Great to hear!

You bet!

Yes, I'm a huge fan of the Kenmores from that era. As for Singer 201s, do note that there are occasionally good bargains on those out there.

Did you find a 201?

@@totallyjonesin Actually I did! I got lucky roughly two weeks ago and for a price I could afford. She's in reasonable condition cosmetically, and very good mechanically. She IS showing her age of course, as she was built in mid 1941-just a few months before my dad ended going off to war. The japanned finish is quite worn in places although the decals are quite good. I don't mind her age-related flaws, they show she was well-loved and used. But she was really dirty and because I couldn't stand it, first I gave her outside a quick cleaning with a soft damp cloth then a bit of oil. Now I'm carefully cleaning her inside and replacing her oil and grease where necessary. Lastly, I'll tackle the motor. I bought her a brand new cord/footpedal assembly and she runs smoothly and quietly, even though the old grease in her is disgusting. Hopefully, the motor will need just some cleaning and then she'll be at work again soon. Thanks for asking!

@@PibbleMom297 That's great. I was going to offer up my 201-2. It took me many hours to get it back to it's former glory. I have too many machines.

If you love these machines, don't discount the 403A and 404 machines by Singer.

What a great find. I've always wanted to come across one of those cabinets but have not thus far. I would have your local shop inspect the wiring and decide from there. The cords that work with the 301 (there should be 2; one for the speed control and the other that plugs into the wall) are easy to purchase online as new reproduction cords. Or, your shop could rewire the original plug if in good condition. See what the shop says. Almost all vintage machines require some light cleaning (lint and dust removal or old oil cleaned off) and relubricating is something I would definitely do unless it was just recently sewed with. FYI, if you have the owners manual or get a PDF of one online, it will provide LOTS of info that will prove useful to you along with how to oil the machine yourself. The manual will show how to thread the machine as well as install the needle. (The needles install and get threaded in a different direction than your new Singer ). As for the table and a new Singer machine, it will not fit as the dimensions and platform of Singer machines changed a number of times over the decades. One option many of my clients choose is to have more than one machine. So, if they love the incredible stitch quality of a 301, they may keep that one for certain types of sewing/projects while also using a newer model if a modern machine has features you need/want. If you have the space, it can provide you the best of both worlds and you will likely appreciate having the 301 as a backup given the short life spans of many modern machines. If I had a mint 301 in a cabinet as coveted as your Trapezoid style, I would want to make room for such a setup. Good luck in however you decide to use your machine since the 301 was designed to be easily removable from its table or case and was one of the early portable machines since its body and chassis are made of aluminum. Suffice it to say I'm quite envious of your 301 and table!!

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage I took it to the shop just to have it cleaned/greased up. It is extremely clean, even inside the cabinet and the power cords are not dried out, they still feel quite supple so I’m hoping they say they’re fine! I do sew lots, I have a JUKI 2010Q and I LOVE that machine for the quilting I do. It’s heavy and in my sewing room in the basement. I bought a smaller Singer grey “heavy duty” machine about 6 months ago so I could have a small machine on the first floor and not miss out on life LOL. I feel confident that the 301 will replace it as my “first floor” machine so I can do piecing and lots of sewing with it, and the JUKI for the main quilting.

@@TheQHunter The 301 has the same shuttle/bobbin system as the Singer 221 Featherweight. I'm willing to bet you will love the 301 for quilt piecing.

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage I ended up taking it to have a full oil change and tire rotation LOL. I've been using it to make a quilt and I love how quiet it is!

Singer 301's are straight stitch only and they use the same side loading bobbin that the Singer 221 Featherweight does. The singer 401, 403, and 404 all are Slant Shank machines but have a drop in style bobbin; same as the 201s.

They do have zigzag attachments,alot matter a fact ,I have all

Interesting question. I have to say no, I have not. I have overhauled many Singer Featherweights and a few Kenmores that had aluminum bodies. I'm sure the aluminum 201's (mostly UK made I believe?) are relatively easier to transport but should provide the same love stitch as their iron/steel predecessors. The aluminum versions would have been more costly to produce and I'm sure their new prices reflected it.

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage I think they would be a similar weight to the 301, it’s so much lighter than my mums older 201k which almost breaks your back lifting it. Thankfully the parts are still the same, but it’s shape is more similar to the 301 and it comes with either the carry case or a treadle table set up. If you ever come across one it would be great to see your opinion on it. My mum calls mine the lightweight 201k - she always trying to sneakily swap it for hers, so much that I’m now trying to hunt down another one for her (as she says she can’t beat the 201’s stitch quality so won’t part with hers even though it’s so heavy) 😄

Hi Juan. Yes, I agree these 301 machines are lovely. However, based on what you describe wanting to sew, the best candidate in HOME sewing machines is the Singer 15-91 direct drive model. These were made in large numbers for the US market and are the strongest home model I believe. If that would not sew your bags, you would want to step up to an industrial machine.

I'm not aware of any new reproductions but salvage used ones can be found at places like Bonanza and ebay. Singer used this to quiet the running of the machines and possibly to allow a slower/gentler start up for stitching since the gear allows a bit of 'play' between it and the motor's worm gear. Considering that Singer used this as far back as the 1930's, I'm confident they were not 'cheaping out' on the construction, but rather chose this as an optimal engineering/design element.

I just got lucky and acquired a black one, also pristine, both mechanically and cosmetically, from the original owner for $50. It's a beauty and it purrs like a kitten.

You can get them cheaper but anyway still worth it

@@PibbleMom297 I got a 2 tone with everything for 50$ .

It turns in the same direction all the time that's good

Yes, its really sad isn't it? When that plastic anniversary model debuted, Singer had gone bankrupt and its assets were purchased by a private equity firm. And like so many of the legendary 'legacy' brands, Singer is a brand label. The Singer company is gone. This is true of Pfaff, Necchi, Husqvarna, White, and others. Fortunately, Singer was so large in their heyday that millions of their old machines exist for our use.

That's an amazing price. Great find!

They are smooth....

Sometimes people forget to put the notch in the bobbin case To keep it from spinning freely when the throat fight is removed mine was like that and I figured it out and then I just saw another one on KZfaq that was like that people were telling her but anyway I got a touch and sew needs gears . 247 . I'm going to restore the other two I don't think this two-tone will need restoration but I need to know what to do with that gear

It's a tight main gear on the motor but I just was surprised to see it

Love that price.