Sewing Resources and Information

[andy0689]

I have one. I have sewed some canvas but no webbing. It doesn't seem as strong as a 15 class machine but it is very smooth. I bought this and a rusty Singer 66 for $40. The oscillating hook on a 15 seems to be particularly good at pulling tight thicker thread. The 201 had no cord but I had one plugged it in and oiled it and it worked fine. The 66 had the motor wire cut. I tried the 66 hand powered and it worked fine.
Edit: I may have sewed the ends of a piece of webbing together. I found this other picture.
Edit 2: I sewed this cushion cover with V69 thread with the 201 and top stitched the zipper section for strength.

Thanks for replying. Seller took my $200 offer so I'm picking it up later today. I'll run some tests on it later to see how it does. I have a few projects in line the next couple of weeks. I still have my Reliable for power stuff if needed. I got the 201 to replace my consumer machine for general sewing. The plastic inside just doesn't do well at medium jobs I throw at it.

I can see this vintage thing being a big bug too. It's hard to believe there are so many different machines out there and still available for sale. I was just watching a video on treadle machines...fascinating. I think I might be able to find some room for one of those in the house too!

 

[andy0689]

I have one. I have sewed some canvas but no webbing. It doesn't seem as strong as a 15 class machine but it is very smooth. I bought this and a rusty Singer 66 for $40. The oscillating hook on a 15 seems to be particularly good at pulling tight thicker thread. The 201 had no cord but I had one plugged it in and oiled it and it worked fine. The 66 had the motor wire cut. I tried the 66 hand powered and it worked fine.

So, yeah...I picked it up Monday and it's a 201-2 made in '38. Previous owner had it serviced in July 2020 and hasn't used it since. She even included the receipt from where she had it serviced. Runs better than my modern machines did the day I brought them home. I did some testing on some flat and tubular webbing and it seemed to handle a couple of layers just fine. Haven't run any heavy thread through it yet so that'll be the real test.

 

[bj139]

So, yeah...I picked it up Monday and it's a 201-2 made in '38. Previous owner had it serviced in July 2020 and hasn't used it since. She even included the receipt from where she had it serviced. Runs better than my modern machines did the day I brought them home. I did some testing on some flat and tubular webbing and it seemed to handle a couple of layers just fine. Haven't run any heavy thread through it yet so that'll be the real test.

I have read on several different sewing machine sites that the 201 is the best machine Singer ever made. It was the most expensive machine in the catalog at the time and I think the price was around $200 which was very expensive for the day. Mine runs smooth.

 

[Gator]

My girlfriend has a Pfaff 1475 that she inherited from her grandmother. I'm trying to convince her that she wants to start sewing webbing and stuff. Wish me luck!

 

[andy0689]

I have read on several different sewing machine sites that the 201 is the best machine Singer ever made. It was the most expensive machine in the catalog at the time and I think the price was around $200 which was very expensive for the day. Mine runs smooth.

I pulled mine apart this week to clean out 80-year old grease. When I pulled the wicks, neither had retaining clips holding the springs in. So someone serviced it some time ago and was wondering why there were two extra parts left on the bench when he finished. I can’t find replacements anywhere. Will just have to wait until some show up on eBay or somewhere else. I checked a bunch of vintage sites too. Nobody has ‘em.

 

[bj139]

I pulled mine apart this week to clean out 80-year old grease. When I pulled the wicks, neither had retaining clips holding the springs in. So someone serviced it some time ago and was wondering why there were two extra parts left on the bench when he finished. I can’t find replacements anywhere. Will just have to wait until some show up on eBay or somewhere else. I checked a bunch of vintage sites too. Nobody has ‘em.

Are those wicks around the shuttle? Mine don't have any I think.

 

[2Sloe]

Are those wicks around the shuttle? Mine don't have any I think.

“Wicks” are normally associated with a pot motor. There are two “ tubes” on the pot motor with grease and felt wicks in them. As the machine heats up the grease melts and is fed into the motor via the wicks to lube the motor.

 

[2Sloe]

I pulled mine apart this week to clean out 80-year old grease. When I pulled the wicks, neither had retaining clips holding the springs in. So someone serviced it some time ago and was wondering why there were two extra parts left on the bench when he finished. I can’t find replacements anywhere. Will just have to wait until some show up on eBay or somewhere else. I checked a bunch of vintage sites too. Nobody has ‘em.

