Which machine would you choose?

The 401 is an excellent choice. I have one, gave one to one of my step-daughters, and sold one to a woman who wanted to do her own costumes. Another machine I like is the Pfaff 320, but I'm not sure about a double needle for it - it does have a verticle bobbin.

I have a couple of virtical (front loading) bobbin machines, and both can use a douple (or even tripple!) needle! :)

I cannot choose just one vintage machine: I need two! In an ideal world I'd have an Elna Lotus Stella Air Electronic (like this:

and a Rocketeer with all the cams! Looks like this: the moment I have 18 machines, but not one of either of these! :(

The 401 is a good choice. Very easy to service and will do a twin needle. The only thing it doesn't do as well as my side-loaders is as nice of a satin stitch (I've had three 401s and a 403 with the same result on all). Side loaders seem to to a nicer satin stitch. (I've got over 80 vintage machines.) My Viking 6570 does a GORGEOUS satin stitch as does my Kenmore, 158.1914 (both pre 1980 machines and both all-mechanical).

I particularly love the Viking. It has the needle up/down feature and a 'gear down' option to slow the machine when sewing through thick stuff like leadher. It does require cams for any design. but the upside is the machine is not as heavy as my 401, as it doesn't have the huge internal camstack the 401 does. However -- the Viking cams/stitch designs engage both forward and reverse motion (unlike the 401) for cute little flowers, hearts, etc.

-Irene

-Irene

=20

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

--Mae West=20

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I'm thinking that if a machine will do a zig-zag stitch, you can use a twin needle. With a twin needle, on the back will show a zig-zag from one needle to the other. Barbara in FL

Vertical bobbin placement does not preclude using a double needle. I had an old kenmore zig-zag that was vertical bobbin, and could use a twin needle..

However; I would stick with the Singer 400-500 series, as they can use 2 regular SM needles side-by-side in the needle holder instead of the ever-so-expensive "double needle". The 401a, 403a, and 500a all are excellent machines, with direct gear drive (no belts), and can handle most tasks (and they make a lovely stitch).

They are also easily serviced.

me

My side-loading Necchi Lycia takes twin needles -- it even comes with special feet and needleplate. But the needles are tandem, not side-by-side, so they are useful only for embroidery; they won't do a pin tuck.

I frequently used the twin thread-paths for sewing with doubled thread in the pre-Web days when I often had to use inferior thread. And yes, you can wind a bobbin with double thread -- I still do it for basting, because it unbalances the tension enough to make the bobbin threads easy to pull out, and only once in thirty years have I had to cut the thread off the bobbin for getting out of synch.

Joy Beeson