Singer 401A - A Tale of A Stinker
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- * Something very important to note:
At 10:12 I mentioned I fiddled with placement a bit more. At that point I did use super grease on the worm wheel. However, I didn't include that shot/info for no apparent reason. Thankfully a viewer pointed that out because it is important to note. I knew at one point I'd goof up and miss something in a step by step filming. Lubrication should come hand in hand with sewing machines. Please search for the user manuals for your machines to learn where the lubrication points are.
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I picked this 1956 Singer 401A up at a local thrift for $20 USD.
I share what I did to get her into running condition and show you the first project I made with her.
*Fashion discs = cams. I use those words interchangeably in this video. I try to call them fashion discs for those of you who are new to them, as they are called that on their packaging.
I am a beginning restorer and I am going through the hands on method of learning. I share what I did to get the machine into a working condition. I definitely do not know everything.
I sew just for fun and do my best as a home sewist.
This video is dedicated to my father. He was a mechanical genius and I am thankful he had the patience to keep his youngest kid "busy" in the shop.
For more about me visit:
www.theastarr.com
Instagram:@thea_starr
#vintagesewing #butterickpatterns #vintagesewingmachine #vintagepatterns
You are making me sooo nervous, please oil and lubricate well.
I can totally see why you would say that. At 10:12 I mentioned I fiddled with placement a bit more. At that point I did use super grease on the worm wheel. But I didn't include that shot/info for no apparent reason. Thank you so much for pointing that out. I will mention that in the description of the video. Oof, I knew at one point I'd goof up on filming a step-by-step video. Thanks again, I appreciate the comment.
@@TheaStarr Don't worry about 'goofing up': ) Your first Slant I'm sure? You need to grease the two sets of gears underneath, plus one on top, below the camstack. (Not easy to see) Use a small paintbrush for this one. Plus a little bit on the motor worm drive. Oil on the rest: ) If it's been unused for while it'll benefit greatly from this: ) Maybe I'll tell you about my first Slant-O-Matic, a 401G, about ten years ago? Very similar to the 401A. Still got it & it just purrs in use: )
@@TheaStarr you did very well. I’m sure you couldn’t show every single step. Obviously you knew better so some people shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions . I too love the 401A. I just sold three of them last month and I wish I would’ve kept one of them. The next one I find I will definitely keep.
@@johnf4279 John, in all my years of vintage sewing machine repairs I have yet to see a 401G or 411G. You are very lucky to have a West German made Singer. I have a 211G155 and the craftsmanship is exceptional.
@@ibsoarin The Singer Industrials are a big step-up from their Domestic machines, but the 400 series with their all metal gears, no belts, are at the top end for Domestics: ) Don't forget the free-arm 431Gs, which also feature chain-stitch, a rare capability on a Domestic machine back in the 1960s. (The 411Gs can also chain) I only have one Industrial, a 1958 451K25 which has rotary take up & can do 5,000 SPM! I believe your 211G was made in the same factory as the 400 Slants.
I found a 401a,complete with original cabinet and bench, at Goodwill a few years ago for $10. The machine was in PERFECT condition. Didn't even need to be oiled. The most amazing deal of my life. I love that machine.
Whoa! That is so awesome!
My mom had that exact machine for years. I learned to sew on it as a little girl. All my barbie clothes and our Chrissy and Velvet doll clothes.
Wonderful memories. ❤
I bought mine new in 1957 and am still using it! Never had any trouble with it .
That is so amazing and wonderful to hear. I've had to retire a few early 00's machines but never an older gal like this.
Please, please, make sure that main gear is really well lubricated. Oil will not be enough. Great machine. love 'em.
I love mine ! I inherited it f4om my grandmother who purchased it new. We would fall asleep listening to her sewing on this, and she taught me to sew from the age of 3. I have since become a seamstress and it has been my primary machine. While I have several other machines both industrial and sergers, this remains a huge part of my current quilting business.
That is so incredibly sweet and such a testament to the quality build of this machine. I love that you have your grandmother's and use it for your business. I hope I'll have the honor of passing along my machines to my kids/grandkids too.
