Gorgeous sewing machine! 😍 It was made for a limited time, from 1964 to 1965. It's one of my favourite vintage Singers, super fast and able to do a lovely chainstitch. Lol... 431G is the Mercedes of Singers & 201k is the Rolls Royce of Singers
Theses Machines came in pairs: 401G/421G, 411G/431G. The higher numbered one being the free arm version of the lower number. And the difference between the 401 pair to the 411 pair is that the latter can do a chainstitch, has a slightly different look (not the nice red tones for the signs) and the upper thread tension knob is made from plastic instead of metal. So I would like to argue the the 421G would be the first free arm model. Some observations about your machine: Your slide plate is not original. The original has the same curves as the body and matches its form perfectly. And you are missing some of the accessories. There should be five pattern discs. From what I could see some of the feet are missing too. Regarding the stitchplates, you are missing the straight stich plate and I think their should be stichplate with an kind of hook at the underside. Just in case you don't know already I would like to mention that the stitchplates are not held by screws! These are feather pins that most often get broken, 'cause they are mistaken for screws (sorry if you already knew, maybe this helps someone who did not!) When I found a 421G on ebay for a steal of a price I could not complete the transaction fast enough. Mine was missing the foot pedal and the straight stitch plate. I am looking forward to a video where you work your magic on this machine! Cheers mate!
The 401G often came with a clip on extension, which had plastic drawers underneath. I noticed your machine had the wrong needle plate - it looks like it came from a 401 flat bed.
A side note the 431G and the 411G are able to produce a chain stitch. It requires a special needle plate (often missing) and are different between the two machines (not interchangeable) Also the two pins that hold on the needle plate on the 431G are often mis identified as screws and damaged with the use of a screw driver and are virtually unobtainable as is the plate. Both pins were damaged on my machine and the chain stich plate missing. I had replacement pins custom machined. They do not function as the originals, but do secure the plates. My 411G has the chain stich plate so I'm able to use it should I be so moved.
I live in Australia and I came across this machine on EBay, I had the other 400 series models but never heard of this one, so I bought it, it came from South Australia to NSW East coast, and I love to sew with it, it’s one hell of a V8 muscle machine.❤
Bravo on such a find! Now question: the bobbin cover plate looks like it extends a bit past the base, leaving a couple of edges that would catch on the fabric. Is this the correct bobbin cover plate?
The needle plate pops off easily, don’t try to unscrew it, they are not screws, then the raised needle plate can be place in to position for free motion stitching or darning.
Thank you for the video. It is always fun to learn more about the Singer Machines. I have three 401A machines but didn't know they were top-of-the-line in the US back in the '50s. I picked up two of my 401A's for just $20 and they both were in cabinets. The 401A would be my #1 overall pick if it was a free-arm. This is a must-have feature.
Very informative video! I was given a 431G and enjoy learning about them. Mine has a needle plate, bobbin case and tension bar that allow it to do a chain stitch. I wonder why some were sold with the chain stitch capability and some weren't. There are even two versions of the manual. One with chain stitch instructions and one without. It's my understanding that these were only made in 1964 and 65. The motor has a date of manufacture that can be seen on the side of it between it and the housing on the rear of the motor. Mine indicates that it was made in 1964.
What a gorgeous machine to tour. Only disadvantage I see is the sharp bobbin cover plate when free arm is used. That could be a sewing disaster to be aware of. Too bad it wasn’t made for a cabinet use like the Kenmore which has the removable free arm. That’s for such a detailed explanation happy new year
I had one of these and the mechanism that Singer used to fasten needle plate was faulty. One of the little split studs are screws or whatever it was was broken and there were no replacements. I ended up using a nylon screw that I could force in, but it made it very inconvenient to take the needle plate on and off. I personally am much happier with my 411 G. Perhaps not all of them were like that, and the seller didn’t tell me it was broken before I purchased it. I hope yours is perfect and never goes wrong, but you may be able to machine a part when I couldn’t.
Congratulations on acquiring your 431G! Will be very interested in hearing what it sold for in the US back in the day, and also what that would translate to in today’s dollars. Thanks!
