Singer sewing machine experts (1 Viewer)

[scotjimland]

Jill now has two working Vesta machines but that cheap tenner turned into fifty quid

Vesta are quite collectable .. think on them as investments Graham .... that's what I tell Jan when I buy another

.. Vesta's in good nick don't lose money..

you probably know this site, ... this guy knows his stuff.. Sewalot..

 

[jezport]

Short answer .. none.. identical mechanically, using shafts and helical gears, which contribute to it's smooth running, straight stitches and quiet running..
however, I prefer the cast iron model .. the weight gives it more stability when sewing heavyweight fabrics...

Shame you don't live closer , I have an electric Mk2 , cast aluminum 201k in a table looking for a good home.. if you are passing pop in ..

Where are you

 

[scotjimland]

Where are you

PM sent

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[GJH]

Vesta are quite collectable .. think on them as investments Graham .... that's what I tell Jan when I buy another

.. Vesta's in good nick don't lose money..

you probably know this site, ... this guy knows his stuff.. Sewalot..

Thanks Jim. I found that site when I was searching for information on the Vesta and Jill was already aware of it.

The machine we originally bought is in very good condition, complete with lid (handle end of key is broken but I fixed that by tapping it and using a wing nut & locking nut) and, having been cleaned up, works fine.

The paintwork is shot on the other machine but it, too, is in good working order.

 

[Puddleduck]

Thanks Jim. I found that site when I was searching for information on the Vesta and Jill was already aware of it.

The machine we originally bought is in very good condition, complete with lid (handle end of key is broken but I fixed that by tapping it and using a wing nut & locking nut) and, having been cleaned up, works fine.

The paintwork is shot on the other machine but it, too, is in good working order.

If you are going to use the machine then the paintwork doesn't matter that much... if you are a collector then paintwork condition is all. I am not a collector but, as they say now, a sewist. I suppose writing you are a "sewer" doesn't look that good sew-er would be more acceptable.

If you decide you want to sell the machine which has "shot" paintwork then please let me know

(My parents live in the town where the monkey went for a swing and Martin has sisters in Stockton and The 'Boro.)

 

[Bailey58]

Well I've just liked a 2 year old post, not that age matters but it's good to see old threads (threads, get it?) resurrected. I shall have to look in the loft next time we're in the Faroes at M-in-L's old sewing machine, very old and Dad used to bring all sorts back from England on the fishing boats including 3 piece suites so it could well be a Singer.

Edit: Bought a Jones for the wife from Jones Brothers (John Lewis) in Holloway Road in the early 70's hardly used and sits in a bedroom cupboard.

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[jezport]

PM sent

Unfortunately I am not planning on going near your area. It's a shame as I think it would be ideal.
If there is anyone near West Yorkshire with one for sale then please let know.

 

[jezport]

Question.
Is it better to buy the 201 with the built in motor or the belt driven one?

 

[scotjimland]

Question.
Is it better to buy the 201 with the built in motor or the belt driven one?

my choice for a 'working' machine would be the belt driven one.. if anything goes wrong with it a replacement is easy to find and quite cheap.. and it can also be uprated to a more powerful motor, useful if you plan on sewing heavyweight fabric, canvas , denim etc

The model with the built in motor is quite rare..

If I see any for sale near you I'll give you a PM

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[jezport]

If anyone knows of a good 201, 221 or 222 at a sensible price near West Yorkshire please let me know.

There are plenty on Ebay but none are local that sound good in the description,

If anyone is coming to Leeds from near ScotJimlands area I would pay for them to collect me the machine he has going spare.

 

[jezport]

Jim,
Take a look at the blog at the bottom of this ebay listing Broken Link Removed

 

[scotjimland]

Jim,
Take a look at the blog at the bottom of this ebay listing Broken Link Removed

yes.. my blog ..
that is a great machine.. highly sought after by both collectors and sewers.... seldom seen on ebay ..

it should come with a box of plastic cams called Fashion Discs, if you look at the seller's pics, you can see one on the machine, just above the red Singer logo .
They enable it to do all the fancy embroidery stitches (middle box in my pics) also a box of sewing accessories.. as shown below.

Seller doesn't mention or show them, so either missing or still in the loft..worth asking if interested..

EDIT.. I sent a question to the seller asking about them

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[scotjimland]

@jezport

had a reply from the seller.. and sadly he doesn't have the Fashion Discs or accessories. .. I have advised him to point that out in the listing..

Hi Jim thanks for contacting me no they are no further accessories found with the machine, would these accessories be supplied with it or was they purchased separate.

 

[Wildman]

as the discs are only cams I assume copying existing ones would be quite easy. Someone (Jim maybe) must have a set.

 

[scotjimland]

as the discs are only cams I assume copying existing ones would be quite easy. Someone (Jim maybe) must have a set.

indeed.. I have a set .. and I guess anything can be copied.
to give you an idea here is a photo copy , all 26 of them

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[olley]

My mother was a home worker in the 50's making children's dresses for KlevaKlads on Ealing Broadway, the Singer electric motor burnt out very quickly and so did its replacement, (She was making up to 200 dresses a week) Dad sourced a different make and that lasted for years.

