That is the EXACT machine my mother had forever. She made clothes for herself, 7 children, and suits for my dad. You put a smile on my face. This story is about a lovely exchange of human graciousness, thrift, generosity, and community. Beautiful!
I cried during this. My Aunt sewed at her Singer since 1935 and I have so many good memories of chatting with her while she mended clothes. Thanks for the memories
Oh, I'm not sure if I should say "I'm sorry" or "you're welcome" but I hope it was the good kind of crying. If your nostalgia is related to this machine particularily, you would probably really enjoy my Hobbit Housecoat video, it's very sentimental and features heavily my heirloom machine (the original one I grew up with that's the same model as this one)!!
I bought myself one exactly like that at an auction because I learned to sew on an upscale version (ALL THE CAMS were included). Later, I acquired my mom's machine when she moved in with my sister. ALSO all the cams. Since then, I have been haunted by these machines and I succumbed to one more at a Thrift Store for $5.(No cams). My machine repair shop says these things could sew two Buicks together.
omg, sew two Buicks together... it's probably true! I've sewn a ton of leather boots on my family's 301, and it'll go through SO MANY layers. That's definitely one of the reasons that I love these things! Plus it just has that hit of nostalgia, being the same model as my childhood machine
(We are not counting the serger, the antique foot powered decorative machine, the embroidery machine, the Featherlight (I had two but gave one to a friend.) I am only counting my singers. The antique toys that acturally do chain stitch don't count either. (I am trying to stop.)
I have this Singer 301. It is worth its weight in gold. Easy to clean and maintain. The stitches are perfect. Can be used as a stand alone on top of a table or desk. Has handle and easy to transport. Get rid of the table it came with. Keep the medal cradle machine comes in to use on a different sewing table or desk. Keep the cord with the foot pedal.. it is as good or better then a Featherweight machine in my opinion. Hope to see you sew on it soon. It is a slant shaft machine. Made easier to see needle when sewing.
Wow - that is certainly a 10 out of 10 on the "who could have seen this happening" scale! Please bring us along as you rehab it - those old Singers are built like bricks, so I'm sure it will be a workhorse for you.
🎉10🎉 I don't even think there will be enough done to warrant a video, honestly, I think it's mostly aesthetic. And as much as I'd love to revamp/restore the table, I think it's in pretty sad state (and I REALLY don't have room for it in my apartment/bedroom... like I'd have to get rid of furniture to make room for it 😥). But at least an update post at some point!!
Best find ever! The best information you could ever find for servicing an old singer is from “Andy Tube” here on TH-cam. He has a whole series on the 301’s, full of detailed information. The cradle was the accessory to make the portable 301 machine fit into the standard cabinets. To remove the machine from the cabinet, don’t unscrew anything just push down on the cradle lever and lift it out. (Best seen @4:17) if you want to fit this gem into a different cabinet then you’ll need to unscrew the cradle and move it to the new cabinet. l went happily down a rabbit hole with these machines. There are beige ones, black ones and the two toned ones. There are long beds, short beds and many accessories, not to mention, a beautiful trapezoid carrying case. (something to keep an eye out for while on your walks) You can sew anything from silk to leather on them. What’s not to love about a rescue like that? You deserve it, and it deserves someone like you. Thanks for making this video, what a thrill.
Thank you for the lovely resource, and I’m glad it’s in the comments both so that other ppl can see it, but also so that I can’t lose it 😂😂 I’ll definitely go check the channel out and do some research before switching it over, but preliminary glance looked fairly straightforward, and I’m pretty handy, so I’m not tooooo worried, but I also like to do things well, so…. Now I just need the time to look into all this!
Hah! I think my favorite part of this was you talking yourself out of picking up that additional cabinet 🤣 Awesome he lent you the dolly. I think that would've been a rough trek otherwise!
: ) does little Canelle understand what's happening when you suddenly get excited when you spot something along your walks? You certainly deserve to get great gifts from the curbside gods with your dedication to recycling discarded items and not buying new!
How exciting! I've found this video because I'm looking for machines like this one. I inherited an attic piece, so this one didn't come with a table but I found a LOVELY 1956 table for free too. I'm so excited to see what this machine can make.
Almost the same model as my mom’s. A workhorse of a machine that retains perfect tension. When my mom was ready to give up her machine, I couldn’t take it. I already had a secondhand Hasquarna that is also super. Still I kind of miss my mom’s machine now that she’s gone.
