There's not too many other machines out there over 100 years old that work just as well today as the day they were new, now that's craftsmanship. Good video btw.
I have had numerous 201s. This Rolls Royce of Singer's wears a bit thin. I think Alex Askerov started that one and it went global. The 66 sews a perfect stitch as well!! Okay so there is no reverse but reverse is not that often needed when you think about. Just turn the fabric round and you can see even better To back stitch directly on top of the original stitch. Uncalibrated thread tensioner...so what..who needs it to be calibrated. Adjust top and bottom so the stitch locks in the middle. Done and dusted. I have a pristine Singer 66 Lotus in a beautiful treadle cabinet. I love treadling as I have absolute control. I don't want to rush through my sewing. I like to enjoy sewing slowly and as accurate as I can with a perfect stitch. The 66 does this for me every single time. If the 201 is the Rolls Royce then the 66 was an engineering masterpiece for its precision, looks, performance and being able to do some tough work ( leather and canvas) For me?.....a 66 any day.
The 66 is the king i would agree with you there , if it wasnt then why do we still use 66 class bobbins in todays machines right , and also agree about reverse, we dont use it much when you overlap your stitch there is no need to reverse and yep just spin it or like i do i lift the pressure foot pull my project back and stitch over a few stitches and its locked , 201 is way harder to work on and yes its smooth but its the stitch that matters in the end so the 66 is just as good , really there all good , i love my vibrating shuttles as well , if i didnt why do i own so many lol , here is how i look at it , any vintage or antique Singer or even any brand , they are all 100 times better then any made today so you really cant go wrong with all metal vintage , dont buy new all metal eeeek the quality isnt there, aluminum parts fail just like plastic , thanks for watching stay tuned for more soon ...
Some people insist reverse is necessary for beginning stitches. I just crank the stitch length down to 1 or 2 and stitch about 5-6 times. Works just as well.
Yeah, the 201 is quieter but the 66 just doesn't care what you put under the foot (within reason). It doesn't just pierce whatever you give it, it sews beautifully.
My working 66 is 101 years old. She is a beautiful Red Eye and her decals are amazing. She came electrified with an added spot/bug light and she runs like a top! She came from Goodwill. My second 66, 100 years old and also a Red Eye, was $20 from Craig’s List. She is completely locked up. I’ve been slowly disassembling and cleaning her. Needle bar still frozen. If I’m able to actually get her going again, I’d like to paint/personalize her and add a hand crank. My unicorn: a 201. I think they’re quite lovely and I know they can run well. I can’t believe I got my first vintage machine in September of 2022 and am up to 12 machines now! My unicorn would give me a nice bakers dozen!
You are going to love the 201 if you like the 66 , its funny how addicting these old machines can be , i remember getting my 221 and running the first stitches, i was grinning from ear to ear , what a great little machine the 221 is , do you have one yet ? If you get the 201 your going to want a 221 trust me , anyway good luck with your addiction we are still in progress of making a singer addiction club , i write your name down for the first meeting , you know you got a problem when you have more then 5 lol , thanks for watching , hope to talk again soon ...
I think the idea of an EXISTING database for Singers is a brilliant idea! This would help collectors, etc understand more fully how extensive/rare a model is, therefore the accessibility of parts.
I’ve restored them both and I love them an kept them. I also have the 66-16 which goes in reverse. Strangely I use the 66-16 the most! Do some reason my 201-2 is finicky. And the 66 never disappoints. I honestly thought it was just my 201. But I think you have something there.
Thank you for all this info!! And, yes, do set up a site with all the date info!! Lol. Easy for me to say!! I finally bought my 201. And I treasure it. I was devastated when it quit working properly. My repair shop is 6 hours away, round trip. It sat for a couple of months. Finally called to schedule a repair appointment. Was reminded that the repair guy was a communication guy for the fire crew on DNR! Ok, well it might as well sit in their shop as my sewing room. Had adjusted my expectation to not expect it until October or even November. We arrived an the shop owner came from the back room, followed by a gentleman. Could it be, be still my heart!! It was!! Mr. Fix it himself!! Took him about five minutes to determine AND fix my problem!! The needle was in backwards!!! And the even better part, it was no charge!! Even tightened the belt!! They did ok, I dropped $130! Didn’t take long at all! Lol BTW, I named it Marvel for two reasons: 1 my mothers name was Marvel. And I learned on her featherweight. 2. It is a mechanical marvel. Found out it is 28 days younger then me! BONUS!!
A 66 was the first sewing machine I ever truly enjoyed using. It was a living room decoration until I gave it a dust-brushing, belt, and drink of oil. It is unbelievably smooth and quiet. Even when I'm sewing as fast as the machine goes, it only makes a genteel clicking sound. And the stitches are perfect, every single time. The only time I got bad stitches out of the machine, it turned out the thread had this weird sticky coating and needed to be thrown away.
I remember getting my 66 and running the first stitches , such a great machine , funny how people buy plastic machines when you can get a vintage gem for way less , im happy you decided to try running her , you now know the quality we have tossed aside fof profit , nobody makes anything as good as we used to , thats why old singer sewing machines are still around and i bet in another 100 year will still be around .thanks for watching .........