She used to pay me half a crown to turn the belts inside out, got so I could do it in my sleep.

Ian

 

[GJH]

Jim,
Take a look at the blog at the bottom of this ebay listing Broken Link Removed

There's a similar one, with the fashion discs, Broken Link Removed. Twenty quid shipping but might come in around £50 all in if you're lucky.

Considering the prices of the only two sets of discs currently on eBay (which will attract customs duty as well) that could be a bargain price.

 

[scotjimland]

There's a similar one, with the fashion discs, Broken Link Removed. Twenty quid shipping but might come in around £50 all in if you're lucky.

gee whizz.. like busses.. don't see one for ages then they come two at a time..

looks good Graham.. snap it up and Jill will love you for ever..

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[Wildman]

I could be tempted myself, hee hee

 

[mitzimad]

My mother was a home worker in the 50's making children's dresses for KlevaKlads on Ealing Broadway, the Singer electric motor burnt out very quickly and so did its replacement, (She was making up to 200 dresses a week) Dad sourced a different make and that lasted for years.

She used to pay me half a crown to turn the belts inside out, got so I could do it in my sleep.

Ian

my mother was a machinist as well, reading this thread has realy taken me back to those little sweat shops with several machines a steam press and cutting table all in one basement under a high street shop talking about it has brought back the smell of it
like you i used to turn belts and pocket flaps inside out ,over 40 years mum managed to sew her finger twice

 

[olley]

my mother was a machinist as well, reading this thread has realy taken me back to those little sweat shops with several machines a steam press and cutting table all in one basement under a high street shop talking about it has brought back the smell of it
like you i used to turn belts and pocket flaps inside out ,over 40 years mum managed to sew her finger twice

I remember mum doing that once, straight through the nail, Painful! I used to wake up for school to the sound of the machine, and go to bed still hearing it. The things our parents did for us, its only now looking back that I can appreciate it.

Ian

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[Puddleduck]

There's a similar one, with the fashion discs, Broken Link Removed. Twenty quid shipping but might come in around £50 all in if you're lucky.

Considering the prices of the only two sets of discs currently on eBay (which will attract customs duty as well) that could be a bargain price.

That's a serious bargain...... get it whilst you can.

 

[GJH]

gee whizz.. like busses.. don't see one for ages then they come two at a time..

looks good Graham.. snap it up and Jill will love you for ever..

Don't encourage her. She has enough machines already and - as far as I know - hasn't seen this post yet

 

[jezport]

Are they as well built and reliable as the 201k?

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[scotjimland]

Are they as well built and reliable as the 201k?

excellent question..in an earlier post I said it was a great machine.. but that needs qualifying..

they are well built, beautifully made in cast aluminum, and can do a lot more than a 201k .. but like most swing arm machines or zig zaggers they cannot match the straight line stitching of a standard Singer .. the 201 being the best.. it's stitches look like a regimented row of rice grains.. that's not to say the 320 is bad.. just not so good at straight line stitching..

The 320 also uses a special needle which is fractionally shorter than the standard one. Use the wrong needle and it collides with the lower bobbin case .. usually damaging it .. it also has an internal timing belt that can break.. no idea if spares are available..

It is a pig to set up.. took me ages to get mine running correctly.. the previous owner had messed up the timing..

If you need a zig zag machine there are better machines than the 320.. sadly, none made by Singer, the 320 was a brave attempt but was too expensive and by the time it hit the market technology had moved on.. so never sold in any great numbers..

For everyday use I recommend the 201k or a 99k, they won't let you down.. and spares are cheap and easy to source.

 

[jezport]

Will the featherweight sew heavy stuff like leather as well as the 201

 

[scotjimland]

Will the featherweight sew heavy stuff like leather as well as the 201

no, better suited to quilting and small sewing jobs .... lightweight leather as used for gloves etc would be ok. but not heavyweight..
they were intended for ladies maids to take on steamer trips and the like.. to do small repairs while they were away from home..

to be honest many 201s are wrongly advertised on eBay as semi - industrial.. this is nonsense.. .. they are domestic machines and can sew heavy canvas, and leather if not too heavy.. but if used in an industrial setting they would be too slow and wouldn't last a week ..

A proper industrial machine is totally different.. they have ball and or roller bearings in place of brass bushes, and an oiling system with a heavy duty under table motor with a foot pedal controlling a clutch..

if your primary use is sewing heavy canvas and leather then something like this would be a better buy ..

an example.. Broken Link Removed

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[jezport]

I want a machine that will do repairs on things like my kids school bag straps, and machining polyester strapping mainly. Will a 201k do this ok

 

[scotjimland]

ideal.. no problem ..

 

[jezport]

I've found a nice 201k aluminium. Will be getting it early January. Buying from a collector who seems to know his stuff.

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