Model 301 Singer Sewing Machine
The 301
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IV. MODEL 301
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Additional info [ Rosie's Cupboard - 301 machine
|| A black 301 Singer machine ||
ISMACS 301 Sewing Machine info || Santilla 301 Machine ||
The Treadlers Villiage - 301 machine ||
How to thread the 301 Machine ||
FAQ's on the 301 Machine
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Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 17:59:36 -0400
From: Jgm1011@aol.com
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics Digest 9/22/95
In response to the question about the 301a, I own two of these machines and
really like them. True they do have a slant needle, but have the same bobbin
mechanism as the featherweight and seem to sew almost as well. They are
fairly light (16lb.vs.11lb for the featherweight and have a built in handle
for carrying. Mine are brown, but I know some people who have black ones(
these may be 301's). I have the attachments (they are exactly the same as the
ones that came with my featherweight) and an instruction manual. I highly
recommend this machine as an alternative to featherweights - I've been
wondering for some time why they hadn't gotten more recognition. Love all the
notes about featherweights - so informative and interesting. Sue M.
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Date: Sun, 1 Oct 1995 09:49:35 -0800
From: gjones@ccnet.com (Gordon D. Jones)
Subject: Singer sewing machines
I have several Singer 301A's. For those of you who do not know about this
excellent machine, here's the low down. The 301A is sort of a full size
Featherweight. It uses the same bobbin and hook mechanism as the FW and
has a folding cloth plate just like the FW. Since it is full size it
weighs about 5 lbs more than a FW, 15-16 lbs and has a folding handle built
into the top of the arm. Compare this with standard cast iron Singer or
one of the new machines on the market - most weigh about 25-30lbs. It has
a gear driven more powerful motor - you can't stop this baby. It is a
slant needle and the feed dogs can be retracted. The slant needle sews
just like a straight needle, there's no difference in the stitch forming
mechanism. The reason Singer went to a slant needle was to get the needle
forward of the arm for better visability. This is an advantage when doing
free hand machine quilting where you need to watch the needle position at
all times. I have a black 301A that's a portable, it came in a carring
case. It has a full size folding cloth table. I have a brown one that
came in a cabinet and the folding cloth table is smaller, everything else
is the same. Also have a brown and cream two-tone cabinet model.
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Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 17:33:26 -0400
From: KCQUILTER@aol.com
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics Digest
Secondly, someone asked about a 301A machine. It is a wonderful machine. I
carry mine on the plane in a soft sided case and place it under the seat in
front of me. It is gear driven so there aren't any electronic parts to mess
up. The stitch is perfect and I am sure you will love it as well as I do. I
want a FW but I don't want to give up my 301A because I am just attached to
it as everyone seems to be about the FW. I bought mine 301A last summer for
a 30 Anniversary trip. My husband love RC airplanes, so we went to Galveston
to a RC show for a week (My idea) and I was able to sew all day, no phones,
dishes, beds to make, errands to run, etc. Can you believe that was a
blessing for me to be able to sew from morning to night looking out a picture
window at the ocean while I sewed. I think it is time for another trip.
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Date: Mon, 23 Oct 1995 07:20:49 -0800
From: gjones@ccnet.com (Gordon D. Jones)
Subject: Singer 301
Someone asks about the Singer 301 again.
This is from Singer 301 manual copyright 1956
SINGER 301 FEATURES "AT YOUR SERVICE"
SMOOTHER STITCHING than ever before possible with this new, gear-driven,
lock-stitch machine.
QUIET, fast and efficient-- it whispers at high speeds.
FULL-VIEW work area. Inclined Needle Bar places work in your direct line of
vision.
PERFECT CONTROL -- even at "hand-stitch" speeds.
BALANCED MOTION of the new SINGER 301 prevents vibration.
EASY STARTING -- No coaxing necessary -- lightly press the knee or foot
control and your 301 starts to sew.
SIMPLE THREADING --no complicated diagrams are needed.
REVERSIBLE FEED for sewing either in a forward or backward direction --
easy to back tack and to fasten ends of seams.