Maybe these will help you out:

Singer Sewing Machine Potted Motor 2 Brushes & Springs & Tubes 15-91 & 201-2 | eBay

THIS IS A USED BUT IN GOOD SHAPE GENUIN E OEM SET OF 2 BRUSHES AND SPRINGS AND BRUSH TUBES WITH SET SCREWS ONLY FOR Singer Sewing Machine Gear Drive Potted Motor For 15-91 & 201. REMOVED FROM A RUNNING MACHINE.

www.ebay.com

Singer 201-2 and 15-91 Potted Motor Wicks (4) | eBay

Singer 201 15-91 Potted Motor Wicks (4). Set of 2 (4 wicks 1" long). Copy and paste link into your browser.

www.ebay.com

RE-WIRING MOTOR KIT for Singer 15-91 and 201-2 and other Sewing Machines | eBay

SINGER 201 AND 15-91 POTTED MOTOR RE-WIRING KIT. Also, tinned copper is easier to connect because tin is a primary component in solder. 18-gauge wire - 8" of both red and black. (Both ends pre-stripped, just slide off the coating - no need to buy wire strippers).

www.ebay.com

A Tutorial – Restoration of a Vintage Singer Model 201-2 and 15-91 “Potted” Motor

First a picture for those wondering what a Singer “potted” motor is… A potted motor a direct gear drive motor where the motor housing is attached to the back of a so equipped Sing…

pungoliving.home.blog

 

[andy0689]

Are those wicks around the shuttle? Mine don't have any I think.

Exactly what 2Sloe said!

And thanks for the links @2Sloe. I actually found the specific parts I need on TheOldSingerShop.com. I kept checking to see if some would pop up and one pair finally showed up today. They literally had one set in stock. I got so lucky with some help from the Vintage Sewing Machine Garage guy on YouTube. I'll have to pull the motor again to install them when they arrive because I did a makeshift fix just to get the machine running. I'm no genius at these things but the work I did.. Wow! That machine is running so good now. I mean, I thought it was running good when I got it a month ago but now, it's just unbelievable. Quiet, fast and perfect stitches. It's hard to believe it's 80 years old and runs better than any machine I've ever owned. Also a shame you have to buy 80-year old stuff to get quality.

Next project arrives on Friday. I scored a Pfaff 130 on ShopGoodwill.com for $140. Once that's cleaned up and running, I'm going to flip it (or keep it and sell the 15-91). Hard to say. I think there's a chance I'll keep all three. <wife rolls eyes>

 

[2Sloe]

Exactly what 2Sloe said!

And thanks for the links @2Sloe. I actually found the specific parts I need on TheOldSingerShop.com. I kept checking to see if some would pop up and one pair finally showed up today. They literally had one set in stock. I got so lucky with some help from the Vintage Sewing Machine Garage guy on YouTube. I'll have to pull the motor again to install them when they arrive because I did a makeshift fix just to get the machine running. I'm no genius at these things but the work I did.. Wow! That machine is running so good now. I mean, I thought it was running good when I got it a month ago but now, it's just unbelievable. Quiet, fast and perfect stitches. It's hard to believe it's 80 years old and runs better than any machine I've ever owned. Also a shame you have to buy 80-year old stuff to get quality.

Next project arrives on Friday. I scored a Pfaff 130 on ShopGoodwill.com for $140. Once that's cleaned up and running, I'm going to flip it (or keep it and sell the 15-91). Hard to say. I think there's a chance I'll keep all three. <wife rolls eyes>

Great! I picked up a Kenmore 158 last week to do light work such as bags, roll pouches etc. on. On the way back from picking that one up I stopped at a goodwill shop and found a 201K for $25. It runs good, but I’m sure it will run better once I go through it. I still have it hidden out in the garage....wife don’t know about that one yet. Gotta break her in slow....

 

[andy0689]

Great! I picked up a Kenmore 158 last week to do light work such as bags, roll pouches etc. on. On the way back from picking that one up I stopped at a goodwill shop and found a 201K for $25. It runs good, but I’m sure it will run better once I go through it. I still have it hidden out in the garage....wife don’t know about that one yet. Gotta break her in slow....