The machine head does come out of the table, two screws, flat head. Just so you know next time you find a free 301! I'm thrilled for you. That machine also has the same bobbin case and bobbins as a Featherweight! Just in case you find tat next. Of course you found the exact same machine! You deserve it! Wonderful creator and generous to share with all of us! Super inspiring!
Thank you, that'll come in handy later today/tomorrow when I most likely try to transfer the machine to my antique treadle table (that is missing it's original machine 😥)! I don't even know what I'd do if I found a featherweight - I mean, I know what I'd *WANT* to do, but already I have.... four machines?! and one teeny tiny room in an apartment to keep them... If I find a featherweight, I'm gonna have to buy a house just to store them in XD
Wow, what a great find! I guess Karma just thought, well looks who's here, let's give her a treat. If the table is saveable use it instead of the older one, who knows what you'll find next. Miko says: "We always find the best things on our walkies, too! You see how good it is to have a dog! Whoof and high five to Canelle."
I will definitely go over the table again today, with proper light and a fresh brain, but it looked in quite rough shape yesterday and with the size of my apartment, I basically have to choose between antique or vintage table 😭😭 But it's true that none of this would have happened if we weren't out going for a walk!! 🐕
Love your find! Bought a new Singer (after my JC Penney wonder died after 47 years). I am thrilled to go over heavier fabrics for hems and repairs! Your machine is a 10!
I am sooooo happy for you. Somebody who volunteers at a house clearing charity just gave me a knitting machine from there because they just dump them usually and nobody will buy them. He already found me the PERFECT sewing machine for daughter. If anyone's interested, it's an Erka 40, which seems to be exacly the same as a Brother KH-860 and is in perfect working order with all the accessorories except the punch cards and manual. I haven't been able to get any swatches off it yet because it's a steep learning curve but saving it from the dump gives me joy. I don't want to buy anything new anymore if I can help it. There are already enough manmade things on this planet.
Self confessed Singer hoarder here, I have 18 of the beauties! I got bitten by the sewing machine bug really bad, who would have thought that one day I would become obsessed with sewing machines! But these vintage Singers are so well made, they will outlive us all!!
Wow, 18 is amazing!! If I had the space, I could easily see that being me… ppl just give them away so much (found 2 nearly identical hand crank Singers for free in Denmark within a few months of arriving a few years ago)!!
I actually got my sewing machine from an ewaste pile set out by a neighbor. I knocked on the door and hollered over the fence to ask if I could have it and figured she wouldn't mind if it was already just being put out for waste. Come to find out she thought I had a sewing machine already and it was her Mother in Laws that was only used 3 or 4 times. I love it and have used it for over a decade now. Its getting a tune up and a new foot pedal since the one it came with has started over heating. It is from the 70's and still going strong.
That is a literal "trash to treasure" find! You will get so much pleasure from it and it isn't heading to the landfill, the odds of it being the exact model you know so well are huge. I love vintage and antique machines they are just amazing and meant to last for generations.
Congratulations on such a great find! 12 out of 10! I would have flipped and carried it home by hand if I had to, even if it took over an hour from having to take frequent breaks. The fact that it’s an exact model you’re very familiar with AND it still functions is absolutely ridiculous luck!!! Look forward to seeing you tune it up and sew on this ‘new’ old beauty.
Sometimes you don’t find the vintage sewing machine life, the vintage sewing machine life finds you 😉 It can be addictive- you’ll start seeing them everywhere. I have never paid more than $50 for a VSM and I’ve turned it into a bit of a hobby- finding free-ish machines, restoring them, then gifting them in a mutual aid group that serves refugee families.
Yea, it's dangerous for sure! I had two free antique (Featherweight-ish) machines that I picked up in Copenhagen, but I didn't use them enough for it to be worth bringing them back to MTL, plus I can probably just find some more here if I really want to work with the antique machines (where I'd store them though...that's a whole other dilemma XD )
Congratulations what a great find! I recently inherited my husbands old table and machine that's pretty rough. It's sitting in the garage while I contemplate what to do.
So many people trash these wonderful machines thinking that plastic is better(not kidding! I have heard this said) The 301A is a classic and well built machine that deserves to be taken care of. Congrats!
Im partial to the table. I have that exact same table. My mother's sewing machine lives in that very table. And that machine works FAR better than any other machine i could purchase today. Im keeping that for the rest of my days. Funnily enough, im working on configuring a sewing room of my own.
Yea, unfortunately this table is hot garbage, and doesn't look like it's quality enough wood to be able to salvage, but I have an empty Singer treadle table that's missing it's machine, so I think I'm going to put it in there as soon as the weather gets nice enough to work outside again! BEST sewing machine though, I totally agree!