My sister in law gave me a 66 in a bentwood case many years ago. It is so HEAVY that once my hsuband put it up on a high shelf it never moved - until a couple weeks ago. My husband is gone and so I had one of my sons retrieve it for me. The case doesn't have a key so it took a long time to get it open. Now the machine is stuck in the case. Once I can get it out I'm going to tinker with it. It's electrifiyed but the wires are all bad and you can get handcranks that match the decals so I think that is what I'm going to do if I can get it where it stitches. Yours does a beautiful stitch but I wouls still keep the 201!
Sorry to heqr your husband is gone , if you need to open the bentwod case you can use a small flat head screw driver , the keys are nothing special , let me know if you get it open , the 66 is such a great machine , i do love the 201 but when it comes to maintenance and repair the 66 wins , but the 201 is the king of quality rotary for shur , to be hounest i would have a hard letting any of them go , dont know why but i love all my machines , i dont even sew much lol
I'm like you. I still prefer a 66 over a 201 .plus the longest stitch on the 201 is called the basting stitch and it is not as tight as the other stitches
Thanks im glad you liked it , im hoping to do some more sewing machine videos soon but need to take advantage of the weather to get the camper done and being a contractor this is busy busy time , lol jibber jabber anyways thanks for such kind words i really appreciate it.....hope to hear from ya again soon....bye for now
I appreciate the interesting information about rarity. I still have not found a 201. Someday, maybe I will be lucky and find a nice one for a good price. I do love my 66 Red Eye from 1920. I wish we did have a database to register our vintage and antique sewing machines, great idea!
Ya its gaining interest , been trying to get to another video out but life got busy and and things are up and down , soon enough hopefully , still got some spots to fill on my contest so need to do a follow up video too , got a small list of videos i want to do , just need some time , hopefully my subs will be ok with waiting lol , nice to hear from ya Lizzy tank again soon
A few things. The K machines were made in Kilbowie, Scotland. Hence the K in the serial number. Any K is tougher to find in the US. Your 66 is a Model 66-1. The feet and attachments clamp on to the back of the presser bar. They 66-1 machines were only made until 1923. The attachments can be found but they are tougher to find than the attachments for the post 1923 models. Later 66 machines have side clamping feet and attachments.
Good to know , thanks, my poor 66 has been stuffed away in a corner of the shop , wish i had more room to display them all but its small here , i might be selling my 66 soon but ill do a video on it if i do make that choice , just feel bad it sits hidden in it cabinet not to be even noticed , maybe i do an adition this summer and just keep collecting lol we will have to see , take care and thanks for your input ....
@@4486xxdawson you did a great video! Just by coincidence, I used my 66-1 today to create a vintage style, rain cover/lens cover for a WW2 pair of binoculars! I also used it to sew up interior parts as I restore antique instrument cases for my antique horns. I really love the mach8ne! But! I know what you mean about space! I had to move all kinds of boxes to get to the machine! It was worth it though! Thanks for your kind response!
Just a correction for you re the Singer 201 introduction date. The first production run was on July 8, 1934 of 1000 units. I have a machine from this time period. For some reason, Singer did not build any more 201s until May of 1935, with a build of 200 units. Production then resumed in December 1935 with 4000 units.
That is defiantly a plus to the external motor motor version 201 , way easier to service and replace in a worse case situation , with that said ive never had a potted motor that didnt work so to be hounest, they both were made to last for a very long time , seems it doesnt matter what Vintage SINGER you have they just keep sewing , thanks for watching Suzie stay tuned for my hand crank episode coming soon , the 99 takes on the VS3 from 1895 , always appreciate you commenting , thank you
I specifically wanted and got a 1950 model with the reverse lever or backtack whatever you want to call it In my area I can get any machine I see for 10 to 40 bucks and I've got about 20 the last one was a phaff 230
@@mamiesews123 I like my 230 it does things I never thought any sewing machine would do. And it does it quietly and smoothly and fast if needed I've never seen anything like it yes I still love the singers Kenmore Minnesota's I have two treadles one Minnesota and one monarch
I have a 301 that came from a high school with a zigzag attachment so naturally I had to buy a zigzag attachment for my 66 because the one for the 301 is slanted of course and they do a pretty good zigzag and pattern for something that moves material,, I also like button holers ,I have one specific buttonhole attachment that is all based on leverage and it does not take cams it's all leverage.(☞ﾟ∀ﾟ)☞
Some people are blown away by the awesome decals on some vintage machines ..Singer included....and get the idea they're all worth big$$$$....as you say...not always .in fact more often not ha....The real value is if you cherish them for a specific reason or two....that's my take on it. The # of Singers manufactured logically would be a factor concerning rarity.
Both are good machines and I have both. I have the one you have there plus the one with the lever for the stitch length. I have three two old ones. I have one with a potted motor and I have two without one is a hand crank the other is a treadle and for me personally the 66 is a good machine but but I find the 201 to be a superior machine in a lot of ways. I can do back tack on the fly and I can go right back down to where my stitch length was. I can set it. I cannot set it on my 66. I can set it on my 99 but I cannot set it on my 66. As far as ease to work on, I find both machines just as easy to work on without any issues and unless you are just reckless with your machine, you shouldn't have to replace any parts. With that being said, the springs could break but they are easily sourced and replaced. Modern reproduction springs are available and work well for both the 66 and the 201 and so for me I would keep my 201 and let my 66 go. Also in my area the 201 is a little harder to find. 66 are a lot more common. The 15 class is the most common in my area. I have just as many 15s as I have 66s One other thing to note between the two you can put a 201 on a table without a case without a base and it will run. It has legs and it has a cover for the front gear and it allows you to rest the front of the machine on that. You cannot do that with a 66. It has to have a base or be in a table
Thats alot of great points and agree with working on them being easy , if your like me thats the enjoyable part working on them . I have 2 singer 201s now and the one is a 1951 but not badged centennial and the cabinet is original 1951 as well , turns out i love 201s after all lol . Thanks for watching and commenting much appreciated take care ....