PREFOCUSED LIGHT illuminates working area -- prevents eye strain.
CALIBRATED STITCH REGULATOR permits finger-tip control of stitch length.
STITCHING GUIDES, with graduated markings to guide seam width and turn
square corners.
VERSATILE --use it a a portable or cabinet machine.
EASY TO CARRY -- convenient handle is concealed in top of head.
LIGHT WEIGHT --full-sized aluminum head weighs only 16 pounds.
SELF-SETTING NEEDLE makes it impossible to insert needle incorrectly in clamp.
FEED THROW-OUT DEVICE permits darning and embroidering without attachments.
RECESSED BOBBIN WINDER --equipped with automatice stop -- it can't break or
tangle your thread.
HINGED BED EXTENSION permists quick and easy removal of bobbin.
HINGED FACE PLATE --Simplifies cleaning and oiling.
DIAL TENSION takes the guess work out of upper tension setting.
FLEXIBLE SPOOL PINS -- bend but do not break -- thread unreels smoothly and
easily.
COMPLETELY ENCLOSED motor and principal working parts insure maximum safety.
Gordy
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Date: 25 Nov 95 12:45:58 EST
From: "Shirley E. Senitza" 73002.1442@compuserve.com
Subject: VARIOUS FW & SINGER THOUGHTS
301 & 301A - It is my understand that the various newly-manufactured Singer
slant feet fit the 301 and 301A's, including the walking foot. Even if the foot
has a zigzag needle opening, you can still use it on your 301 straight stitch
machine. It is not necessary to seek out just old 301 attachments. There have
also been a lot of comments recently about the questionable beauty of the 301,
and I strong vote FOR it's appearance ;-) It has so much going for it,
mechanically, and my Singer expert thinks it will be the next really
collectible Singer. Check it out if you can--it has all the good mechanical
features of the FWs (which I dearly love), plus a couple extras. It does have a
more contemporary shaped head than the FW--kind of 50ish--but is that so bad?
It is also made of cast aluminum and weighs in at about 16 lb.--only 7 lb. more
than our beloved FWs. It had drop feed dogs, a stronger motor (so I am told)
and a better light system. The slanted angle of the needle makes for better
sewing visibility, too. It has a tidy little built-in folding top handle on the
head, for greater portability. Singer also made a folding card table for the
301--like the FW card tables, but with a little larger opening to fit the 301.
As you can tell by now, I have become a big fan of FW's "big sister", the 301
(black) and 301A (tan) machine.
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Date: Tue, 19 Dec 1995 14:10:00 -0800 (PST)
From: Kolleen Carrel (carrelk@ohsu.EDU)
Subject: Re: 301 facts
To Gail, Millie and Bryan, re: 301 Singer Sewing Machines.
There are several 301 converts out there. I am compiling a 301 Fact
Sheet, (need more input from you 301 owners, PLEASE) but here is what I
know so far:
Flat bed machine manufactured between 1953-59
Same bobbin, and bobbin case as FW
More powerful, gear-driven motor, better lighting system
Straight stitch, slant needle (Singers' first model with slant needle),
reverse stitch, drop feed dogs
Can use as portable or cabinet model, built-in handle in head
Weight: 16 pounds
3 colors: Black (has gold, decorative painting on base), Tan (no
decorations), and two-tone beige and cream.
Everyone I have corresponded with is very impressed with how well the 301
sews; it has a very smooth operation and is very quiet. Any of the
current slant needle attachments for Singer fit this machine. The
styling is very different from the 221; "boxy" and yet streamlined.
If you have an opportunity to get a 301, do it. My bet is that you will
be as surprised as I was at how enjoyable it is to sew on it - if you
don't like it, let me know. I have a list of people looking for them!
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Date: 24 Jan 96 07:08:10 EST
From: "Shirley E. Senitza" (73002.1442@compuserve.com)
Subject: 301 Table Description
To Lydia Pratt - On 1/16/96 you asked me describe my Singer 301 table.