My mother had this machine way back in the 1950's and 1960's,,,I learned to sew on this machine along with my oldest sister,,,we still have the machine, abate my youngest sister has it as she received all of my parents items when they died. Since I have 2 Pfaff's I dare not ask her neither my oldest sister,,to my youngest sister it is a sentimental attachment. It is sitting in her loft attic ,unused for many years even though the 2 of us would like to ask my youngest sister if we could have it we know the answer would be no.. but it recalls many many happy years of excellent sewing of many projects,,,I was in my preteens then, and really don't recall it being ever being serviced or having being in need of repair,,,and they are not called " fashion discs", but cams
Nice work bringing her back to life. My birth year too.
It’s the machine I learned to sew on when I was 6 years old in 1956. I’ve seen everything from silk tulle and silk velvet to suede leather. I’ll never let her go!
Sewn everything *
It's such a great machine and such a workhorse too. I've sewn a few heavier weight fabrics on mine with ease. I love it. Thanks so much for your comment!
I have a talent for spotting abandoned vintage sewing machines from a cross parking lots and highways. I have kept four in their table cabinets including a rare model from the 1920’s with an internal electric motor. I found these and more just going about my business.
On a side note, when I say internal electric motor, I mean the motor is not merely inside the metal body of the case, it is integrated into the inner workings of the machine. I have never seen this arrangement on any other machine. Every other machine I have seen in my life has an outboard motor, even modern portables.
Love these machines! They are bullet proof, conce properly serviced
My first purchase in 1962 was a 404 Singer. Fantastic machine with a beautiful stitch. It is a straight stitcher and comes with zigzag and buttonhole attachments.
I have this machine as my go to. I inherited it from Grandma in 1992 in college and taught myself to really sew and do historical costuming and cosplay to this day on it. It is mounted in its original mahogany desk with knee pedal. After many moves the desk is showing its age, but the machine has never been serviced in the 30 years I had it. Her name is Bessie and she is a beast.
I love this. There's nothing like inheriting something useful and keep using it. But hello, historical costuming and cosplay. Tell me more. Do you have an instagram?
Thank you for this video. Nice machine. For freeing up stuck parts, I like Kan-o-Kroil. For getting rid of bad smells, after you clean it, you can put some newspaper in the bottom of a plastic tote with a lid, set the machine in, then get a carton of activated charcoal that is used in aquarium filters (pet section). Dump the charcoal on the newspaper an leave it for a while. I learned this from cleaning up Stinky refrigerators. Thanks.
Baking soda will work too.
Thanks for the tips!
I have one with all the attachments and the book that came with it. I received it from my mom when I graduated from high school in 1968! I love to sew and haven’t used it in a long time as I own a Pfaff Creative Icon 2. I could never let it go!
I found one in a cabinet at goodwill for $50. Only needed a good clean and oiling. Love it so far! Make sure to loosen the silver wheel inside of the hand wheel before using the bobbin spoiler
Great video... Thank you. A couple of comments regarding the material that is laying in the tray at the bottom of the sewing machine. 1) In addition to airing it out in your garage for a few days, you should leave it in the direct sunlight for a few days, flipping it over on alternate days. The ultra violet sun rays will do wonders to cleaning up the mold etc. 2). You could also pick up some felt at your local fabric store and use your original as a pattern or template to create a new mat. Thanks again for the video.
Michael from Canada
Yes! I did get "set it in the sun" suggestion to help kill the mold. I just had to wait to actually have some sunshine here in the PNW. :) I heard pool table felt fabric is a good replacement for the fabric too. Thank you so much for suggestions! I appreciate them.
I bought one 30 years,obviously already old, and have always loved it. My elderly neighbor took me to her sewing machine dealer and told me it was a great machine. She was right!
I Learned to sew on this machine. I have one and it is my favorite.
Thank you so much for this video. I learned to sew on this machine and my mom still has it in her garage. This gives me the confidence to clean it up and get it good as new!
