Singer 401A - Good for quilting?
06-14-2012, 11:38 AM
#22
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,585
My son picked up a Singer Featherweight a few months ago at Goodwill locally (Ocala, Florida) for $50. It was absolutely an unbelievable buy! It needs a belt, a good cleaning and oiling before I use it, but my son was a sewing machine mechanic for 14 years, so I don't have to go to the shop with it! The machine is in excellent condition otherwise, but I'm really lucky that he found it!
Jeanette Frantz
Jeanette Frantz
06-14-2012, 05:43 PM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Bobcaygeon,On./ Bonita Springs, Fl
Posts: 1,015
Jeanette Frantz --I'm half asleep reading your post and then I remembered. -----While in Fl last winter met a
man who told me his relative was sewing machine mechanic for 14 yrs. I needed a part so he wrote out the
name and info. Mentioned Ocala area but I go south of Fort Myers. Somewhere in my briefcase of notes I have
his name which I believe is the son you referenced because I remember the "Frantz" part. Awesome!
If I can find that tomorrow I will write the name. As is said --It's a small world
Seems to me the man siad it was his brother --is that probable to you?
man who told me his relative was sewing machine mechanic for 14 yrs. I needed a part so he wrote out the
name and info. Mentioned Ocala area but I go south of Fort Myers. Somewhere in my briefcase of notes I have
his name which I believe is the son you referenced because I remember the "Frantz" part. Awesome!
If I can find that tomorrow I will write the name. As is said --It's a small world
Seems to me the man siad it was his brother --is that probable to you?
06-14-2012, 09:38 PM
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: The Beautiful Willamette Valley In Oregon
Posts: 689
Thanks for the link to GW's auction site, Joe,
I will check it out. I just read the 2 replies below yours, and I, too, saw a featherweight being sold through eBay by GW for a machine located at an Oregon location. This was well over a year ago, but hence my comment about that issue.
I will check it out. I just read the 2 replies below yours, and I, too, saw a featherweight being sold through eBay by GW for a machine located at an Oregon location. This was well over a year ago, but hence my comment about that issue.
Shirley,
You are right to a point. Good Will does not put machines out for sale, but they don't use eBay. They have their own on line auction site. http://shopgoodwill.com/
Here is the direct link to the sewing machine search: http://www.shopgoodwill.com/search/S...&showthumbs=on
We have been buying sewing machines and other goodies from there since last October and I have noticed a steady increase in prices of the sold machines. Especially the Japanese ZZ machines like my Alden and some of the others with built in and cam driven decorative stitches. Those seem to be quite popular now.
Enjoy.
Joe
You are right to a point. Good Will does not put machines out for sale, but they don't use eBay. They have their own on line auction site. http://shopgoodwill.com/
Here is the direct link to the sewing machine search: http://www.shopgoodwill.com/search/S...&showthumbs=on
We have been buying sewing machines and other goodies from there since last October and I have noticed a steady increase in prices of the sold machines. Especially the Japanese ZZ machines like my Alden and some of the others with built in and cam driven decorative stitches. Those seem to be quite popular now.
Enjoy.
Joe
06-15-2012, 04:24 AM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 1,775
(wow...tons of pages!!) but I'm glad to see all of the pics and information that you have supplied above.My machine has lots of old grease on the gears, which I would like to clean off. Is there anything that might cut through it without actually giving it a bath in kerosene? The 401g comes with a little detachable extension that I've never seen before.
06-15-2012, 11:36 AM
#27
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: The Beautiful Willamette Valley In Oregon
Posts: 689
It's sure nice to know that all Goodwills are not selling them at auction. Congratulations on your new addition!
My son picked up a Singer Featherweight a few months ago at Goodwill locally (Ocala, Florida) for $50. It was absolutely an unbelievable buy! It needs a belt, a good cleaning and oiling before I use it, but my son was a sewing machine mechanic for 14 years, so I don't have to go to the shop with it! The machine is in excellent condition otherwise, but I'm really lucky that he found it!
Jeanette Frantz
Jeanette Frantz
06-15-2012, 11:39 AM
#28
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: The Beautiful Willamette Valley In Oregon
Posts: 689
Oh, what a beauty! It looks brand new! Congratulations! (Isn't Joe a nice guy to not only post the pictures, but indicate in red the key points on them to oil, etc.! Wow!)
I have to say thank you, Joe, also!! This must be the week for buying 401's! I found a 401g (made in Germany) on Craigslist and went to buy it yesterday. The person selling it had printed out the manual for me (wow...tons of pages!!) but I'm glad to see all of the pics and information that you have supplied above.
My machine has lots of old grease on the gears, which I would like to clean off. Is there anything that might cut through it without actually giving it a bath in kerosene? The 401g comes with a little detachable extension that I've never seen before.
(wow...tons of pages!!) but I'm glad to see all of the pics and information that you have supplied above.My machine has lots of old grease on the gears, which I would like to clean off. Is there anything that might cut through it without actually giving it a bath in kerosene? The 401g comes with a little detachable extension that I've never seen before.
07-03-2012, 04:03 PM
#29
Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
I also have a Singer 401, as my one and only machine. It is great for sewing and piecing, but I have tried quilting, and the bobbing thread seems to tighten to the point that the fabric won't move anymore, until the bobbin thread snaps. Any advice? I've tried almost every combination of thread tensions, and I don't THINK it was the feed dog plate catching....
Maybe one of those universal screw-on cover-plates would work better than the built-in raised plate?
Maybe one of those universal screw-on cover-plates would work better than the built-in raised plate?
07-03-2012, 04:07 PM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Outer Space
Posts: 9,319
I also have a Singer 401, as my one and only machine. It is great for sewing and piecing, but I have tried quilting, and the bobbing thread seems to tighten to the point that the fabric won't move anymore, until the bobbin thread snaps. Any advice? I've tried almost every combination of thread tensions, and I don't THINK it was the feed dog plate catching....
Maybe one of those universal screw-on cover-plates would work better than the built-in raised plate?
Maybe one of those universal screw-on cover-plates would work better than the built-in raised plate?
Are you talking about regular quilting or free motion quilting? You need the correct foot for both or the thread can catch and break.
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