I know this video is 9 months old now, but congratulations on the singer sewing machine find! I have the 401A from the same series as yours that I've restored from a similar situation as how you acquired your own, and I absolutely love it!! Again congratulations on the find and I hope it cleaned up well for you!
What a blessing! Finding it on the street and for free!!! Knowing all the ins and outs of a machine make it so much easier to use. Plus the fact it’s like the one you learned on makes it that much nicer. My 30+ yr old Bernina disappeared from a repair man it had been dropped off at. (that’s another long story!) A year later my kids found a used one exactly like mine, had it serviced, and gave it to me for Christmas. ❤ I was so excited! One of the nicest gifts I’ve ever gotten. My old machine was totally mechanical. No computer chips as I have a troubled relationship with Tech. Getting exactly the same model was fabulous. Nothing to learn! It works exactly like my old one did. Hope your new find works as well as your Grandmothers. 10\10
Oh no, I’m sorry yours disappeared… although it was very nice of your kids to find a replacement for it! 💜💙❤️ it’s definitely going to be nice to NOT have to learn a new machine!!
Thanks so much!! I was super pumped about that find (and now that the weather might be nice enough to be on the balcony, hopefully I can get it into a proper table in the coming months)
Nice: Here's a free sewing machine. Canadian nice: Here's a free sewing machine. I am not sure if it works, but if you tell me what you need, I will help you test it. I know it's kind of heavy, so here's a dolly so you can get it home okay. Also, I found some other stuff that I thought you would like based on the five minute conversation we had. The world needs more Canadians.
You found a Singer 301, all gear driven (no belts) and the bobbin case is the same bobbin case that fits the Singer Featherweights that every quilter owns or wants. The bobbin case in that 301 is worth over $60! I have 80 vintage sewing machines including 12 Featherweights but the Singer 301 is a MUCH better sewing machine. I have at least four of them. The black ones are the most desirable. They also come in short and long flip-up beds. Keep the cabinet in which it came. That is one thing I don’t have but I do have a wood “card table” made for the 301s. You really scored on that find and it was definitely meant for you. You can Google and download a manual for it, too.
Great find! Not ridiculous at all. My Aunt Elma had one either the same or close to it. I miss the old machines that came in cabinets. We had a Kenmore sewing machine as I was growing up. I can't wait to see the set up once you get the cabinet cleaned up. Today I'm waiting for my new machine to arrive in the mail. Bought a Singer heavy duty with 350+ decorative stitches. I really want a Sail-Rite machine, which will sew heavy canvas and leather with ease. However I don't have $1,100. Also waiting for six different fabrics to arrive. All were clearance and what I was wanting. My sons helped me out with buying it. 😊
That is so awesome. My mom had one just like it. She sewed all my clothes on it. Ot ran excellently. When she died my friend asked if she could have it. I already had an updated machine. Of course. Just clean it goid and oil it! Like you!
Yes, I'm so thrilled with the find! And so lovely of you to pass on your mother's machine to your friend... keep the love for sewing (and good quality machines) going!
I share your joy! I found a vintage Singer on the verge. It works, although I got the power cord replaced pretty quickly. It was made in 1947, in Glasgow, and was one of 22 machines sent to Brisbane to start up the clothing industry there and provide employment. So it is older then me, yet works better than I do!!! :)
Oh that's absolutely fantastic that you were able to get so much of a backstory on it - did you get it all from the serial number, or did you have to dig around a bit more?
What a find! Can't wait to see you get it in working order and what you make with it. I have 2 - 1970s model Sears Kenmore machines. Work horses for sure.
La générosité canadienne en action!Ce qui fait le plus chaud au cœur après la découverte de la machine,c'est la sollicitude du propriétaire qui fournit courant,trolley et réunit encore d'autres articles à donner.....
Oui, c'était effectivement une experience très canadienne!!! Puis en fait, quand j'ai retourné avec le trolley, il m'a fait visiter tout l'appart qu'il est en train de rénover, on a parler ( dans la sense quebecois 😉) des outils, il m'a donner les ciseaux, etc!!
10 out of 10! I love it. Here in Amsterdam we have found many treasures, alas, our apartment is very small, so we have to be very selective about what comes home with us.