I grew up using this machine in the 1970s. My Mom wanted a sewing machine in the 50s and my Dad said she couldn't get one so she went right out the next day and purchased the most expensive high-end machine of the day and this was the one!!🙂
Hahaha! Your mom sounds like a lady after my own heart.
Love vintage machines, thanks for the walkthrough on this beauty!
"The legendary Rocketeer" I'm on the lookout for one of these machines. I really don't have room for another, but I just love the look of it. I will refer back to this video if ever get one.
Yes, side of the road! I found a beautiful 1950s New Home curbside. Drove by first and then backed up two blocks to take it home after all--after a struggle to lift it because it's an all-metal beast. I spent a few days cleaning it and taking it apart and getting things moving and now she's a beauty and I'm in love. This has launched a passion for vintage sewing machines.
I would've done the same. I joke that I don't need a proper workout, because I am often lifting vintage sewing machines around. While I am biased, I think this is a wonderful passion to have. Thank you so much for your comment.
I found a gorgeous LBOW Singer 301A in my local Goodwill. Haven’t sewn in years. Finding and revamping it awakened the same passion in me!
What a neat little machine! I have a Singer 301A and bought a slant shank zipper foot for it on Amazon. Oh my goodness! The for is so tiny and sews zippers so easily! I have also hands a Babylock but now prefer the Singer for certain jobs like zippers! I'm sure you can get other feet for your 401 as well. 😊
Sensational! I love that you refurbished an old machine and demonstrate the high quality workmanship and then actuality use the machine in a beautiful project! Nice job!
Aww thanks so much!
I am a sick puppy I have three 401 machines and right now all are down. One was overhauled and not used then when my main machine had issues i grabbed the overhauled one and most of it was frozen. Third one sits in standby as a parts rig but has never been fired up it was a free side of the road thing, I did rob the controller off it the other day.
Sewing machine guy 40 years ago told me the one to get so I did. Real metal not junk you find now from all the brands.
Congratulations!!
She's turned out lovely with some TLC.
It's incredible how these machines have hibernated through so many years of neglect, waiting to be rewoken and appreciated.
Great video, thankyou and your blouse is standout stylish too !
Aww thanks so much! Yes, it is honestly so amazing every time I fire one of these older machines up. The quality of their builds really stood the test of time. In dormancy or in use. Thanks again for watching!
I just inherited my grandmother’s 401A and can hardly wait to check it out. My mom didn’t even know if it was still in working order. 😊
My mother had a machine similar to this in the early 1960's, but the plastic cams were flat. Sooo many memories.
Thea,
If you are bold enough to remove the fashion disc assembly, then you are ready to take on anything.
If anyone asks, Andy Tube has some excellent videos on sewing machine repairs. I have benefited from his vast information and experience in spite of all of my own experience.
I sense your outlook is similar to mine, "Boldly go where many have gone before!". There aren't local Singer sewing machine repair centers anymore like my wife describes when she was a young girl. We have to learn to do the repairs ourselves or it doesn't get fixed.
Hint: Take the Bakelite foot controller apart and clean it up. Bakelite is very durable but also very brittle. It will crack if you drop it on a hard surface. Very dirty Bakelite surface can be cleaned with clear coat cleaner wax. My wife likes the smell of Mother's Cleaner Wax after I use it to clean sewing machine surfaces.
Awesome! Please use Isopropanol or better cleaning Petroleum (not the lamp oil though!) Also use the heatfan to warm up the grease. Gets way easier to remove this way;-) Also important: Find out which Parts should be oiled, and which need Grease. clean up ALL the oil thats too much, so it does not fly around and collecting dust in your machine. Clean up after oiling.
good Job! Thanks for sharing!
Looks like a great machine. I grew up on the straight stitch version of this machine. I noticed that when you wound the bobbin the needle bar went up and down. If you pull out the center silver part of the hand wheel when you wind a bobbin the needle bar will disengage and not move while you wind. Just push in back in when you are finished.
Thanks so much for that tip!
My late mum had this machine, complete with a cabinet. She used to sew all her own clothes, very rarely bought anything readymade.
I hope to hit that achievement too.
I had to boil my Camstack to get it apart . I love my 401A!