Sorry, Lydia, that it has taken me this long to get back to you, but I
am just getting caught up on a couple Digests I received late. Anyway,
I will describe this table to you, as best I can. You sound like you
are familiar with the FW table, so I will start by saying that it is
very similar, but the main difference is the size of the cut-out to
fit the 301 machine. Oh, and it fits the 301 with the SHORT bed
extension, not the long one. The top measures 31.5" square. Like
the FW table, it has painted metal legs with a wood top. The work
surface is a varnished, natural wood finish. The apron is painted the
same tan as the 301A machines (I would call it more of a taupe shade),
but it is mitered at a slight in-ward angle, whereas, my FW table apron
is straight-sided. And, the legs are also painted the same tan color.
I could not spot a Singer part number on it, but I might just have missed
it. It does have the same kind of hardware underneath as the FW table,
so I do think it is a Singer product and not just home-made. Hope
this helps you spot one someday!
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Date: Wed, 01 May 1996 19:57:06 -0400
From: Claudette Roy-Viall (Cviall@umassd.edu)
Subject: SM ID's;Re:FWFanatics 4/30/96
In answer to your question re: the 301, It has a
folding extension of the machine bed on the left of the needle
bar and has to be lifted in order to access the bobbin case
(very much like a FW). In fact, the Bobbin case and bobbin are
interchangable with the FW. There is also a fold up handle on
the top of the machine for carring purposes. The model number
is on the right side under the Singer seal. Light is under the
horizontal arm with a rotating knob as on/off switch.
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Subject: 301 Survey Results-Part 2
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 20:19:00 -0500
Since sending Part 1, I've received one more survey (thanks, Sheila!). =
It won't change anything in Part 1, but now the total machines will be =
20. For this next part, I thought about just charting the figures, but =
I 'm afraid it would get all broken up in transmission (esp. with my =3D =
problem :) ) So I'll try to summarize raw numbers and possible =
patterns.
PLUG CONFIGURATIONS: I apologize for not clarifying this at the =
outset-I hope everyone now understands what this means.
12 DOUBLES-all also were short beds*
8 SINGLES-mix of long and short beds
OF 301s-six doubles, one single
OF 301As-six doubles, seven singles
EXTENSION BEDS
5 LONG BEDS-all had single plugs, four had carrying cases (one had none)
14 SHORT BEDS-11 double plugs, 3 single plugs; includes all the cabinet =
and table machines, but also two carrying case machines.
1 LONG, but looks like the bed has been replaced. When it is the =
exception to an otherwise unanimous trait, I've put an *.
OF 301s-all surveyed had short beds*
OF 301As-8 short and 4 long beds
CARRYING CASE, CABINET, TABLE OR NONE
7 CABINETS
7 CARRYING CASES (one soft-sided)
2 TABLES
4 NONE
OF 301s-3 cabinets, 2 cases, 1 table, 1 none
OF 301As-4 cabinets, 5 cases, 1 table, 3 none
COLOR OF MACHINE
9 BLACK, 9 COCOA (or TAN), 2 TWO-TONE
OF 301s-6 were black, 1 cocoa
OF 301As-3 were black, 8 cocoa, 2 two-tone
If this all seems a little muddy to you, it's because it IS muddy! My
summary of the whole thing is that there really weren't consistent
differences between the 301 and 301A, at least from the items we
surveyed. For a long time, it looked like all 301s WERE black, then we
got one cocoa. I thought perhaps the few black 301As would turn out to
be "transitional", bearing the lowest SNs of the 301As. That didn't
hold either. While the 301s are all short beds*, they aren't all
cabinet or table models, or even double plugs. Machines that have
cabinets do all have short beds and all but one have double plugs. But
there are other combinations of short beds and double plugs, too. And
none of those fall exclusively to either the 301 or the 301A. It would
be fun if we had discovered some neat difference between the two, but
looking at the serial numbers, I think the safest thing to say from our
survey is that the 301s were made first, then the 301A. You might even
be able to say that MOST 301s are black and MOST 301As are cocoa or
two-tone. If anyone sees something I missed, or would like something
clarified, please e-mail me.
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