Singer Golden Touch & Sew #750
 

I know these machines are very unreliable and not recommended but the lady sold me two with cases and foot pedals for a total of $5. I figured the cases and foot pedals were worth $5 if I couldn't get them to work. And sure enough when we went to service them the plastic gear that turns the bobbin holder broke on one and the belt broke on the other. So we salvaged all of the parts we could and then put them in the trash. Beautiful machines to look at but that is all they are good for.

You did the right thing, I had a touch and sew go thru my hands at one time too. Seems a shame but they just weren't made to last.

Those parts that broke, how old were they? 40, 50 years? Replacements are available and once fixed the machines will last another 40, 50 years. In my mind no machine is a lost cause if it can be repaired. Since I don't do it for a living the cost doesn't matter, it's the experience of saving it that counts.

Cari

The are some early all metal touch and sew, with out the riveted belt. I'm not totally against drivebelts and plastic gears, because some of my absolute favorite zigzaggers have them. A broken gear and timing belt are worth replace, at least when the machine looks like your, almost new. New replacement gears are of good quality and they last a long time. T&S have a bad reputation, but a lot of it has to do with getting to know the fancy bobbin functions, the golden touch and sew had the dial stitch selectors that was meant to make eveything very easy, and they have double cams and stretchy stitches. When they come at a good price and in good condition they might be worth it. In my book all metal gears and rods are a major pluss, and I'm willing to put quite a bit of time and effort to sort them out, less so with not that good engineering. Replacing a gear and timing belt is an easy job on some models, some are more tricky.

I remember about 1970, money was tight but I got a new golden touch and sew! I was in love ....for a year. The non metal gears wore out very quickly. I got to be a pretty good machine repair person, finally traded it in for my first Viking. Still love my Vikings! I think the GT&S were so pretty! My mother in law and I each bought one that year. She never used hers. Out daughter has it, still works but she does not use it either.

If the gears wear down that badly, they are either in a place where they take too much load or it's very bad plastic material. Comparing with Elna, Bernina, and Husqvarna, they last 40 years, and often still running on the original gears. Singer had some rather badly made models after the mid 60s and we have to sort out what's worth fixing and what's not. The touch and sews are tricky that way. It's odd, because good quality plastic isn't that expensive, just a bit more expensive.

The problem with the touch and sews is that there are too many plastic parts that get brittle over time. Even the feed dogs were plastic. The one that I had was just metal bars. The teeth had totally worn away and fallen off. When one thing is fixed another thing needs to be fixed like the gears inside. It is just too expensive to replace everything. After a while, it's still plastic. So much better to concentrate on the metal parts antique machines that keep on going and going.

We should note down the better touch and sews models. There are a few in the 600 numbers, (600 and 603) and I have read at least one good review of the later T&S models with a few plastic gears. Some use them regularly and like them, but there's no point if they can't be fixed up to last for regular use. Plastic feed dogs sounds like a bad idea, at least they stopped making those.

If I'm counting correctly, the 700 series of T&S has 2 sets of plastic gears. It has a rubber top on the feed dogs, which deteriorates with time, but it's an easy fix and not that expensive. Without a doubt, it is not as good as a 401 or a 501. However, it does a lot of things that the older slant machines won't do. I like the machines, as I have one I bought new. It hasn't seen much use, though. I love the bobbin filling thingy. I have three 750s that still work.

The replacement gears aren't that expensive if you can/will do the replacement yourself. It's only worth the time and money if you want to use the machine yourself. You certainly cannot recoup your investment in time and money when/if you try to sell them. I've heard the figure of $160.00 to have them replaced.

bkay

Mine must be the exception - I've had it about 45 + years and it still works like a charm. I love it and alternate between that and 2 other machines.

The subject of the touch and sew comes up regularly, and it's very much the same arguments each time. I know Singer were unlucky with a productions of plastic gears over the years, some have crumbled up due to age, others have worn down unreasonably fast. I'm leaning towards giving them a chance and hoping the replacment parts are the good quality. Plastic (polyester) come in various ranges of high density to low density polymers; the best is very durable and will stand up to time and oil. I'm not an expert at all, but we certainly notice the difference when it disintergrate.

