I've had a Singer 301 for a while, inherited from Mother in law. I've got lot's of extra feet as well as the button hole and zig zag attachements. Once it was tuned up at our local sewing shop it's been a pleasure to work with for working with heavy duty outdoor equipment projects. Recently, my wife picked up a Singer 404 at a local thrift store at a really good price. It looks similar to the 301, but did not come with any manuals, or parts. Does any one know how the 301 and 404 compare? What parts are interchangeable?
Hi Joe, they're both great machines. I have both (in quantity!).
The 404 is a wonderful machine in it's own right. It is larger and it has hinge pin openings for setting in a cabinet. (The 301 requires a 'cradle' for use in a cabinet.) the 404 has the 'elevator' throat plate, so the feed dogs do not drop. The 404 uses class 66 'drop in' bobbins so it's really easy to deal with threading. It's not as easy to haul around as the 301 is.
But, the 301 is smaller, so it's lighter...it also has a built in handle, so you can easily and quickly take it anywear. The cabinet 'cradle' makes it easy to pop in and out of a cabinet. The feed dogs drop on this machine making it nice for free motion quilting. This uses the smaller class 221 bobbin, like the Featherweight does.
And, the 301 came in three different colors (black, tan, and beige and cream) and two bed sizes (short and long in the black and tan colors). =20
The attachments (feet, buttonholer, zig zagger) for the 301 all work on a 404.
ISMACS has a downloadable (PDF) free copy of the manual here:
formatting link
your machine!
-Irene
-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20
The 404 is a straight stitch only machine,too. They are the same IMHO in terms of durability and versatility.
You can see a 404 and 301 here:
formatting link
might be thinking of the 401, which has a boatload of built indesign stitches? The 401 is in the same 'family' as the 404, just themore 'advanced' model....
-Irene
-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20
InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.