Wow! Yours was stuck - stuck. Worth it though, it’s a really strong machine.
Great work❤😊 beautiful blouse!
I have this machine and learned on it from the early 60’s. !
I learned to sew on this model and I own one. I love it!
It's such a great machine. I wish I would've learned on something this well built.
Thanks for your suggestions on this machine. Your blouse you made is pretty. I just purchased my first vintage machine. Found at a local thrift store. Now I need to try to figure out how to use it, after I make sure it is good and safe to sew on. Appreciate your tips.
With the manual (you can find them online for free) and a handful of UA-cam videos, I hope you'll enjoy the process!
The reason there was multiple colors of thread on one bobbin is they didn't waste anything and bobbins were expensive when you didn't have a lot of money. They're relatively cheap today. I don't know how much they cost back then but if you didn't have a lot of money they were expensive. Not only that, if you needed a bobbin for something but you had thread on it that you didn't want to get rid of, you would rethread it with another color. I had several of these and some of them unwound. I was able to get the thread off pretty easy and others. The thread was the bottom layer especially was just hard pressed and very difficult to get in and the thread was very very old and then when I did get a lot of them off several of them had rust underneath that bottom thread and I had to clean that rust off. I had very few bobbins that were pre-wound that was only one color
I also have this very machine. I initially found help on You Tube with Andy Tube for refurbishing help. And now here you are, another excellent resource for me!
Aww. thanks so much!
Yes, Andy Tube has several VERY helpful videos on this model and one of them is showing how to fix stuck knobs. He is thorough and takes it step by step.
Your blouse came out lovely. 🙂
Andy Tube is great! I have my Mom’s 401A which is the machine I learned to sew on when I was 6 years old! Made my first wedding gown on that machine. I’m still making, redesigning and altering wedding gowns. I just recently got her up and running again with Andy Tube’s help! The professional button hole attachment is killer!
Back in the day, people were more frugal, and did not necessarily have the money for a lot of extra bobbins. So, they would put thread for a current project over the top of whichever bobbin was lowest.
I bought m 401a 50 years ago, it is such a workhorse! Than you for your informative video!
The machine I learned on. We sewed everything from tricot underwear to dance costumes to jeans on it. I think my mom still has it somewhere.
Very nice for $20: ) I'm in UK & familiar with the European Slants. They are fine machines & well worth a little effort.
Your stinky drip tray felt is familiar too, but I remove them & replace with Green Baize, from Snooker/Pool table tops. It is absorbant & washable if necessary.
I feel pretty tickled about the small investment so far. And thank you so much for the recommendation for the felt replacement. It was an unpleasant surprise.
Pool table felt is wonderful stuff. I ran across a large piece at a thrift store and being wool, I decided to throw it in the wash. Felted beautifully! Used 3 layers to pad an ironing board and made new discs for my thread spools and it helped make a makeshift large thread cone hack.
@@tinamcnalley2575 It's very expensive stuff when new! A full size snooker table is 12' x 6'. It gets a little wear in certain places & they throw it away when they recover the tables. At least they do here in UK. I don't buy spool felts any more, & it makes great linings for treadle cabinet drawers. For example!
@@johnf4279 Oooh! Thanks for the heads up on a source! Never thought if that.
@@tinamcnalley2575 Never mind the oil drip trays, the Slants are the best of the last 'Engineered' Singers. As opposed to the later injection moulded plastic stuff: ) The US 500 series Rocketeers excepted: ) I never thought of ironing board applications, gotta say: )
I have a later version of this machine and it is wonderful
Very good job in getting her to work so well as to make that beautiful blouse even with just the zipper foot!!! I am so glad your dad had the patience to teach you to restore this baby. I have a 401 A that is in the cabinet. It was good to see what it looks like on the outside and underneath!
I have to admit only using a zipper foot was a challenge. Thanks so much for your comment.
My mom had my grandmothers machine that looked similar.
What a beautiful machine!
Hi, great demonstration of cleaning the machine. Your blouse came out stellar!❤
Love it ❤! I was born in that year.
