who checked it out & said it was great. Cleaned and lubed it and area great. Take a chance!

Oh I have taken several chances! My hubby is an electrical engineer and always looks at the wires to tell me if they are ok but it is the inside wiring that I wonder about since the article on Sew Classics brought the "not visible" wiring up. I don't know how to take them apart to look inside so I just wonder about the wires from the motor out. But......I do still buy them!

I love both of my 301's and have quilted a couch throw on one of them.