Another Singer 404 Straight Stitcher

Louie found another Singer 404 straight stitch sewing machine Saturday. Actually, he saw the case in the ‘test area’ but only saw the right end of the machine. He asked one of the workers if they were going to be putting the machine out on the sale floor soon. The worker told him that it didn’t work and he was going to throw it in the dumpster. Louie told him how we rescue machines and asked if he could buy it in that condition. He said he would sell it to us if we bought another one that was heading for the dumpster. (That one was in a very nice cabinet, which we did not take with us.) He paid $9.58 for both of them (after the Saturday 20% discount). I was thrilled when he put it in the car and I peeked to see what model it was. I was pretty sure that whatever was wrong with it could be fixed. AND, they were only charging us $4.99 for this one and $6.99 for the other one. (The other one, seen in my previous post, did not make it.)

When we got this machine home, Louie was curious as to why they said it would not work. He plugged it and pressed on the foot control, and the motor moved very slow, like it was dragging a car around the block. He waited until I oiled all the moving parts to try it again, and it still was no better, so he removed the motor and cleaned the armature, brushes and all the contacts. He told me that one of the brushes was ‘stuck’. He reworked it, and it runs like a new one again. This model sews very strong and fast. I spent a few hours cleaning and oiling it and it did not disappoint. The needle was not the right one. It was very short, so I don’t know who put in that needle, but if it wouldn’t pick up the bobbin thread, I know why.  I changed the needle, adjusted the tensions just a little bit, and it sews a wonderful stitch.

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I have said in the past that this is probably my favorite model of vintage Singer sewing machines, and that statement still holds true. This one will be staying around for a little while. I even made a litter bag for a friend with this machine!