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Singer 201- "The best sewing machine ever made"

During the “glory” days of Singer sewing machines, Singer produced the Model 201 from the 1930s to at least the 1950s. It was their best (and most expensive) machine. Thousands of these machines were produced, and most of them still sew today with as much precision and power as when they were first made.

Research the Singer 201 and you’ll find more than one reference stating that the 201 is the best sewing machine Singer has ever made. While I can’t say the same with authority (I haven’t tested every Singer machine ever made!), I haven’t found anything about the 201 that makes me disagree with that statement.

I really appreciate good mechanical and electronic gadgets. I like old Hammond clocks and organs, vintage tube amps and guitars, vintage sports cars, gadgets and gizmos like that. About 10 years ago (in a fit of midlife crisis) I bought a used Porsche 944. When I sit in the Singer 201 and press the pedal, I get a feeling very similar to driving the Porsche on the highway at too fast a speed: the smooth and comfortable feeling of perfectly working machinery.

I compare it to a Porsche, and have seen others compare it to driving a Ferrari! It’s really quality American iron from the days when that really meant something!

Singer produced at least four different versions of the 201:

201-1 – Pedal version

201-2 – Encapsulated Gear Driven Motor

201-3 – Outboard motor and belt drive

201-4 – Crank (factory original, not later conversion)

The 201 is a robust and heavy machine, it is not portable at all! This isn’t some slim and sexy sports car, this is a sleek and luxurious full-size grand tourer sedan! It’s built to last, but requires maintenance to perform at its best. You will need to grease it regularly and also grease the gears from time to time. You can unbolt the circular silver plate at the rear of the machine to reveal the gears and grease points. Use regular Singer sewing machine gear grease (not oil!). Use sewing machine oil only at recommended lubrication points. This rotary hook machine uses a Class 66 bobbin (means very little vibration, excellent stitch quality and easy to find bobbins).

The machine is easy to thread and easy to use. The fact that some of these machines are 80 years old and still outperforming modern machines is a telling point: they will probably last at least another 80 years! Keep them good and they’ll keep sewing, well, longer than you or I probably will!

One of the reasons the machine is so easy to use is that it is a straight stitch only machine. One stitch…but a beautiful, perfect straight stitch! You won’t find yourself “fighting” the 201 like you would with low-end plastic machines – less time fighting means less time fixing and redoing problems and less frustration!

Although the machine is straight stitch only, Singer and other vendors have created a host of accessories that offer a world of possibilities (freeform embroidery, buttonholes, zig-zag, blind hemming) – just about everything you want from a straight stitch machine. quality sewing. it is easily achievable.

Best of all, the prices tend to be really low (supply and demand: Singer made billions of these machines!). He will often pay far less than he would for a plastic import that may meet a deserved death after a few weeks or months of sporadic sewing, and get a sewing servant for life.

How should you view the Singer 201? Well, think of the Porsche/Ferrari analogy, except you bring the price down to under $100! This machine purrs like the well-made piece of machinery that it is. It feels “quality”, if you know what I mean. This machine will definitely be on your “keeper” list.

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