Set it up so she finds it like it's some long, lost thing in the garage. And it'll turn around like she's surprising you by what she found in the garage. You have to act the part too or it won't work.

 

[4090Sharps]

https://www.youtube.com/c/HightexHeavysewingtechnology/videos

If anyone wants to see some really impressive machines filling a variety of manufacturing needs, check out this channel.

 

[andy0689]

https://www.youtube.com/c/HightexHeavysewingtechnology/videos

If anyone wants to see some really impressive machines filling a variety of manufacturing needs, check out this channel.

That's pretty cool.

And this is why I cringe when someone says they want to do their own sewn loops on a tether with a consumer sewing machine from Walmart.

 

[luckylakes]

For anyone searching/shopping for an older all metal sewing machine...

I stumbled across a great blog series on how to identify models of older Singer sewing machines from terrible online photos (which are standard on craigslist). If you decide on a particular model, this 5 part series is extremely helpful.

A Visual Guide to Identifying Singers from Crappy Craigslist Photos, Part 1
http://vssmb.blogspot.com/2011/07/visual-guide-to-identifying-singers.html

EDIT: This info has been added up top.

That Web site is awesome! I rebuilt my 15-91 motor off his tutorial..

 

[luckylakes]

I have read on several different sewing machine sites that the 201 is the best machine Singer ever made. It was the most expensive machine in the catalog at the time and I think the price was around $200 which was very expensive for the day. Mine runs smooth.

The singer 201 is refuted as one of the best home pro machines, smoother and has a longer neck than the model 15 due to a rotating cam causing some vibration but the horizontal bobbin holds less thread than the vertical model 15. Both have potted motors. 2ea of the very best, excellent home machines..

 

[luckylakes]

No direct experience, however I recall reading quite a bit of good about them.

Some discussion here...

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/40698-Which-thread-injector

They are quite an elaborate well made machines with a great history. Only problem is finding parts. Singer is like a Glock. Very easy to to find parts if you ever run it long enough to need new ones. I/m giving away a super nova if anyone wants one..

 

[luckylakes]

I pulled mine apart this week to clean out 80-year old grease. When I pulled the wicks, neither had retaining clips holding the springs in. So someone serviced it some time ago and was wondering why there were two extra parts left on the bench when he finished. I can’t find replacements anywhere. Will just have to wait until some show up on eBay or somewhere else. I checked a bunch of vintage sites too. Nobody has ‘em.

Check out the featherweight shop, https://singer-featherweight.com/

 

[bj139]

The singer 201 is refuted as one of the best home pro machines, smoother and has a longer neck than the model 15 due to a rotating cam causing some vibration but the horizontal bobbin holds less thread than the vertical model 15. Both have potted motors. 2ea of the very best, excellent home machines..

What is a neck? My 201 doesn't have much vibration, if any. I heard that the oscillating shuttle on the 15 is less sensitive to tension adjustment and fabric thickness than a rotating shuttle. I have found this to be true when sewing from thinner sections to thicker sections such as over a seam.

 

[luckylakes]

What is a neck? My 201 doesn't have much vibration, if any. I heard that the oscillating shuttle on the 15 is less sensitive to tension adjustment and fabric thickness than a rotating shuttle. I have found this to be true when sewing from thinner sections to thicker sections such as over a seam.

My error the way I wrote it.., The 15-91 has the rotating cam which the 201 does not and why the 201 is smoother. Many like the model 15 cause of the bigger bobbin size but my daughter loves the 201 and its a real benchmark in pro home machines. More quilters like the model 15 so I'm told.. but both use the same potted motor and are excellent machines.

 

[bj139]

My error the way I wrote it.., The 15-91 has the rotating cam which the 201 does not and why the 201 is smoother. Many like the model 15 cause of the bigger bobbin size but my daughter loves the 201 and its a real benchmark in pro home machines. More quilters like the model 15 so I'm told.. but both use the same potted motor and are excellent machines.

I bet the quilters like the 15 because of less birdsnests when sewing from thin to thick. I just bought another Singer 15 yesterday that needs a tension dial since several parts are missing. I ordered one yesterday. 15 parts are super easy to find.