singer touch and sew
 

found portable Singer Touch and Sew for sale at thrift shop for $14.99. have no idea if works or not. havent bought it yet . wondering how old are they? when did the Singer company start making Touch and Sew version. googled Singer sewing machines but couldnt find any info on them.

The first Touch and Sew model was introduced in 1965.

I had one and was very dissapointed in it. Put three motors in it before I threw it away // IMHO pure junk cmaras

I bought my first Touch and Sew in 1969 with my babysitting money. I sewed on it until I bought my first Bernina in 1976. I liked the machine but many of them required extensive repairs as the plastic/nylon gears wore out, cracked and broke. I wouldn't buy it without trying it out first. It also takes a specific bobbin and winds in the machine after pushing a button to fill and this also sometimes gives trouble.

They call them "Touch and Throws" due to their poor reputation. Just an FYI.

I've had one since the early 70's. Have not had any issues with it - just like anything else it needs to be oiled and serviced periodically. Up until a year ago it was the only machine I had so it got a very good workout and still works perfectly. I now rotate sometimes I use a treadle, sometimes a 15-91 and sometimes the touch and sew, just depends on what I am working on.

I had one around 1970. It had the drop in bobbin and that was always messing up. I had it back to the store every week or two when I was steadily using it. I wouldn't take one if it was free.

My husband bought me one overseas in 1971 and it is still being used today! I made clothes for our children until they didn't want homemade clothes anymore, then it sat for a long time just brought out for mending. Then my daughter took it when she got married, as I had bought myself an Elna and a Pfaff. Last year I brought it back home and now it is busy making quilts at our church for charities! I think if a person takes care of anything it will last longer. Still have my Elna, and a 301A and a Singer Treadle machine, have sold the Pfaff and the Touch n Sew comes home with me every summer when the quilters take time off, I oil it up and lube it and it is ready for sewing again in the fall.

I still have my Singer Touch and Sew and it is a bit noisy compared to today's machines, but works like a charm. I had it serviced and person working on it said it was in fine shape to sew for many years to come. DIL is taking that machine. Granddaughter is taking my Pfaff 7570. I now sew on my Bernina 440QE, but could have continued on my Singer.

We use an old Touch and Sew in the shop. Rewinding the bobbin drives me crazy sometimes, as I have to try 3 or 4 times to get it going. I think the thread cutter may be dull...
Otherwise, it's a fair machine. But, I wouldn't buy one for myself...much prefer my old 401A and my FW!

Never heard anything good about them and hated the one I used. It was my sister-in-laws, and she always thought the problem was her. After I had to use it and it was horrible, she got rid of it and got a Viking. That was in 1973.

I sewed in a costume shop (Little Theatre) on a Touch and Sew and it was great. No problems whatsoever.

The 401, 403, 500 or 503 are a much better choice.

I have a Singer Touch and Sew that I bought new in 1975. I am still using it. I love the bobbin winder in the machine! I don't use the cams a lot, but I like the feather stitch and use it frequently. The bobbins can still be found in Singer shops.

I had one years ago and it was a nightmare most of the time. The tension was terrible and couldn't ever be adjusted right and it was in the shop a lot. When, I finally traded it in, the dealer said that they got a lot of them as trade-ins and were sold for $50.00 a truck-load in Mexico. I traded it in for a Bernina and have never looked back.

I would stay away from any vintage machine that has plastic gears. The Singer 401 is the best vintage machine for not too much money. Ebay has some listed for as little as $100. That is where I bought mine and have really enjoyed the machine. I was careful to buy one that could be returned if not working.

Some dealers will do that just to make a sale. I bet you could have had that fixed somewhere that wasn't trying to sell you a new one.
I am learning to work on those old T&S machines - they are better than the new plastic garbage machines.

I bought one at an estate sale and when I got it home and tried to use it, it the motor makes a smell. Sure was disappointed!

If the "smell" is not burning wires or melting plastic it's from sitting. The motors inside those machines are open to the dust and debris that float through the insides of the machine.

Here is what my SMG said to do: Take off the belt, (it probably needs replaced anyway), then run it at wide open for a while. If it's still cranky hose the brushes and area with lighter fluid, then run it. ( Do the lighter fluid deal outside, it can ignite).

So, in lieu of all that, just turn the darn thing on and run the snot out of it. :)

Joe

I rescued one on its way to the dumpster last year. It sews a great straight stitch, but clunks when asked to ZZ. My GD made a quilt on it last Summer and has taken it home.