In France, I have seen this one, just once or two in the second hand market. Most of the time, we found 401G or 411G. This is the same thing for the 600 series
Nice find. One thing stands out to my eyes. The bobbin slide cover sticks out in front on the left. I can see that possibly being a problem when using the free arm. Personally, I wouldn't want one to keep. To fix up and resell like you do, fine. For myself, the Kenmore 158-1941 is unbeatable. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
As a collector of vintage Singer machines I was looking closely at this machine and noticed that the bobbin plate has sharp, square corners while the free arm has rounded. I wonder if they would catch fabric on cuffs or other close stitching. Interesting machine though. Love your videos 😊
I have enjoyed your channel for years. Don't be so shy, when you are conveying interesting information about an unusual model it would be nicer to see your face occasionally instead of staring at a model label... Thanks ☺️
Thank you for the 431G series information. I bought my 431G yesterday and will be excitedly following along. One question about the Cams; are all the 400 series cams interchangeable?
Yes, they should be. However, not all are useful and so if you had a 401A or 431G, you would not need the full set of cams that were offered for the 403 Series. You only 'need' the small set of cams that provide stitches that your model did not have built in with the others. They could only fit so many built in stitches.
Mine came from my mother in laws mum who had alot of kids so she had this very fancy machine where she sewed alot of kids clothes so imagine the free arm came in very handy
I have thought a great deal on the matter of why the USA had an extended flatbed period, and I think it may have been related to how large our houses were/are compared to European homes, and how we electrified our nations in the early 20th century. In a small home, a sewing machine cabinet that can look like a side table is good, but a sewing machine that packs up into the closet is even better. In my vintage sewing groups, many of the European ladies also mention that their mothers and grandmothers had hand crank, not treadle machines, whereas I've never seen a handcrank in my entire life (and I've been sewing for 21 years, and love that sort of stuff.) I'd love to know how to come up with solid data on this, but it seems that while treadles were certainly known in Europe, they weren't as prevalent. And I chalk it up to home size. Much easier to just pop a sewing machine onto the table and then sweep it up and away when finished. Ruth Goodman, a famous historian of the working class, appears to have her first go at a treadle machine in her late 40s when shooting the show "Victorian farm" for the BBC. She's totally uncomfortable with it, and it shows! Other period shows never show a treadle, but a hand crank. It might be somewhat on account of the fact that a handcrank is an easier visual prop, but again, it appears they were just more common. As I write this, it also occurs to me that the Great War and WWII may have seriously reduced the population of treadles to be had in Europe. It may have reduced the population of home sewing machines entirely. At any rate, my point here is that handcranks seemed to rule the day in Europe. I think you'll agree that going from a handcrank to a motorized machine is a huge step forward as it leaves both hands free to guide the fabric, pull pins, etc, etc. If my theory about handcranks is true, then I think Europeans then, had more reason to adopt the electric motor and the portable sewing machine that it enabled. Which meant that sewing machine companies were going to have a lot more freedom in European markets to introduce features that are difficult-to-impossible on a flatbed. Flipping gears here, I think the US was married to treadles much longer, partly because it seems we had more of them, and switching up from a treadle to a motor isn't as huge a step forward. Also, why pay for something new when you may already own your treadle legs outright already? I've been told there was a Touch and Sew model that still had a provision for a treadle belt (forgive me, despite some research I never have figured out which one), and by then I think treadles were probably uncommon features in the family home. But there it was..... Well, but then like I said, I had a point to make about rural electrification -- even rural Germany was almost completely electrified by 1930. The US wouldn't achieve the same until 1945, and even then, electric parity seems to only really occur at about 1960. I can see how if your home just got electrical, and perhaps the connection wasn't so robust, you might be keen to have treadle power available for so important an appliance as the sewing machine. I am positive that there are some social realities around the wars and communism as well, but I'm not sure if they drove the trend quite like home size and electrification. Again, I'm not really sure how to get the sort of information that would really help solidify my understanding.
I am from Italy and here handcrack sewing machines were not common. As a matter of fact I have never seen one. I am living in Poland now and and also here they are not common. I guess they were common in uk because there is a big second hand market over there
Gorgeous sewing machine! 😍 It was made for a limited time, from 1964 to 1965. It's one of my favourite vintage Singers, super fast and able to do a lovely chainstitch. Lol... 431G is the Mercedes of Singers & 201k is the Rolls Royce of Singers
Theses Machines came in pairs: 401G/421G, 411G/431G. The higher numbered one being the free arm version of the lower number. And the difference between the 401 pair to the 411 pair is that the latter can do a chainstitch, has a slightly different look (not the nice red tones for the signs) and the upper thread tension knob is made from plastic instead of metal.
So I would like to argue the the 421G would be the first free arm model.
