plume

Hi ArchaicArcane,

Great news about the nose. About the selector, I'll ask the lady, good point (good info too. I'm learning, I'm learning...).

1. You have sharp eyes! I don't think there are 2 different machines though. Looking at the thin horizontal logo panel on the lighter image, you can see the change of color. Also, the street reflections on the table mean it must be an opened garage door, suddenly filled w/ light...

2. Unfortunately, where I live must be even worse than a garage... 80% humidity pretty much all year long. Everything rusts

Thanks so much for answering so fast!

PS: Re: the table: YES

miriam

I'm really liking that table!!! I have one of those machines. SWEET!!!!!! The first one I got came out of the trash. It was a big mess. It took a long time but I did get it working. Hopefully you won't have all that much wrong if you can make the stitch selectors work. The nose just needs to snap shut. I have a little drawer unit like that for mine. It some how hooks to the machine and makes the bed longer. The machine is a winner in my book.

plume

Thanks! I will move forward w/ the transaction then. From what I'm reading, the most delicate part now will be to have it packed securely for transportation... I hope a friend in Milan can get it for me directly, otherwise I'll need to call a package delivery company. I'll keep you all posted!!!

plume

Ok, so after many ups (lady testing her machine again and making a hem without any pbs / confirming the "nose" closes / her husband unscrewing the table's legs for ease of transport / realizing she lives only 7km away from my friend in Milan) and downs (not able to contact my friend until yesterday night — while he's supposed to leave tomorrow morning to come & visit me / understanding there will most probably be no space left in his car for the 401 + table since he'll be traveling with his wife, 2 kids, and their 2 big dogs, lol / and... seeing a brand new classified ad on the web for "my" machine from the same lady yesterday afternoon)...

Only "ups" today:
- My friend went to the lady this morning & bought the 401
- He then bought... a car top carrier!

Can you believe it?! (I hardly can)

miriam

I would love to see that car!!!!!!!!!! in my drive way...

ArchaicArcane

I sure hope the clothes went in the in the top carrier... I'd hate to see the roof after a 401 rode all the way through Italy on it. Congrats on the machine. It will clean up really well!

plume

The 401 was in the trunk, well guarded -- as you can see
They all arrived well. The sewing machine seemed already cleaned & oiled. Oh it's so nice. It has many accessories, and the original booklets (both for the machine + table). The table is even more beautiful than on the photographs.
I started training yesterday, no problems so far (again, I'm a complete newbie, so figuring out pretty quickly how to place the threads, testing different stitches & trying to control the speed was a big accomplishment for me, even with the user's manual).
One thing I noticed, is that the last thread holder/hook before the needle is broken off from the needle clamp. That's not too important, is it?
Anyway, here are some pictures!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]424495[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]424496[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]424501[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]424502[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]424505[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]424507[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]424508[/ATTACH]

miriam

Pics did not come up on my computer. I am so bummed out.

I learned another place that must have oil and Miriam must have missed it.... It is the spring that holds the bobbin in. I had one that must have had dried up oil. The spring did not seat the bobbin carrier quite right and the thread would not pass through quickly enough so made loops like the tension was off upstairs. I rebuilt the tension. Checked the bobbin tension then figured out that the spring was not seated all the way down. Oiled it and it has a lot better motion now and good stitches.

plume

Thanks for the info about the bobbin spring.
Here are the pictures again (not the greatest quality...):

[ATTACH=CONFIG]424512[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]424513[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]424514[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]424515[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]424516[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]424517[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]424518[/ATTACH]

Sheluma

I can't see the attachments either, but plume, that table is to die for! And the machine is beautiful. The stars lined up for you and you got a dream machine! Congratulations!

Miriam, I am so glad I found your thread! I love the slantomatics too. I have a 401A. I have a couple of questions. Here goes:

1. If you don't use WD-40 or liquid wrench to clean inside the machine (cam stack area, etc.) what do you use? I HATE cleaning in there -- it's so hard.

2. For the past few days I've been dreaming of how I might get my 401 to chain stitch. (How lucky I am to find you right now!) Will the 411g bobbin race fit in a 401? Here's my idea: the Singer 600 series machines can chain stitch, and for this they have 3 accessories: 1. a chain stitch throat plate (with a little doo-hicky on the back), 2. a thread guide that clips onto the machine, and 3. a little bobbin case cover plate. These are readily available, I guess because of all the Touch and Sews that bit the dust leaving their attachments behind.

The 600 series uses a different bobbin, so that little plate probably won't fit. BUT, I found chain stitch instructions online for the 411G, and it doesn't use the little cover plate. The 600 series chain stitch throat plate should fit the 401, and I think the thread guide clip will fit. So, if I get a 411G bobbin race, a 600 series chain stitch throat plate and thread guide, will my 401A be able to chain stitch?

I've been obsessed with wanting to chain stitch lately. I would love to find a Singer 24 some day, or a Willcox & Gibbs chain stitcher. I have a Betsy Ross toy chain stitcher, but it can only do light duty work

Thank you for this thread!
--Sheila