Can we go for a ride yet?
Can we? Can we?
Princess, our resident Customer Relations Supervisor, would like to remind all responsible vintage sewing machine owners to spay or neuter their beloved machines.
Additionally, to help stop the tragedy of sewing machine over-population, please learn the important rules of old sewing machine ownership:
- Know when your machines are in heat, and keep them separated (in a well-lit room) to prevent unintended growth in the herd.
- Avoid the temptation to wander through strange yard sales, new thrift stores, or Craigslist ads for your (or adjoining) cities.
- Look straight ahead, with both hands firmly on the steering wheel, when driving through residential neighborhoods on “trash day”.
- Do not let anyone know you collect, repair, (or even use) old sewing machines lest you become the local foster home for wayward and orphan units.
- Have a “sponsor”, who you can call for an intervention, when you start to think eBay is a good place to find affordable, high-quality, “industrial-strength” vintage sewing machines (that will arrive at your home completely undamaged.)
- Learn to say “no, I’m stronger than this” if you suddenly find yourself climbing up on a dumpster behind the local Goodwill (in your Sunday clothes) because you thought you saw the LBOW colors of a vintage Singer peeking out.
Can I see a show of hands please?
Sewing Dude 
Ouch! That Hurt!
I’m not sure this is the correct place to leave a message about the 401 service manual, but what the hey.
I recently picked up an almost mint 401a at a rural antique store for $10. What a deal! And so begins my odyssey to collect feet, cams, presser stuff, and of course MANUALS. Thats where you come in. Your service manual made it possible for me reset the tension mechanism. YEA! And thank you so much for being there. Now I want to tinker with more …
The problem is, the scanned photos are hard to work out. Would you have access to a clearer version and would it be possible to for me to get one?
Thanks so much,
Joe
I think I failed most of those rules for vintage machine ownership…it’s a sickness, what can I say.
I linked up to your wonderful post on my blog today. Thanks for the giggles… I have my hand up for sure!
Have been a machinery mechanic most of my life, lots of grease. I have a 251-12 industrial set up to sew leather, a 401 that is a dream sticher, 2 403a’s that are in excelent shape. I still look for more good units. Yep I like to sew and work on them too. thanks for providing info on the 400 series units. Right on the copy and sell point.