Something I find kind of silly is the numerical dial on the upper tensioner....that bell or whistle is not necessary! On my machines prior to the 1940's they have a simple upper tensioners. just the essentials....disks, bee hive spring...thumb nut at the end....SIMPLE like a Model T ..and hey it works just fine....w/o all those numbers ha
Hi, Dawson, you were kind enough to offer to look for a replacement needle bar for a machine that had been dropped when the case catch gave way. At the time the bar was badly bent. After an attempt at fixing it ( what an engineer might call 'percussive adjustment') it's now broken. 🙁 It's a 15 of some kind, made in 1902. And that's about all I know about it. I'm guessing it was originally a treadle because the wooden bottom casing is home made. It had an early electric motor bolted onto it. My mother in law gave the Singer to me nearly fifty years ago but I was too scared to use it much because the wiring was old even then! I hope you can help me to get this old lady working. I feel bad having ignored her for so long. Eventually I'd like to get her treadling again. Thanks, Dawson, I appreciate your interest.
I would be hard pressed to rate one over the other. My 66 is a 1917 treadle. I have two 201’s. A 1948 and a 1953. All make the perfect stitch. The 66 is a recent find so I’m not entirely proficient in using it. I’ve been sewing with a 201 for about 20 years so I would lean more towards those. I’m one who also appreciates the historical importance and contribution of these machines, probably why I enjoy sewing with them so much. I also have other vintage machines I use for sewing depending on the stitches I want to use. I also have a Singer “Heavy Duty” machine I travel with because it’s lightweight and doesn’t take a forklift to take it places, please don’t hold it against me. Nice video, I’m always up to hearing about our vintage girls.
Oh i would never hold anything against anyone who loves vintage and antique machines , what ever gets the job done is all that matters really , i just love all vintage machines and make these videos to show the differance , i know the videos say what one would i keep but really i keep them all lol , im in a process of selling some and its a hard thing to do ....thanks for watching always appreciate the feed back stay safe my friend
@@4486xxdawsonprivée y ochen xochu kupit takuyu machines Zinger pomogite kupit kto znaet gde kupit pojaluysta y vse vache rasxodi oplachu y vas ochen prochu y jivu Francii
For free is always a great price , did you see my free Necchi BU from 1951 , awesome when its free and can be saved , scary too because it could have got tossed if you didnt come along , we need to preserve these gems , nobody makes anything to this standard anymore and only a fool would think old machines are worthless , you were wise to grab it up .....good luck and thanks for subscribing it means alot you enjoy watching, hope to have more videos soon ....
There are four versions of a 201 a treadle, the two electric versions and a hand crank. Also there is the added K for machines made in the UK at Kilbowie.
I also have a couple 201 models i recently picked up a 1951 model 201 in a desk ,both the desk and the machine are 100 year anniversary but not merked as a 100 year anniversary , i was going to sell it but being 1951 i cant let it go, ya i know they made hundreds of thousands of them but still , its a keeper ....treadle 201 sounds relaxing to me , good to know people still value these awesome machines, thanks for watching and hope we chat again soon ...
@@4486xxdawson Definitely relaxing. Very quiet in operation, actually seems to have been quite common here. I do stumble on them pretty often in a treadle configuration.
I have a 20l-2 with potted motor and it only goes slow to medium speed and will not go to top speed or fast. Got any ideas as to why? The stitch is wonderful but I am a fast sewer so it gets annoying
Well more then likely your motor is due for a service see the old oils and grease will slow down the potted motor , bob fowlers channel can help with the rebuild or Vintage sewing Machine Garage , they both do a good job showing how to service them style motors , good luck , hope you get it going the speed you like , this is one advantage the 201 thats does not have the potted motor has over potted motor , you can put on a higher amp motor on it and get it going as fast as you want ,, thanks for watching hope this helps ...
It could be the resistance wire in your foot pedal but it's not in front of any of us so it's hard to tell it could be the motor but I will bet you it's the reostat foot pedal or wherever it's mounted I had one that did the same thing in the contacts were dirty inside of the foot pedal
I have two Featherweights, one much newer than the other. I noticed that whenever I switched foot pedals, The one that ran slower, ran faster and vice versa. I did some tune up on the slower of the foot pedals and now both run great, and fast as I want them to. So, before panicking about the motor, check the foot pedal. @@ronald5629
I'm trying to figure out what I have. A 15 or 201. It's an AL342525 looks like the 201 but one list says it's a Model 15. It doesn't have the drop in bobbin. And the light is in the back. Any ideas. Thanks.