Some observations about your machine: Your slide plate is not original. The original has the same curves as the body and matches its form perfectly. And you are missing some of the accessories. There should be five pattern discs. From what I could see some of the feet are missing too. Regarding the stitchplates, you are missing the straight stich plate and I think their should be stichplate with an kind of hook at the underside. Just in case you don't know already I would like to mention that the stitchplates are not held by screws! These are feather pins that most often get broken, 'cause they are mistaken for screws (sorry if you already knew, maybe this helps someone who did not!)
When I found a 421G on ebay for a steal of a price I could not complete the transaction fast enough. Mine was missing the foot pedal and the straight stitch plate.
I am looking forward to a video where you work your magic on this machine!
Cheers mate!
The 401G often came with a clip on extension, which had plastic drawers underneath. I noticed your machine had the wrong needle plate - it looks like it came from a 401 flat bed.
A side note the 431G and the 411G are able to produce a chain stitch. It requires a special needle plate (often missing) and are different between the two machines (not interchangeable) Also the two pins that hold on the needle plate on the 431G are often mis identified as screws and damaged with the use of a screw driver and are virtually unobtainable as is the plate. Both pins were damaged on my machine and the chain stich plate missing. I had replacement pins custom machined. They do not function as the originals, but do secure the plates. My 411G has the chain stich plate so I'm able to use it should I be so moved.
Nice machine!
Didn’t Singer begin production of the 222 in 1953 predating the 431G. That machine had a free arm and the ability to lower feed dogs.
I'm in Canada, and have a 421G that I had serviced and a new motor put in. It's identical to the 431G except it is a light mocha colour.
Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. This machine looks amazing!
I live in Australia and I came across this machine on EBay, I had the other 400 series models but never heard of this one, so I bought it, it came from South Australia to NSW East coast, and I love to sew with it, it’s one hell of a V8 muscle machine.❤
Bravo on such a find! Now question: the bobbin cover plate looks like it extends a bit past the base, leaving a couple of edges that would catch on the fabric. Is this the correct bobbin cover plate?
The needle plate pops off easily, don’t try to unscrew it, they are not screws, then the raised needle plate can be place in to position for free motion stitching or darning.
Thank you for your interesting and informative videos. I look forward to more in the new year. Have a great Christmas.
Interesting how the corners of the bobbin cover plate stick out, seems less than ideal for a free arm. Thanks for sharing.
The 320 is also a free arm, but never sold in the US.
Thank you for the video. It is always fun to learn more about the Singer Machines. I have three 401A machines but didn't know they were top-of-the-line in the US back in the '50s. I picked up two of my 401A's for just $20 and they both were in cabinets. The 401A would be my #1 overall pick if it was a free-arm. This is a must-have feature.
I WANT one!!!! :-)
Very informative video! I was given a 431G and enjoy learning about them. Mine has a needle plate, bobbin case and tension bar that allow it to do a chain stitch. I wonder why some were sold with the chain stitch capability and some weren't. There are even two versions of the manual. One with chain stitch instructions and one without. It's my understanding that these were only made in 1964 and 65. The motor has a date of manufacture that can be seen on the side of it between it and the housing on the rear of the motor. Mine indicates that it was made in 1964.
What a gorgeous machine to tour. Only disadvantage I see is the sharp bobbin cover plate when free arm is used. That could be a sewing disaster to be aware of. Too bad it wasn’t made for a cabinet use like the Kenmore which has the removable free arm. That’s for such a detailed explanation happy new year
P for Penrith NSW Australia
I had one of these and the mechanism that Singer used to fasten needle plate was faulty. One of the little split studs are screws or whatever it was was broken and there were no replacements. I ended up using a nylon screw that I could force in, but it made it very inconvenient to take the needle plate on and off. I personally am much happier with my 411 G. Perhaps not all of them were like that, and the seller didn’t tell me it was broken before I purchased it. I hope yours is perfect and never goes wrong, but you may be able to machine a part when I couldn’t.
Also, after looking up a little more about this machine I found that this and the 411G can chainsritch!
I was able to buy a 431g this fall, I also have a 401g. Love them!
Congratulations on acquiring your 431G! Will be very interested in hearing what it sold for in the US back in the day, and also what that would translate to in today’s dollars. Thanks!