The things I like about these machines are the ability to chainstitch and the extra long speed basting stitch. I still haven't got my 770 or 756 cleaned and set up for the basting stitch, but have set my 626 for chain stitch.

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

My mother's friends called them the "Touch and Swear"

Have you taken a look at TandTrepair.com

Had one back in the day and hated it. Couldn't finish she a project without an issue and it usually had to do with the bobbin area

I was Looking for the best sewing machine so i found this discussion.I want some suggestions that which will be best sewing machine 2019?

Welcome, Becky. It depends on so many factors, it's really hard to give a good answer.

The two most important factors I can think of offhand are, how much are you willing to spend and how are you going to use the machine?

You posted to the vintage sewing machine forum, so I assume a vintage machine is on your mind. I would repeat the same thing I said earlier in this thread. Don't buy a Touch and Sew unless you are willing to either replace the gears yourself or have it done.

The most versatile and trouble free Singer machines are the 400 and 500 series. Many of the vintage Japanese zig-zag machines are reliable. The vintage machines from Europe are reliable, such as Pfaff, Necci, Bernina and Viking.

bkay

I have a touch and sew and I've had it since 1950 and have had not one trouble. I may have tomorrow. LOL, but maybe not. Barny

Yes, me too, barny. My 778 still works, although I don't use it often (it's always been stored in air conditioning). I really liked the T&S when I was volunteering at school. The kids seemed to do better with those than other machines. However all have died except my original.

Also, I bought several at an auction for $5.00 each a few years ago. All of them had broken gears.

I would not recommend anyone buying one these days.

Becky, I would suggest that you start a new thread asking about a vintage machine and tell us about what you want to do with it and how much you are willing to spend. There are many visitors who won't open a thread about a T&S, but would advise someone looking for a vintage sewing machine.

bkay

about 3 months ago I was given my grandmothers sewing machines. Both are singers, one is a 9410 (the last machine she bought before passing on) and the one it replaced, a 758 touch n sew. I remember her useing the 758 so I set out to get it running agin. I quickly found the problem. The plastic gears had broke 2 teeth on the bobbin/dog assembly. So I ordered those and replaced them. As I started to re time it everything looked good then the other set of gears sheered teeth. So agin I replaced those and went to time it agin. This time the drive belt lost teeth. And after seeing what was going to be a chore to do I moved on to another machine. I will probably never buy another tns except the older ones. A buddy snagged a 600 with cabinet for me for $5 at a yard sale. When he dropped it off I seen the TnS badge and thought, well poop. It has a nice cabinet at least. When I tipped it back and pulled the cover off I knew then I had a good one. All metal gears! After fixing a wire issue and a good oiling the thing runs like a champ. And the auto wind bobbin works smoothly.

My grandmothers 758[ATTACH=CONFIG]614881[/ATTACH]my newest 600[ATTACH=CONFIG]614882[/ATTACH]

Yeah, I also have a 600. I still sew on the 401, though. Mine is also an auto-reel, although it has a "Touch and Sew" label posted over the auto-reel one. Unfortunately, I've never finished getting it all cleaned up. It's the dirtiest machine I've seen that wasn't in storage for a long time. It's just coated in old oil and lint in every nook and cranny. It's a two t-shirt clean-up, for sure, but life got in the way of sewing machines.

bkay

couldn't agree more. I think the t&sew are awesome and easy to repair for another 50 years. Even the belt

Here is an idea to change the 750 timing belt without doing a lot of disassembly of the machine. https://www.inspirepoint.com/img/a5i
Just use some rubber cement and cut the pins flush.

Actually, cutting off flush didn't last. Pins pull out without a head. I had much better luck leaving the heads on and bending over the other end. Works great now

No glue needed

LOL! (I guess I need 10 characters for the post to post)

I had a Touch & Sew come my way a few years ago and it tuned it up and gave it away. It was working when it left here. The history of this machine is a sad one as so many of us know. Many years ago, in junior high school, They were brand new and we had three of them in the class room. They were always out of service. They were the first machines I used with a drop in bobbin, and the first plastic machines I worked with too. So very different. Now as collectors items I decided it was one I didn't need to keep. As you said pretty to look at but not reliable.

Do you remember what caused them to go out of service? Just curious for what to expect if other than the plastic gears and belt?