Which old Singer sewing machine to get?

[SillySimplicity]

Between Singer 301(A) and a Singer 15-91, which should I get?
Which one is typically cheaper?
Where can I find a good price?
What other old Singer models are also popular and would suit my needs well?
I've been checking Ebay, craigslist, and am going to start looking at thrift stores.
Is it very rare to find them in thrift stores/craigslist for cheaper?
My price limit is $85.

Some info- I've always had a fascination with sewing and will just be sewing very simple projects at first. I am a beginner and only hand-sewn a few very simple projects. Reason why I want a vintage/antique sewing machine is because I hear the sewing machines today break too often (plastic), whereas the ones made before 1970 were made of very good quality (metal) and hence have survived after many decades. I also do not want the tons of options and buttons of a typical sewing machine found today. I just want something simple, of very good quality, and will also be able to take somewhat heavy fabrics like nylon cordura or upholstery fabrics. And do 301A and 15-91 sew different stitches? I just need to install different..feet right? (not sure if that's the right term) Cause I want to be able to do some other basic types of stitches as well.
As for the prices, from what I've seen, it seems 301A usually sells for around $100-$130 and 15-91 is around $100.


I hope that was clear. And thanks for looking, or even better, replying!

[lew]

I can't answer your question about where to get old singer machines, but I can tell you that I sewed on my mom's old cabinet machine for years and it only had like 3 or 4 stitches and an ancient buttonhole attachament, then my husband got me a brother machine from WalMart, and it's like sewing on a dream, for 130$. JMO, but for somebody who is new to sewing, i would think that a newer machine would be easier. Just my thoughts. Good Luck.
Doreen

[Karens Krafts]

The older machines seemed to need "tweeking" more often. If you're not good at it, you can mess up the tensions and never be able to get them back right. I know what you mean about the old metal machines, they did hold up well, and were real workhorses, but I'm not sure they're what a beginner should be using.
Karen

[minnie63]

I have to agree with everyone one else, the older ones do need more tweeking and that is a pain in the butt! If your budget is 85. you can get a new one for the basics in sewing. Janome makes one that Hancock Fabric sells and Wally's World carries a lot of inexpensive machines. Even Sears has some. Get a newer one if you can. Good luck. In fact, I think Simplicity makes one!

[SillySimplicity]

Thank you for all your advice! I will be looking into buying a new sewing machine then. Are there any recommendations for a decent beginner sewing machine for $85 or less?

[grammynan]

I'd try going to a typical sewing machine store. Sometimes you can get a great deal on a "trade in" model that someone has used and traded in on a newer model. They refurbish them and re sell them Look in your phone book to see if there are any around you. I'd also go to thrift shops and leave your name and number in case any machines come in there.

Nancy

[lemming81]

If you are looking for a very simple machine to master, I'd suggest WalMart. Good prices, buy the best w/the most feature you can. It seen as our sewing skills grow we're always sorry we didn't go for more features than needed at a time. Go to your local library and check out the "Consumer Reports", maybe they can steer you to a machine for you. A library is a great source of sewing info--not to be pun-ish. Good hunting and let us know what you finally decided upon.

[Rosieq]

Hello, I agree with Nancy, go to a sewing machine shop and look for a trade-in that has been refurbished--they have absorbed all the cost of the cleaning and tuning up for you and you know the costs upfront.

I have a $200 Janome that sews like a dream; I have a Singer featherweight that I inherited and spent $55 having a good clean/tune up done on it--and I have a very lovely Baby Lock--I'm satisfied with all three... Good luck with your hunting...by the way--go online to each sewing machine sight--you will see any ongoing promotions, plus you can do some comparison shoppping in the quiet of your own home. Rosieq

[westbrook]

I realize I am a bit late here...

$85 buy the 301A long bed on ebay.

now for a few more $$ look at the Singer 401A or the 500! I promise there is NO messing with tensions! you buy a New machine for $85 you WILL be tweaking tensions all of the time.

the 301A is a straight stitch only machine, you can buy an attachment that will let it do a zigzag stitch. What it does is moves the fabric back and forth..kind of cool to watch. The 301 is the big sister to the featherweight 221. the 221 weighs 11 pounds and the 301 weighs 17 pounds.

The 401 and 500 is the same machine but the 500 looks more 'futuristic' and is called the Rocketeer. both are metal gear driven and both has 37 built in stitches. the needle plate raises with a lever to free motion quilt.

The 401 and 500 are also called the "Slant-O-Matic" check out yahoo groups for information on the Singer Slant Sewing Machines.

[Smockette]

I agree with Brookie. I was brought up with one of those 500's and it is a great machine. If you buy a vintage machine, the first thing I would do is have a machine mechanic go thru and professionally tweak everything for you. It will probably cost you another 50 bucks but well worth it. I have picked up old machines, and they are inevitably gooked up with years of oil and dust on the moving parts. First you have to get rid of that stuff. But if you get it all cleaned up and it is one of the "classics" I think you will be happy.

I HIGHLY recommend a visit to Pattern Review.com. There you will see reviews on every machine imaginable. As far as you finding one of those great old classics, it really is a matter of a lot of luck and you could be waiting a long time. Good luck with your quest and welcome to the wonderful world of sewing.

Bunny