Vintage Singer sewing machines..What to look for?

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10-23-2011, 11:41 AM

#31

sewbizgirl

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Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: Mississippi

Posts: 25,985

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiffie2413

Well, I have my great grandma's 66-16, its a treadle, in original cabinet, and at some point she added a motor...I love it, but it was my Ma's, too...I hear a lot of people love the "red eyes"...I think some of them are model 66's, too...but not sure which model 66, or year...I know there are a lot of knowledgeable vintage lovers on here, and they will be along soon...good luck!

ALL Singer Red Eyes are model 66's... made during the 1920's. Great machines!

I have an older 66-1 (see my avatar) and two 201's, a 15-91, a Japanese 15-90 clone, a 221, and a 403. All I am still looking for is a nice hand-cranked Singer portable. I have a treadle, and several belt-driven and gear-driven machines, but no handcrank... :(

10-23-2011, 11:54 AM

#32

cctx.

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Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: Corpus Christi, Texas (that's me!)

Posts: 3,771

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annaquilts

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candace

I would pass up any Singers that went to plastic housings and more plastic gears etc. Stick to the more collectable, all metal beasts:> They last forever and are in higher demand.

Yes, this! :thumbup:

Yes, I agree.

10-23-2011, 11:56 AM

#33

Lostn51

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Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Bikini Bottom

Posts: 5,652

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janis

I'd appreciate knowing what Singer machines are good to look for in yard sales, etc. I have a Featherweight, and also a 99-13. What others are too good to pass up at yard sales? Which machines would you buy again, or not? Thanks.

Honestly what ever trips your trigger and what you like. Just because I love treadle only machines does not mean that you do to. But like some have said stay away from the plastic ones if you can (although I love the Gennie from the 70's because of the styling) and you should be okay.

It is what you like and not what we like! :D

Billy

10-23-2011, 11:59 AM

#34

Hillsgurle

Member

Join Date: Oct 2011

Posts: 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by miriam

If you don't have deep pockets and want a good retro machine buy an old all metal White - the older all metal Japanese machines are pretty cool as well. They will have names you have never heard of. There are some awesome old Kenmore and Necchi machines. On the other hand I've seen some old Kenmore machines ain't worth a plugged nickel. One we had back in the 60s was the very bottom of the line and just didn't get used much - nobody loved it - it only did straight stitch. Montgomery Ward made some nice high end type machines too.Look them over and see if you see ANY plastic gears or moving parts. They get brittle or what ever after time. Bottom line - look for metal parts. Another thing to consider. Sit down at the machine and make sure you can 'see' the needle without craning your neck. Is the tension in the line of vision? Listen to the machine. Does the motor sound good? Does the machine clank and sound funny? Some times it will sound funny because there is lint gunking up the bobbin area. Or is it someplace else??? Has it been oiled? Do you see dried up thick gummy oil? Does the tension work? I recently got one cheap because it had a tension wire spinning around. Does the zig zag work? How much wear and tear has it had? Check to see if the thread comes up from the bobbin. My sister got a 301 very cheap because they had the bobbin cover messed up. You can learn a lot by reading up on the trouble shooting stuff on this board.

Yes I have a couple all-metal Whites in Treadles--love them! Grew up with a late 1940's era Kenmore, wish mother hadn't traded it in in the late 1960's. I sure agree on the plastic parts, which I have in my Bernina. To date, that machine works well though, it is getting quite a rest since I've gotten into the older machines. Can't beat that knee presser foot lift on the Bernina though. I agree on the Necchi--heard nothing but raves on their excellence.

10-23-2011, 12:45 PM

#35

Charlee

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Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: Idaho

Posts: 6,442

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewbizgirl

ALL Singer Red Eyes are model 66's... made during the 1920's. Great machines!

The earliest Redeye on record is 1910. :)

11-06-2011, 02:47 AM

#36

miriam

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Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Somewhere

Posts: 15,507

Dad bought my mom a brand new Singer. She called up the other day wanting to know how to thread her FW. She's 85. I was able to talk her through it and she went back to the FW. I went over later to see what was going on and she had an extra thread in the tension of the new one.

11-06-2011, 08:13 AM

#37

mtpockets1

Member

Join Date: Nov 2011

Location: Bartlett, Illinois

Posts: 92

Hello all,
I am newly registered but not new to the board and now can be a part of the conversations and am looking forward to it. The old Singers are just wonderful! I too love the Singer machines but not just for their quality! I just love the way the old black models look. I have several but mostly use the Union and Singer commercial models I have as I find myself doing more than quilting, curtains and awnings for my husbands teardrop trailer and dogs toys for our herd. I have been fortunate enough to find most for extremely reasonable pricing. My cousin and this board have helped repair and get them not only working like a dream but also looking great too. Thanks to everyone for the assistance.

11-06-2011, 08:39 AM

#38

quiltinghere

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: PROFESSIONAL Longarm Quilter NW Indiana

Posts: 3,400

66s - 301s 401s 500s 501s even have 18 or is it a 185....I forget. I think I'd pick up ANY Singer if it were in good to great shape and, of course, the price was right! You never know who 'might need one'

I keep saying I'm going to start a notebook for all the machines. A notebook to list the machine, model number, serial number and manual info. ahhhhh someday when I have nothing to do.....