If the upper thread tention is on the chrome face plate its a 15 and from my research its a 1953 15 made on April 8th , if the upper thread tention is on the body and facing you then its a 201 , but the vin say its a 15 , also look at the bobbin case , does it drop in from up top or underneath ? And one for shur way to know is watch the hook , does it rotate back and fourth or does it do a complete rotation , a 15 is a oscillating hook , a 201 does a complete circle hance the name rotory hook , hope i answered your question , thanks for watching and commenting i appreciated it...
Hopefully when I take it in to get it cleaned and working again I cane get all these answers. Thanks for your UA-cams. They are helping. This was my first sewing machine. And it's been stored for years.
I heard one time singer could have stopped making machines after the 66 it was there most perfected machine made. Personally I would keep them both. Lol but I'm a machine junkie
Actaully yes , thanks for correcting me , you got first run from what i can see , 1 of 1000 made in 1934 i missed that run some how , you got a gem there , is it pottod motor or belt driven motor ? Thats what I'd llike to know
I am doing the same lol , ive got to do an update video soon , my collection has been ruduced but i havent let my viewers know yet , few more on the chopping block before i tal kmore on them , i had 24 machines and my 10 by 12 shop just cant hold them all unfortunately, so ive chose the ones i want to keep and let some good ones go ...ill miss them all but i need to move on , still got some projects to do still and will still be doing videos but thats enough on that for now lol ,,jibber jabber ...take care my friend
I prefer my 201 because it is my everyday sewing machine. My great grandmother’s 1923 66 treadle is a decorative piece in my sunroom although it sews just fine. I paid $400 on eBay for my potted motor 1953 201 about six months ago so maybe you should grab that 201. Frankly, I thought $400 was a bargain.
Im going to start buying any machine thats 40 bucks and down , going to start a scrap machine parts store , so people looking for parys can contact me , will be doing a video as soon as i get enough machines , and im going to buy that 201 for shur , 40 is just a crazy price and its complete .....thanks for commenting, im happy to know you still have your family's machine ,
@@4486xxdawson I have 2 of my family's machines, a 66 from 1915 (made in Germany) and a 15-88 from around 1940 (made in USA) - I can't figure the exact year it was made as the ID serial number was scratched on purpose - I don't know why, but it seems that it was done in the factory itself.
@@shmuelarom5773 ya odd that ypu cant make out the number , wounder if it was a trade in , they used to recycle some trade ins ...be cool to find out ...
I wouldnt know , i dont have one , but you can allways go to ISMAC web site and look up the vin and that might help ya , i only do research on machines i own , only a novice collector not an expert , if i come accross a 400w ill be sure to check it out but depending on the year it may be to new for my collection , im into 1960 and down , anything after that they started using plastic and i wont buy plastic , thanks for cheching out my channel...
I haven't ran across the 201 in my location yet. I have found lots of 15s. I found a lots of 66's but not a 201. Even a lot of 99s I will run across. Tell me eventually but whoever's got them. Is hanging on to them right now
There is 2 on the market near meright now , one for 50 and another for 100 , some times i think i should just buy them to resell but im a collector , not in it for money ..
@@4486xxdawson yeah I kind of fell into that. I fix them up that I haven't sold any. I fixed one up for my daughter and I fix one up for my son. Rest of them have been. Just got him working. Cleaned up and now they're sitting some place and I don't know what to do with them I'm talking about just all the other sewing machines I've got. I'm trying to decide which one I want to fix up next. I've got two red eyes and two other 66's, 4 15s and a few others including a dressmaker
Hi there. I have a story for you. In the 70's when fancy new coloured machines came out, everybody was trading in their old black machines. The dealers were overrun with machines nobody wanted. And they couldn't return them to be remade, and didn't send them to be recycled. So, they put them on the dredge, took them out beyond the breakwater, and dumped 2-3000 machines in the sea. Now that would be horrific. But at the time, things were different...
That would be interesting to see someone dive that area , seems like a waist to dump them and not scrap metal the wieght,, we did silly things in the past thats for shur .....
I have restored them both and I love them and kept them. I also have a 66-16 which goes in reverse and happens to be my go to machine. I thought this was because my 201-2 was finicky because it was a lemon. It’s beautiful and in perfect condition but it’s just off. So maybe it’s not just my 201 it’s The 201?
There's not too many other machines out there over 100 years old that work just as well today as the day they were new, now that's craftsmanship. Good video btw.
I have had numerous 201s.
This Rolls Royce of Singer's wears a bit thin. I think Alex Askerov started that one and it went global.
The 66 sews a perfect stitch as well!!
Okay so there is no reverse but reverse is not that often needed when you think about. Just turn the fabric round and you can see even better To back stitch directly on top of the original stitch.
Uncalibrated thread tensioner...so what..who needs it to be calibrated.
Adjust top and bottom so the stitch locks in the middle. Done and dusted.
I have a pristine Singer 66 Lotus in a beautiful treadle cabinet.
I love treadling as I have absolute control.
I don't want to rush through my sewing.
I like to enjoy sewing slowly and as accurate as I can with a perfect stitch.
The 66 does this for me every single time.
If the 201 is the Rolls Royce then the 66 was an engineering masterpiece for its precision, looks, performance and being able to do some tough work ( leather and canvas)
For me?.....a 66 any day.
