Singer 400w21

[tcg144]

Anyone familiar with this machine? Pulled it out of my grandparents basement, still need to get the table out and put it together. My mom sewed with it commercially (back belts) in the 90’s. Says it’s lock stitch, rotary take up, drop foot. No reverse and probably way to fast for what I want to do, but it was free so figured I’ll play around with it. My singer 403a just doesn’t have the power to get through some of the stuff I want to do, need to run it by hand for some things.

certainly is a slippery slope, this is the 3rd machine now

 

[tcg144]

 

[sojourner]

Question about singer 400w21

I make holsters and wallets etc usually 8 oz veg and I use a tippman. I found a singer 400w21 for 200$ in my area currious how that machine handles on thinner veg?

leatherworker.net

If you use the clutch motor that comes with it, it may have more power, but will be hard to control the speed.

If you start down the path of fixing it up, it still does not have reverse and I do not see a strong tension control on it. And you are not getting walking foot or needle feed or triple feed.

If it were me, my opinion is that if has sentimental value, I’d restore and keep it. Otherwise, I’d sell it and use that money for another vintage domestic, like a singer 15-91 or kenmore 158.1941x or other kenmore that has built in speed reducer or keep looking for a used triple feed industrial.

I have the kenmore and 15-91 I mentioned , and they are fine machines. That said, the difference between a vintage metal domestic and an industrial upholstery class triple feed machine are like night and day.