Can someone tell me the difference between a Singer 401 and a 401A. When we first were married, (51 years ago) my husband bought me a 401A and I used it for years. Then we traveled and I had to sell it. I am trying to buy one now, but I can't remember what the difference was between the two.

Thanks
Gilla

There is no difference in the machines. The A just denotes the fact that the machine was made in Anderson SC. I have one of these machines and it is a real workhorse.

http://blog.sew-classic.com/2008/10/...ne-review.aspx

Debbie KS

I have a Singer 301 and the 500A. Glad to know what the A stands for. Bought the 500 at an antique store. I like the option of using a straight stitch or ziz zag with the different throat plates.

I inherited a 1958 Singer 401A from my Mom last year, it truely is a workhorse, sews beautifully, I just love it and will forever call it "Mom's Sewing Machine", even thou it is now mine.

This may be a repeat on other topic page, but when I was in high school my Mother's Featherweight need to have the bobbin case repaired. At that time the singer company would leave a machine for your use while your machine was being repaired. The rep left a Singer Slant-O-Matic 401A and I would come home from school every day and sew on it. When Featherweight returned I came home to see the two machines sitting there in our dining room. My mother and father purchased the 401A for me! It was my Christmas present, Birthday present and Graduation from High School present. It has been with me all these years through every sewing task asked of it. My daughter has the Freatherweight now.

I received the 401A for my First Wedding Anniversary gift. Still use this machine.......Real work horse. I also have a Brothers I purchased two years ago since I needed a light weight machine to move about in the house to use for piecing quilt blocks, but always go back to my Dear Old 401A for "real" sewing...
LOve my Singer 401A

I too, have had my Mother's 401A, and she purchased somewhere around late 63 or early 64 and I also refer to it that way. But, she can get tempermental when she hasn't been used in a while. She doesn't sew through a lot of thickness like I often hear referred to on this thread.

401A is American made 401G is German made
Then there is the 400 series and 500 series.
There is 401, 403, 404 and I found a 411G
There is 500 and 503

I bought one at a garage sale last Summer. I will have to look and see where it was made!

I have a 401A too. I don't use her anymore since getting my Babylock (I love that automatic thread cutter and threader). But, I just can't part with her either.