The 66 is the king i would agree with you there , if it wasnt then why do we still use 66 class bobbins in todays machines right , and also agree about reverse, we dont use it much when you overlap your stitch there is no need to reverse and yep just spin it or like i do i lift the pressure foot pull my project back and stitch over a few stitches and its locked , 201 is way harder to work on and yes its smooth but its the stitch that matters in the end so the 66 is just as good , really there all good , i love my vibrating shuttles as well , if i didnt why do i own so many lol , here is how i look at it , any vintage or antique Singer or even any brand , they are all 100 times better then any made today so you really cant go wrong with all metal vintage , dont buy new all metal eeeek the quality isnt there, aluminum parts fail just like plastic , thanks for watching stay tuned for more soon ...
Some people insist reverse is necessary for beginning stitches. I just crank the stitch length down to 1 or 2 and stitch about 5-6 times. Works just as well.
Yeah, the 201 is quieter but the 66 just doesn't care what you put under the foot (within reason). It doesn't just pierce whatever you give it, it sews beautifully.
My working 66 is 101 years old. She is a beautiful Red Eye and her decals are amazing. She came electrified with an added spot/bug light and she runs like a top! She came from Goodwill. My second 66, 100 years old and also a Red Eye, was $20 from Craig’s List. She is completely locked up. I’ve been slowly disassembling and cleaning her. Needle bar still frozen. If I’m able to actually get her going again, I’d like to paint/personalize her and add a hand crank. My unicorn: a 201. I think they’re quite lovely and I know they can run well.
I can’t believe I got my first vintage machine in September of 2022 and am up to 12 machines now! My unicorn would give me a nice bakers dozen!
You are going to love the 201 if you like the 66 , its funny how addicting these old machines can be , i remember getting my 221 and running the first stitches, i was grinning from ear to ear , what a great little machine the 221 is , do you have one yet ? If you get the 201 your going to want a 221 trust me , anyway good luck with your addiction we are still in progress of making a singer addiction club , i write your name down for the first meeting , you know you got a problem when you have more then 5 lol , thanks for watching , hope to talk again soon ...
I think the idea of an EXISTING database for Singers is a brilliant idea! This would help collectors, etc understand more fully how extensive/rare a model is, therefore the accessibility of parts.
I appreciate your vids a lot!!!! THANKS hope you'll do some more sewing machine vids!!
I’ve restored them both and I love them an kept them. I also have the 66-16 which goes in reverse. Strangely I use the 66-16 the most! Do some reason my 201-2 is finicky. And the 66 never disappoints. I honestly thought it was just my 201. But I think you have something there.
Thank you for all this info!! And, yes, do set up a site with all the date info!! Lol. Easy for me to say!!
I finally bought my 201. And I treasure it. I was devastated when it quit working properly. My repair shop is 6 hours away, round trip. It sat for a couple of months. Finally called to schedule a repair appointment. Was reminded that the repair guy was a communication guy for the fire crew on DNR! Ok, well it might as well sit in their shop as my sewing room. Had adjusted my expectation to not expect it until October or even November.
We arrived an the shop owner came from the back room, followed by a gentleman. Could it be, be still my heart!! It was!! Mr. Fix it himself!! Took him about five minutes to determine AND fix my problem!! The needle was in backwards!!! And the even better part, it was no charge!! Even tightened the belt!! They did ok, I dropped $130! Didn’t take long at all! Lol
BTW, I named it Marvel for two reasons: 1 my mothers name was Marvel. And I learned on her featherweight. 2. It is a mechanical marvel. Found out it is 28 days younger then me! BONUS!!
A 66 was the first sewing machine I ever truly enjoyed using. It was a living room decoration until I gave it a dust-brushing, belt, and drink of oil. It is unbelievably smooth and quiet. Even when I'm sewing as fast as the machine goes, it only makes a genteel clicking sound. And the stitches are perfect, every single time. The only time I got bad stitches out of the machine, it turned out the thread had this weird sticky coating and needed to be thrown away.
I remember getting my 66 and running the first stitches , such a great machine , funny how people buy plastic machines when you can get a vintage gem for way less , im happy you decided to try running her , you now know the quality we have tossed aside fof profit , nobody makes anything as good as we used to , thats why old singer sewing machines are still around and i bet in another 100 year will still be around .thanks for watching .........
My sister in law gave me a 66 in a bentwood case many years ago. It is so HEAVY that once my hsuband put it up on a high shelf it never moved - until a couple weeks ago. My husband is gone and so I had one of my sons retrieve it for me. The case doesn't have a key so it took a long time to get it open. Now the machine is stuck in the case. Once I can get it out I'm going to tinker with it. It's electrifiyed but the wires are all bad and you can get handcranks that match the decals so I think that is what I'm going to do if I can get it where it stitches. Yours does a beautiful stitch but I wouls still keep the 201!
Sorry to heqr your husband is gone , if you need to open the bentwod case you can use a small flat head screw driver , the keys are nothing special , let me know if you get it open , the 66 is such a great machine , i do love the 201 but when it comes to maintenance and repair the 66 wins , but the 201 is the king of quality rotary for shur , to be hounest i would have a hard letting any of them go , dont know why but i love all my machines , i dont even sew much lol
I'm like you. I still prefer a 66 over a 201 .plus the longest stitch on the 201 is called the basting stitch and it is not as tight as the other stitches
I agree only for the fact that I do not want a potted motor just me I'd rather have a belt that I can change in a motor that I can throw on anytime.
