Singer 301

Please describe "heavy duty" in some detail.

You will LOVE it. That's one of my favorite models (I now have 8 of 'em).

This web site is full of information on them:

first of the Singer "Slant" needle models, all gear driven (nobelts) all metal, lightweight aluminum body with a built inhandle....and dropping feed dogs. Hard to beat for tough sewing jobsand portability.

=46ANTASTIC alternative to a Featherweight!

Price...depends on a couple of things. They come in three colors/styles:

tan short bed (most common) tan long bed

beige and cream short bed (probably second most common)

black long bed (typically more expensive than the above) black long bed (hardest fo find and usually most expensive)

I paid $100 for an A+ black short bed at an estate sale this past summer, came in a cabinet with matching stool with all the goodies (manual, buttonholer, attachments) with perfect decals. The least I've paid for one is $5 for a beige and cream 301 at the thrift shop -- but it was filthy, and needed a total overhaul (cleaning, lubbing, de-gunking).

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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Ron, By "heavy duty" I mean levis material that has folded seams making for a triple thickness and other similar weight jobs. lighter weight canvas boat coverings and fitting covers and such. Not anything such as heavy canvas sailmaking. I find that the mechanical Janome, while a versatile machine for clothing and some quilting jobs, is not as up to the task of doing the things mentioned as I would like. It will accomplish them but it is a struggle. Hope this clarifies.

Sounds like you hit the Industrial strength Singer 301 auction. These and all the machines this guy sells are Domestic Home sewing machines....NOT industrial strength at all. Please get thyself over to the WeFixIt group and look at the discussion regarding this less than honest description of the 301. They are in the $100.00 range and higher now, because they are the perfect machine for quilting. I have 4 and would not even consider putting any boat covering through it.

For an example of unscrupulous sellers check out this guy. Ought to be shot and p****d on for what he is doing. Selling ordinary home sewing machines for outrageous prices as in this example. EBay auction # 8252493665 There are 5 or 6 of these guys. alcnational is currently the worst of the bunch even saying that a Euro Pro was Industrial Strength. Recently another on of these sold a badged Pfaff Janome that originally retailed for about $200 as an Industrial strength machine for over $400. Auction #8237984593 Several of the Yahoo groups are currently trying to get something done about these people. Sorry for the rant but these guys are getting away with fraud. I am sure that Ron A. would most likely agree as he is a very honest tech and dealer.

I'm glad you said all this. I was wondering how to word the same comments! :)

If you want industrial strength, buy an industrial. If you want heavy domestic, buy a Bernina 1008. If you want a good older quilt-handling machine that will also take jeans, the 301 will suit fine. But go to a local dealer and see what they have in, taking wodges of cloth with you for testing.

I realise that the machine in question is not "Industrial" strength. IE: that which would be used in a comercial endevour for mass production of items for sale and probably dedicated to a particular type of stich or function and then the item would be passed on to another person who uses a different machine of dedicated purpose. Such as sweat shop sewing. I was wondering what the value of this machine which would be used for my stated purpose would be. I realise it is a home useage model but it "seemed'" to be more capable for my intended uses than the modern machine that I have, which is not direct gear driven. For the estimated cost of $100 dollars I think it might be just the ticket. I have no intention of using it commercially for "industrial" sewing. Thanks for the input.

Actually, I have not been looking for one anywhere other than it was offered to me by a family friend, as stated in the original post, who knows I sew, and thought I might like to have it from her deceased mothers estate. I am not in the "market" for one and I only asked the question as to it's suitability for a simple intended purpose , as I am unfamiliar with that particular model. I know that some people expect unreasonable prices for some things they percieve have value. I know all about e-bay and the scams therein as I often sell other items that I have an interest in other than sewing. IE: bicycles, and woodworking tools, guitars. I appreciate the input from all who responded.

Sewing over the hump in jeans is tough on any machine including industrials. The problem is not so much the thickness as going from 2 layers to 8 in such a short distance. Technique plays a most important role with that job. As for canvas of any kind leave it to the industrial machine. No home machine will handle the extra heavy thread used in that type work, even if it will penetrate the material well. In short the 301 is one of the finest sewing machines ever made well worth $100.00 in reasonable condition. One note be sure the bobbin case is in tact as it uses the same very expensive one the 221 featherweight uses.

With whatever sm you use, an inexpensive little item called Jean-A-Ma-Jig is just the greatest when hemming jeans. It's like the Hump Jumper, only thicker. Available at TSWLTH, Nancy's Notions, etc. I'm also very fond of my #8 jeans foot (Bernina).

Doreen in Alabama

Thanks for the heads up on the bobin case. I believe it is intact as she used it up until she passed away. She had it regularly serviced and kept it in pristine condition as I remember. I figured for $100 I could give it a go and see if it will suffice. If it doesn't, they e-bay will deal with it.

The cabinet is also a consideration. I have a number of Singer cabinets, but the best of the lot (other than treadles) is one a 301 came in. It's a beautiful maple and has the matching stool. The cabinet alone is worth $100, I think, as a fine piece of furniture.

Newer cabinets are not nearly so well made and have alot of man-made wood products and thin veneers more of the formica type. The 301 comes with a cradle that fits in the cabinet and has a lever to release the machine (rather than the more complicated release of other Singers) and the head has a built-in handle, and needs no bottom container. It will function very nicely as a portable, and can be snapped back into the cradle with one hand.

I do like the 301.

I just hit that part of the jeans several times with a hammer...flattens it right out, & no problems sewing over it :)

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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If you appreciate fine mechanical things, you will most certainly fall in love with the 301!

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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