I think the osmg told me the 603 had metal gears. I've read online that some do and some don't. Does anyone know which of the touch and sews have metal gears? I'd like to have one.

bkay

The 603 has metal gears and is a really nice machine. I don't know when Singer started putting in plastic gears, but for sure by the 700 series.

By the 620s they were the plastic gears. I have a 630 I'll get around to playing with someday. It has plastic gears but I remember thinking when I got it that they had been replaced. I'm all for replacing the gears in good machines, after all they'll last another 50 or 60 years.

Cari

603 is almost as good as a 403 or a 503 - it just has the dreaded bobbin. If you read the instructions how to wind a bobbin you might actually love that machine.

I like the bobbin - as long as it works. I particularly like the part where you just unscrew it to empty it. No more of the cat chasing the bobbin around the room while you're trying to unroll the thread off it. The downside is that they don't hold much.

There is a 603 on CL that looks nice. I may go look at it.

Thanks,
bkay

I have the 603 since I was 13. I did not use it for many years and then decided to get it serviced and use it. It is a wonderful all metal machine. I believe it was the last all medal machine that singer made. The person who serviced it told me to never get rid of it because it was such a good machine.

I have a 603 that I use every week at sewing shop. It out sews the other newer machines. So far, have not had any probs with bobbin or stitches.