Awesome video and great footage! Well done 👍🏼
Thanks im glad you liked it , im hoping to do some more sewing machine videos soon but need to take advantage of the weather to get the camper done and being a contractor this is busy busy time , lol jibber jabber anyways thanks for such kind words i really appreciate it.....hope to hear from ya again soon....bye for now
I appreciate the interesting information about rarity. I still have not found a 201. Someday, maybe I will be lucky and find a nice one for a good price. I do love my 66 Red Eye from 1920. I wish we did have a database to register our vintage and antique sewing machines, great idea!
Lol knowing you , you will find a mint one for free or next to nothing , good luck i know you will find one and it will have found the right owner....
UK has 201 in abundance
Now over 300 subscribers! That didn't take very long. Your videos are interesting.
Ya its gaining interest , been trying to get to another video out but life got busy and and things are up and down , soon enough hopefully , still got some spots to fill on my contest so need to do a follow up video too , got a small list of videos i want to do , just need some time , hopefully my subs will be ok with waiting lol , nice to hear from ya Lizzy tank again soon
A few things. The K machines were made in Kilbowie, Scotland. Hence the K in the serial number. Any K is tougher to find in the US. Your 66 is a Model 66-1. The feet and attachments clamp on to the back of the presser bar. They 66-1 machines were only made until 1923. The attachments can be found but they are tougher to find than the attachments for the post 1923 models. Later 66 machines have side clamping feet and attachments.
Good to know , thanks, my poor 66 has been stuffed away in a corner of the shop , wish i had more room to display them all but its small here , i might be selling my 66 soon but ill do a video on it if i do make that choice , just feel bad it sits hidden in it cabinet not to be even noticed , maybe i do an adition this summer and just keep collecting lol we will have to see , take care and thanks for your input ....
@@4486xxdawson you did a great video! Just by coincidence, I used my 66-1 today to create a vintage style, rain cover/lens cover for a WW2 pair of binoculars! I also used it to sew up interior parts as I restore antique instrument cases for my antique horns. I really love the mach8ne! But! I know what you mean about space! I had to move all kinds of boxes to get to the machine! It was worth it though! Thanks for your kind response!
Just a correction for you re the Singer 201 introduction date. The first production run was on July 8, 1934 of 1000 units. I have a machine from this time period. For some reason, Singer did not build any more 201s until May of 1935, with a build of 200 units. Production then resumed in December 1935 with 4000 units.
I have been wanting a 201 with external motor. I HAD TWO WITH POTTED MOTORS AND SOLD THEM.i like a motor easy to repkace
That is defiantly a plus to the external motor motor version 201 , way easier to service and replace in a worse case situation , with that said ive never had a potted motor that didnt work so to be hounest, they both were made to last for a very long time , seems it doesnt matter what Vintage SINGER you have they just keep sewing , thanks for watching Suzie stay tuned for my hand crank episode coming soon , the 99 takes on the VS3 from 1895 , always appreciate you commenting , thank you
I love singer 66's.
I specifically wanted and got a 1950 model with the reverse lever or backtack whatever you want to call it
In my area I can get any machine I see for 10 to 40 bucks and I've got about 20 the last one was a phaff 230
@@ronald5629 wow! I only like the 66 with reverse too.my pfaff 360 though is awesome 😁
@@mamiesews123 I like my 230 it does things I never thought any sewing machine would do. And it does it quietly and smoothly and fast if needed I've never seen anything like it yes I still love the singers Kenmore Minnesota's I have two treadles one Minnesota and one monarch
@@mamiesews123 if I ever see a 201 I will definitely get it but you don't see as many of those in my area
I have a 301 that came from a high school with a zigzag attachment so naturally I had to buy a zigzag attachment for my 66 because the one for the 301 is slanted of course and they do a pretty good zigzag and pattern for something that moves material,, I also like button holers ,I have one specific buttonhole attachment that is all based on leverage and it does not take cams it's all leverage.(☞ﾟ∀ﾟ)☞
Some people are blown away by the awesome decals on some vintage machines ..Singer included....and get the idea they're all worth big$$$$....as you say...not always .in fact more often not ha....The real value is if you cherish them for a specific reason or two....that's my take on it. The # of Singers manufactured logically would be a factor concerning rarity.
Both are good machines and I have both. I have the one you have there plus the one with the lever for the stitch length. I have three two old ones. I have one with a potted motor and I have two without one is a hand crank the other is a treadle and for me personally the 66 is a good machine but but I find the 201 to be a superior machine in a lot of ways. I can do back tack on the fly and I can go right back down to where my stitch length was. I can set it. I cannot set it on my 66. I can set it on my 99 but I cannot set it on my 66. As far as ease to work on, I find both machines just as easy to work on without any issues and unless you are just reckless with your machine, you shouldn't have to replace any parts. With that being said, the springs could break but they are easily sourced and replaced. Modern reproduction springs are available and work well for both the 66 and the 201 and so for me I would keep my 201 and let my 66 go. Also in my area the 201 is a little harder to find. 66 are a lot more common. The 15 class is the most common in my area. I have just as many 15s as I have 66s One other thing to note between the two you can put a 201 on a table without a case without a base and it will run. It has legs and it has a cover for the front gear and it allows you to rest the front of the machine on that. You cannot do that with a 66. It has to have a base or be in a table
Thats alot of great points and agree with working on them being easy , if your like me thats the enjoyable part working on them . I have 2 singer 201s now and the one is a 1951 but not badged centennial and the cabinet is original 1951 as well , turns out i love 201s after all lol . Thanks for watching and commenting much appreciated take care ....
