I picked up a Singer 403A made about the mid-fifties. Very clean condition; I'm thinking a 7 or 8. You can see it up there between the 401A and the 404 – right where it belongs.
It's a ZZ machine, and is essentially the twin of the 401, but instead of a cam-stack, it requires that a separate cam be installed for each decorative stitch. Many like this feature, as it allows for a simple switch of the cam for any given stitch rather than referring to the stitch chart under the "lid" of the 401, then setting the knobs accordingly.
This fairly completes my collection of the best of Singer's Slant-O-Matics from the "all-steel" era. I'm missing the 503(A).
Let's run through those I have then: The 301 was the first of series with an all-new design and all-aluminum construction; then, in the 400 series: the 401A, 403A and 404. Rounding things out is the 500A "Rocketeer".
Chandsew 406RB
Size Matters
Singer 153W103 Industrial
Singer 316G
Singer 301
A design revolution for Singer, this light-weight portable is a favorite with quilters. This example dates from 1951, but, interestingly, isn't badged as an anniversary model.
Singer 221- Featherweight
In remarkable condition. This one dates from 1956.
Singer 500A
Reassembled and polished.
Singer 401A
Singer 503A
I've had a number of examples from the 400 and 500 series pass through my hands now, and as testament to their quality, they have all been in very nice condition; none, however, has matched this beauty for its near pristine state of preservation. While even on the cleanest example one must forgive a minor imperfection or two, this classic from Singer exhibits none! Truly as nice as one could hope.
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Found your blog through your post on the vintage Japanese machines group. Are you on the vintage Singers group also?
ReplyDeleteLovely machines! I got hooked on this hobby a year ago when my mother in law gave me her Singer 66 treadle. I also have a 301, 401 and 500 and the older models 127, 128 and a 99. Have fun!
I belong to the Vintage Singers group, the Old Pfaff Pforum, WeFixIt and the Necchi group as well as the Vintage Japanese SM group.
ReplyDeleteI recommend these groups to anyone interested in vintage sewing machines.
We have many of the same machines, DragonPoodle! Thanks for the comments.