Mi máquina preferida,es de las mejores que hay,la quiero mucho ❤
It's such a strong machine. It's one of my favorites too!. Thanks so much for your comment!
My first 401 was pretty much thrashed and getting it working would have taken more to get it working then I was willing. My second one I got it sewing ok but hardly used it. Last winter I really dove into it and now it’s my everyday sewer. The only things I wish was different is smaller feed dogs and they are noisy. They are amazing sewing machines and people either love them or not. I hope by now you have at least the zigzag foot and have played with it even more.
Ohhh, thank you. My mother’s machine. Thank you!!!
Great machine and a great job on the blouse! I have about 140 machines of which 3 of them are 401A's. They are my favorite model of machine. I enjoy another of the others but these are the most used. Enjoy yours!
Whoa, 140? I can only imagine that amazing collection. Thanks so much for your comment!
I just got one on eBay but mine is only a straight stitch. There's an old sewing machine shop in town that has parts they will go through for me to get more feet. My first plug in showed me it needs service. The plate under the foot got stuck up on one side. They were able to confirm for me that one can doy service like you did but not on the newer machines with the computer board. I may have totaled my Bernina. They will let me know. Thanks for your video!
I started teaching home ec in 1975. In my 2nd school the sewing teacher used a machine like this for her demonstrations.
My mom had this exact model complete with cabinet. It was an amazing machine. But my dad put it on the back seat of the car and yes, you guessed it, it fell forward when he stopped for a red light. It never sewed right again no matter how many times he took it to the repair shop. It bent the main shaft and there were no replacement parts back then (1970s).
You can buy boxes of clipon feet. I bought a box of 11 feet and two clipon feet. They all work on my 1963 Pfaff 360. My Pfaff came with one foot which was rusted to immovability.
I have bought two of these wonderful machines! One for myself and one for my granddaughter. I figures she’d be strong enough she could learn on her and it not break. That was several years ago and she is 16 now, redesigning her jeans and making bags and things. She is sooo crafty! My sewing friend had told me to watch out for these machines as they are great ones. Another sewing friend had one and had a cabinet made for it in the Phillipines. It is made out of a special kind of wood. I need to ask her again what type it is. She was downsizing in her home to move in with her son. So I bought her beautiful cabinet for my machine. I love it! I made my second larger quilt on this machine, for my oldest daughter. It is a dream to sew on. I only made a jelly roll quilt, but I quilted it on this machine as well.
Same foot pedal & plug as my 1955 Singer 99K.
Mom sewed on this model from 1956. 2023: still going ….
I don't find having a bobbin with multiple thread on it unusual. My mom only owned about three bobbins. It used to be, that lay-people could not easily or cheaply get their hands on parts or supplies. You had to go to a qualified Singer repair person, who would also sell you things like bobbins (probably at quite a mark-up). You couldn't just go to the store or order them online. Mid-century prices might seem reasonable from our viewpoint in the future, but if the bobbins cost like $5, you can bet my mom thought they were "too expensive" to buy many of them. I ordered about 20 of them, made in China, for a very low price. We never emptied the bobbins, we just added the new color. "Waste not, want not" (?) lol
By the title, I thought this machine was a lemon. I didn't think you were referring to the actual smell!
Hahahaha! The waft of that odor was so surprising to me. Because she looked pretty good on the outside. I've been lovingly calling her my little stinker even now.
When you're drying out parts, you can douse them with isopropyl alcohol (testing first in case there's paint or plastic the alcohol might damage). The alcohol dilutes the water and carries it away when you shake it off, and then there's only the tiniest amount of water left that will quickly evaporate once the alcohol is gone.
You got so many cams, I only have one and search for some but here in Germany there’s one that sells them for over 400 dollars!
Cams are what I find the most at second hand stores here. I've also had many given to me, because people who don't sew have no idea what they are for.
$400! That's crazy expensive. But I bet you're able to find vintage Pfaff machines and accessories easier than I can. We're a Pfaff family because that's what my grandmother (from Germany) had. However, Singers are plentiful here. Vilen dank für Ihren Kommentar.
They’ve been for sale all over eBay lately.