Something I find kind of silly is the numerical dial on the upper tensioner....that bell or whistle is not necessary! On my machines prior to the 1940's they have a simple upper tensioners. just the essentials....disks, bee hive spring...thumb nut at the end....SIMPLE like a Model T ..and hey it works just fine....w/o all those numbers ha
Hi, Dawson, you were kind enough to offer to look for a replacement needle bar for a machine that had been dropped when the case catch gave way. At the time the bar was badly bent. After an attempt at fixing it ( what an engineer might call 'percussive adjustment') it's now broken. 🙁
It's a 15 of some kind, made in 1902. And that's about all I know about it. I'm guessing it was originally a treadle because the wooden bottom casing is home made. It had an early electric motor bolted onto it. My mother in law gave the Singer to me nearly fifty years ago but I was too scared to use it much because the wiring was old even then!
I hope you can help me to get this old lady working. I feel bad having ignored her for so long. Eventually I'd like to get her treadling again.
Thanks, Dawson, I appreciate your interest.
There are parts everywhere. Welcome to the Singer Madness!
I would be hard pressed to rate one over the other. My 66 is a 1917 treadle. I have two 201’s. A 1948 and a 1953. All make the perfect stitch. The 66 is a recent find so I’m not entirely proficient in using it. I’ve been sewing with a 201 for about 20 years so I would lean more towards those. I’m one who also appreciates the historical importance and contribution of these machines, probably why I enjoy sewing with them so much. I also have other vintage machines I use for sewing depending on the stitches I want to use. I also have a Singer “Heavy Duty” machine I travel with because it’s lightweight and doesn’t take a forklift to take it places, please don’t hold it against me. Nice video, I’m always up to hearing about our vintage girls.
Oh i would never hold anything against anyone who loves vintage and antique machines , what ever gets the job done is all that matters really , i just love all vintage machines and make these videos to show the differance , i know the videos say what one would i keep but really i keep them all lol , im in a process of selling some and its a hard thing to do ....thanks for watching always appreciate the feed back stay safe my friend
@@4486xxdawsonprivée y ochen xochu kupit takuyu machines Zinger pomogite kupit kto znaet gde kupit pojaluysta y vse vache rasxodi oplachu y vas ochen prochu y jivu Francii
Hi what size needle are you using for leather an is it an specific type of 🧵 tread on a 66? Thank you
I just got 201 for free
For free is always a great price , did you see my free Necchi BU from 1951 , awesome when its free and can be saved , scary too because it could have got tossed if you didnt come along , we need to preserve these gems , nobody makes anything to this standard anymore and only a fool would think old machines are worthless , you were wise to grab it up .....good luck and thanks for subscribing it means alot you enjoy watching, hope to have more videos soon ....
I am immensely envious!
There are four versions of a 201 a treadle, the two electric versions and a hand crank. Also there is the added K for machines made in the UK at Kilbowie.
You've got it right.
I have 201k a -35 model, one of 10k in october. It's electrified. My -39 model which is one in 60k in june and it runs better but in a treadle.
I also have a couple 201 models i recently picked up a 1951 model 201 in a desk ,both the desk and the machine are 100 year anniversary but not merked as a 100 year anniversary , i was going to sell it but being 1951 i cant let it go, ya i know they made hundreds of thousands of them but still , its a keeper ....treadle 201 sounds relaxing to me , good to know people still value these awesome machines, thanks for watching and hope we chat again soon ...
@@4486xxdawson Definitely relaxing. Very quiet in operation, actually seems to have been quite common here. I do stumble on them pretty often in a treadle configuration.
I have a 20l-2 with potted motor and it only goes slow to medium speed and will not go to top speed or fast. Got any ideas as to why? The stitch is wonderful but I am a fast sewer so it gets annoying
Well more then likely your motor is due for a service see the old oils and grease will slow down the potted motor , bob fowlers channel can help with the rebuild or Vintage sewing Machine Garage , they both do a good job showing how to service them style motors , good luck , hope you get it going the speed you like , this is one advantage the 201 thats does not have the potted motor has over potted motor , you can put on a higher amp motor on it and get it going as fast as you want ,, thanks for watching hope this helps ...
It could be the resistance wire in your foot pedal but it's not in front of any of us so it's hard to tell it could be the motor but I will bet you it's the reostat foot pedal or wherever it's mounted
I had one that did the same thing in the contacts were dirty inside of the foot pedal
I have two Featherweights, one much newer than the other. I noticed that whenever I switched foot pedals, The one that ran slower, ran faster and vice versa. I did some tune up on the slower of the foot pedals and now both run great, and fast as I want them to. So, before panicking about the motor, check the foot pedal. @@ronald5629
I'm trying to figure out what I have. A 15 or 201. It's an AL342525 looks like the 201 but one list says it's a Model 15. It doesn't have the drop in bobbin. And the light is in the back. Any ideas. Thanks.
