Sunday, July 21, 2013

Singer 301

I adopted another Black Singer 301 yesterday. I had to rescue it. The pictures of it I saw on Craigslist made me sad. I had to help it! Winking smile

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My Singer Story dot com tells me that this machine was born in 1951. She is about old enough to retire!

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This is how it looked when we brought it home. It was full of lint and pet hair. It did come with an instruction manual and accessories.

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The extension bed, unfortunately, has lots of scratches.

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The inside of the case was dirty, and the ‘arm’ that holds the cord was laying in the bottom. The oil can holder you see on the right was only half there, so I took it the rest of the way off.

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I vacuumed it out and put the cord holder back on.

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It wouldn’t sew, but I knew just what to look for. I have read up a lot on the Singer Featherweights (which this is not), and the 301’s. They have the same bobbins and bobbin mechanism setup. They are notorious for getting threads caught in the works, behind the bobbin mechanisms. Look what I pulled out.

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It was a bit noisy, but I got it quieted down by oiling in just the right places, and I got it sew. It was being stubborn, but in the end, I won.

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Louie worked on buffing the scratches out for me, using a Scratch and Swirl remover for dark colored cars, found at auto supply stores, and although he could not get them to go away, I think it does look much better. The surface shines, as you can see the reflection of my ceiling fan and the machine itself. I do wish whoever owned it originally would have protected the extension when they folded it up and put it away.

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I know. I can’t expect ‘like new’ when it is celebrated 62 birthdays, but in a perfect world, it would be!

14 comments:

  1. Michelle, you're amazing! Another machine rescued!!

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  2. What a transformation! I always think of you as the "Sewing Machine Whisperer". I got a 301 last weekend from a yard sale and am so happy.

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  3. I have some 301s. How do you buff them and get them to shine? What do you use? Thanks so much.
    Londs

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  4. I have both a Featherweight and a 301-A and I sew with both of them. They are wonderful. You should do some research because yours could be worth a lot of money if it was indeed born in 1951. The first ones made are very valuable. Mine is 1953.

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  5. I have 2 301's. One in an original cabinet, and another in a case. I love them, especially the one in the cabinet.

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  6. It looks gorgeous to me! Tell me Michelle, if you could only have one "older" machine which one would it be? I know you love them all, but just one. Or maybe two. :) blessings, marlene

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  7. You are amazing. Glad you got her to work.

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  8. i too would love to know what hubby buffs them with. lovely machine. i have a tan 301.

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  9. The stitchinbythelake comment was interesting so which machine would you have and why ?

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  10. What a cute machine. Wish you were here. My latest machine isn't happy. I just can't seem to get the tension happy.

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  11. This machine really looks beautiful after you and Lou cleaned it all up! I have never seen a 301, do you like sewing on it and can you drop the feed dogs? LOL.....this machine is the same age as me :)

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  12. Another beautiful machine! Love this one.
    Kristie

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  13. What did your husband use to buff it with? It looks amazing! I have 2 Singer 301's that could really use some buffing, thank you Amie :0)

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