You can get replacement slant feet for the machine. My mom sewed an insane amount on a 401a for over 50 years.
I have one exactly like this. it's in great condition the only issue I have is that the stitches are really tiny, even if I have it on the longest stitch
I still have a 500A that was an anniversary gift from my husband in 1963. He found an old Singer treadle cabinet that he modified to fit it. It was wonderful and I used it until he bought a new Bernina for me in the late 80’s. I am now inspired to tackle getting it back in shape to gift to my granddaughter as she is showing interest in sewing. In the back of my mind I seem to recall using a special lubricant on the medal gears in addition to using oil in other areas. Can u tell me what that lubricant was? Thanks for the inspiration to bring this sweetheart back to life!❣️
Acabo de comprar esta bella makina 401A pero asta ahora no la se usar pero me encanta
Yay! I hope you have fun discovering how to use it. It's a great and strong machine.
Хочу дать вам небольшой совет , старую засохшую смазку очень хорошо удаляет очиститель карбюратора .
My mum had this machine, have you checked inside the cover for the cams and sewing feet?
Did you get rid of the smell ?
I'm pretty sensitive to smell so I do smell a wee bit of it still. But it is far more tolerable and I'm continuing to keep it uncovered too.
How do you clean the bobbin area? Where can I get more info about maintaining this machine. Thanks for any info. My mother purchased this machine in 1959 and it came with free sewing classes and she sent me. I was almost 10 and the sewing teacher was not happy that she had to have me in her class at such a young age.
Sad to run into a teacher like that. My mother put me in front of the 401A when I was 6 years old. When I got to 7th grade and Home Economic classes, I had been sewing for over 6 years - that teacher really hated me!
Glad you’re still sewing and didn’t let such a miserable person dampen your spirit!
Come on Thea! Updates? Just asking: )
We all interested.
Hahahaha! :) There will be a follow up update video for sure. I received such great tips on replacing the old smelly felt that I have to do that right? But I did get some ideas on how to do it and I thought to share that process.
@@TheaStarr You really just need to use the old, stinky one for a pattern. It's just held in by flanges, lift them slightly with a wide screwdriver & no problems. (Wear a mask, or hold your nose while you do it; ) I'd send you a piece of good, green felt to do the job, but Transatlantic shipping is really silly these days... You'll love it later, I promise you. BTW we call the Slant cams 'Top Hats' here, to distinguish from the flat cams for the 306K/319K/320K Singer machines.
I don't know why you would wash any parts in soap and water instead of solvent.
It is interesting to watch this but better to watch a professional who repairs sewing machines because they have the experience to know what not to do, such as using the wrong procedures that can cause damage. Just adding oil to get it moving is not good enough. The parts need to be cleaned before oiling to remove hardened grease and varnish from the parts.
I have a 411 which looks similar to yours.
I had to Google what a 411 looked like. They do look very similar.
Keep her oiled, and grease the gears and this machine will easily last another hundred years or more.
Chào người đẹp 😁
I have the exact same machine. Had it since I was 11 and am now 75. I have sll the original cans, tools tool box and instruction manyal. This is a slant needle machine. One glaring thing is you did NOT release the foot so it went rapidly up and down while filliong the bobbin. Very wrong. Where did you get the idea your an expert ?????.
As in my video description, I am a new restorer. So, definitely not an expert. When I showed the bobbin winding, I also had not replaced the needle with a non-bent one in addition to not raising the foot. I made a few mistakes while filming. However, I am not afraid to make mistakes to learn and share that. I thank you for your comment. I enjoy hearing about those who've managed to keep their machines for decades.
Buy a low shank ankle and use all your modern feet. Theres no reason to be confined to just a couple of vintage feet.
I just cleaned, oiled and greased. I unfroze the stitch selector and reset the timing on my 401A i bought at Salvation Army for 25 last month.
Its still running very slow. So im taking apart the foot pedal to clean the contacts..
What else could it be?
I totally grew up with bobbins with several thread colors on it! It doesn’t make any sense except my mom grew up in the depression and did not waste anything and couldn’t afford more bobbins… I guess! 🙃