If the upper thread tention is on the chrome face plate its a 15 and from my research its a 1953 15 made on April 8th , if the upper thread tention is on the body and facing you then its a 201 , but the vin say its a 15 , also look at the bobbin case , does it drop in from up top or underneath ? And one for shur way to know is watch the hook , does it rotate back and fourth or does it do a complete rotation , a 15 is a oscillating hook , a 201 does a complete circle hance the name rotory hook , hope i answered your question , thanks for watching and commenting i appreciated it...
@@4486xxdawson my bobbin goes in underneath and my Singer looks like your 201. Except my light is in the back.
Hopefully when I take it in to get it cleaned and working again I cane get all these answers. Thanks for your UA-cams. They are helping. This was my first sewing machine. And it's been stored for years.
@@gailwheeler1599 ya the 15 looks just like a 201 but big diferance , im certian you got a 15 , i looked it up threw ismacs site .its a 15
@@4486xxdawson thank you.
I heard one time singer could have stopped making machines after the 66 it was there most perfected machine made.
Personally I would keep them both. Lol but I'm a machine junkie
So far ive kept them all lol .....
I have a 1934 Singer 1200-1 with serial number AD 680614 listed as a 201. Wound that be rare.
Actaully yes , thanks for correcting me , you got first run from what i can see , 1 of 1000 made in 1934 i missed that run some how , you got a gem there , is it pottod motor or belt driven motor ? Thats what I'd llike to know
Originally potted motor, now has belted motor, with spoked hand wheel. Thanks Mike.
I have a perfect 1916 66. But I need to sell bc I have a lot of machines. My serial number starts with G
I am doing the same lol , ive got to do an update video soon , my collection has been ruduced but i havent let my viewers know yet , few more on the chopping block before i tal kmore on them , i had 24 machines and my 10 by 12 shop just cant hold them all unfortunately, so ive chose the ones i want to keep and let some good ones go ...ill miss them all but i need to move on , still got some projects to do still and will still be doing videos but thats enough on that for now lol ,,jibber jabber ...take care my friend
I prefer my 201 because it is my everyday sewing machine. My great grandmother’s 1923 66 treadle is a decorative piece in my sunroom although it sews just fine. I paid $400 on eBay for my potted motor 1953 201 about six months ago so maybe you should grab that 201. Frankly, I thought $400 was a bargain.
Im going to start buying any machine thats 40 bucks and down , going to start a scrap machine parts store , so people looking for parys can contact me , will be doing a video as soon as i get enough machines , and im going to buy that 201 for shur , 40 is just a crazy price and its complete .....thanks for commenting, im happy to know you still have your family's machine ,
@@4486xxdawson I have 2 of my family's machines, a 66 from 1915 (made in Germany) and a 15-88 from around 1940 (made in USA) - I can't figure the exact year it was made as the ID serial number was scratched on purpose - I don't know why, but it seems that it was done in the factory itself.
@@shmuelarom5773 ya odd that ypu cant make out the number , wounder if it was a trade in , they used to recycle some trade ins ...be cool to find out ...
201 Hands down.
Love my 201s , i have both models potted motor and external , love them both .....
Hey how rare is a 400w103?
I wouldnt know , i dont have one , but you can allways go to ISMAC web site and look up the vin and that might help ya , i only do research on machines i own , only a novice collector not an expert , if i come accross a 400w ill be sure to check it out but depending on the year it may be to new for my collection , im into 1960 and down , anything after that they started using plastic and i wont buy plastic , thanks for cheching out my channel...
I haven't ran across the 201 in my location yet. I have found lots of 15s. I found a lots of 66's but not a 201. Even a lot of 99s I will run across. Tell me eventually but whoever's got them. Is hanging on to them right now
There is 2 on the market near meright now , one for 50 and another for 100 , some times i think i should just buy them to resell but im a collector , not in it for money ..
@@4486xxdawson yeah I kind of fell into that. I fix them up that I haven't sold any. I fixed one up for my daughter and I fix one up for my son. Rest of them have been. Just got him working. Cleaned up and now they're sitting some place and I don't know what to do with them I'm talking about just all the other sewing machines I've got. I'm trying to decide which one I want to fix up next. I've got two red eyes and two other 66's, 4 15s and a few others including a dressmaker
Hi there. I have a story for you. In the 70's when fancy new coloured machines came out, everybody was trading in their old black machines. The dealers were overrun with machines nobody wanted. And they couldn't return them to be remade, and didn't send them to be recycled. So, they put them on the dredge, took them out beyond the breakwater, and dumped 2-3000 machines in the sea. Now that would be horrific. But at the time, things were different...
That would be interesting to see someone dive that area , seems like a waist to dump them and not scrap metal the wieght,, we did silly things in the past thats for shur .....
I have a nineteen sixteen sixty six with reverse
Very nice , what decal set does it have ?
@@4486xxdawson Is red eye
What is the serial number on your 66 with reverse? I didn't know they had a reverse option that early. 🤔
If you sew seriously you want a 201. They get worked on once, then you get into actual sewing and need 201 quality.
I have learned the model 99 is rare if it is a Y series number and made with aluminum body. Was made in a limited run just before ww 2.
I had a 99k sold it
I have restored them both and I love them and kept them. I also have a 66-16 which goes in reverse and happens to be my go to machine. I thought this was because my 201-2 was finicky because it was a lemon. It’s beautiful and in perfect condition but it’s just off. So maybe it’s not just my 201 it’s The 201?