In France, I have seen this one, just once or two in the second hand market. Most of the time, we found 401G or 411G. This is the same thing for the 600 series
Nice find. One thing stands out to my eyes. The bobbin slide cover sticks out in front on the left. I can see that possibly being a problem when using the free arm. Personally, I wouldn't want one to keep. To fix up and resell like you do, fine. For myself, the Kenmore 158-1941 is unbeatable. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
As a collector of vintage Singer machines I was looking closely at this machine and noticed that the bobbin plate has sharp, square corners while the free arm has rounded. I wonder if they would catch fabric on cuffs or other close stitching. Interesting machine though. Love your videos 😊
Bobbin plate doesn't look original, mine follows the curve of the free arm
That free motion plate deserves some more investigation I'm curious to know why the feed dog slots are still exposed
I have enjoyed your channel for years. Don't be so shy, when you are conveying interesting information about an unusual model it would be nicer to see your face occasionally instead of staring at a model label... Thanks ☺️
Thank you for the 431G series information. I bought my 431G yesterday and will be excitedly following along.
One question about the Cams; are all the 400 series cams interchangeable?
Yes, they should be. However, not all are useful and so if you had a 401A or 431G, you would not need the full set of cams that were offered for the 403 Series. You only 'need' the small set of cams that provide stitches that your model did not have built in with the others. They could only fit so many built in stitches.
She’s beautiful. Please let me know if she’ll be for sale when you’re done. My little 401A could use some company. 🥰
The needle plate is easy to change, just snap i off and install another. I have four different needle plates, straight stitch, darning etc.
I have a singer 320k from 1959 which is the free arm version of the 319 mines got australian plugs but I assume they where also sold in Europe
Mine came from my mother in laws mum who had alot of kids so she had this very fancy machine where she sewed alot of kids clothes so imagine the free arm came in very handy
I have thought a great deal on the matter of why the USA had an extended flatbed period, and I think it may have been related to how large our houses were/are compared to European homes, and how we electrified our nations in the early 20th century.
In a small home, a sewing machine cabinet that can look like a side table is good, but a sewing machine that packs up into the closet is even better. In my vintage sewing groups, many of the European ladies also mention that their mothers and grandmothers had hand crank, not treadle machines, whereas I've never seen a handcrank in my entire life (and I've been sewing for 21 years, and love that sort of stuff.) I'd love to know how to come up with solid data on this, but it seems that while treadles were certainly known in Europe, they weren't as prevalent. And I chalk it up to home size. Much easier to just pop a sewing machine onto the table and then sweep it up and away when finished. Ruth Goodman, a famous historian of the working class, appears to have her first go at a treadle machine in her late 40s when shooting the show "Victorian farm" for the BBC. She's totally uncomfortable with it, and it shows! Other period shows never show a treadle, but a hand crank. It might be somewhat on account of the fact that a handcrank is an easier visual prop, but again, it appears they were just more common.
As I write this, it also occurs to me that the Great War and WWII may have seriously reduced the population of treadles to be had in Europe. It may have reduced the population of home sewing machines entirely. At any rate, my point here is that handcranks seemed to rule the day in Europe. I think you'll agree that going from a handcrank to a motorized machine is a huge step forward as it leaves both hands free to guide the fabric, pull pins, etc, etc. If my theory about handcranks is true, then I think Europeans then, had more reason to adopt the electric motor and the portable sewing machine that it enabled. Which meant that sewing machine companies were going to have a lot more freedom in European markets to introduce features that are difficult-to-impossible on a flatbed.
Flipping gears here, I think the US was married to treadles much longer, partly because it seems we had more of them, and switching up from a treadle to a motor isn't as huge a step forward. Also, why pay for something new when you may already own your treadle legs outright already? I've been told there was a Touch and Sew model that still had a provision for a treadle belt (forgive me, despite some research I never have figured out which one), and by then I think treadles were probably uncommon features in the family home. But there it was.....
Well, but then like I said, I had a point to make about rural electrification -- even rural Germany was almost completely electrified by 1930. The US wouldn't achieve the same until 1945, and even then, electric parity seems to only really occur at about 1960. I can see how if your home just got electrical, and perhaps the connection wasn't so robust, you might be keen to have treadle power available for so important an appliance as the sewing machine.
I am positive that there are some social realities around the wars and communism as well, but I'm not sure if they drove the trend quite like home size and electrification. Again, I'm not really sure how to get the sort of information that would really help solidify my understanding.
I am from Italy and here handcrack sewing machines were not common. As a matter of fact I have never seen one. I am living in Poland now and and also here they are not common. I guess they were common in uk because there is a big second hand market over there