🎉10🎉 Alas, my apartment is... incredibly small too, and shared with three other people, so I have just a big room to myself. So I'm thinking that I'll probably have to scrap the table (which is in really bad shape already), and transfer the machine over to my antique treadle table
That’s awesome! Did you give them your contact information so maybe they could contact you when they set items out to the curb? Or do you just plan on camping out on that corner every garbage day? I think that having nostalgic items, to use, makes every activity better and easier to do. Love this for you!!!!
I suppose I could have given my contact info, but I didn't (they had already given most other stuff out to the curb earlier on in the reno process), but I did make it clear that I pass by often and live in the neighborhood, so if the door's open, it doesn't feel too odd to stick my head in and say, "hi" and see how the apartment is progressing! And yea, nostaligic items can really carry an intangible weight that is just delightful!
Great find! WoW! Happy dancing 💃🏻 And luckily you are an atlete, I wouldn’t have had a chance dragging it upstairs. But sure I would have done everything to find some help 😁
I just push a metal lever (to the left) on the metal machine holder under my 301 and lift the sewing machine out (after disconnecting the electric plugs). The Singer 301 is a true portable sewing machine.
what a bonus, if you haven't done so yet, get some mineral spirits (not oil, SPIRITS), use it to clean it out with ventilation, be safe , cover eyes & hands, clean out all parts, you'll likely see black grease, clean all that out too ( means it's old lol), head to your local auto shop & grab a tube of white grease ( little dab will do ya around those gears), then oil as normal love. great old machine.
Thanks for the tips! I'm a member of a vintage Singer machine FB group too, so I'll probably poke around there as well, see if Dave the expert has other pointers I can follow :-D
It's not my group, but it's called "Vintage Singer Sewing Machines UK" (clearly focused on the UK, because sometimes there's selling, but you don't have to be living there to be part of the group)
I do have an old Singer with Tabel and Footpedal it is full functional at least when I will enter a new leatherband into the pedal wheel. I am looking forward to do this in the next weeks.
What a fantastic find. Thanks for showing it to us - I completely get your excitement. In my city, people often put things out and while I've found some amazing treasures (working oval slow cooker, books, curtains) the best has been a cake mixer with bowls and attachments (I must give it a whirl and see how well it goes). Last year I took my two machines to be services - a Featherweight (50's) and a Style-O-Matic (60's) - and the person doing the servicing asked if I'd swap my not very good 60s machine for a better one he had. The reason being he wouldn't feel bad pulling mine apart for parts whereas the one he had was too good to do that to. So I jumped at that and now have a much better machine. At second hand shops I've found feet, cams and other attachments for my machines and it's great as they both take the same feet.
Ooh, a cake mixer, that's a real treasure, and the one kitchen device I have yet to get a hold of... what a lucky find!!! And definitely agreed with you that thrift stores can be great places to find miscellaneous sewing machine parts (provided it fits with your machine, and it seems like you've gotten lucky enough that they do, which is just brilliant)!!
Thank you!! Was I supposed to be using the rest of the evening to try and finish the cape embroidery? Yes... Was this absolutely worth the distraction? Heck yes!!
This is my 2nd video of yours ive seen. The first was a surprise bot recommendation about the making of your Hobbit coat and i was blown away. The 301 is one of my favorite vintage machines, stronger than the featherweight. I'm sure by now you know it could be popped out of its cabinet cradle. I currently have 3 of them but downsizing. I've become a hoarder of fabric and vintage machines planning for a phase of Someday projects but there's no possibility of 3+ lifetimes. I've bookmarked your site and am looking forward to riding on your coat tails as I follow your adventures. Thank you!
That's awesome! I have the black version of this (among 30 other vintage machines) and I restore them. If you need any help let me know. If you get rid of the table, keep the metal cradle that the machine sits in, it's worth money!
Oh, that's fantastic to know - do you have an IG or somewhere I can follow you? I also don't know that this has a metal cradle? But then again, I didn't spend much time looking inside of it beyond checking that the bobbin holder was there, and that the machine folded away as it should. I will definitely keep that in mind for when I do open it :-)
When you tilt the machine back there are two small screws that hold it in. Only have to loosen them to take it out. The cradle is the metal tray left in the table. If your are going to put this machine into another table, you'll need the cradle likely too
Ahhh, yea, that makes sense. Yes, I think I'll try and pop it in my antique treadle machine, but of course the cavities of the tables aren't the same size, so I'll probably just have to build a custom box to hold the 301's cradle, and set the whole thing inside the treadle cavity.
Oh wow! It's so funny what sewing machines will go for, because on the one hand, to someone who knows how to sew and knows the quality of vintage machines, they ARE worth a lot, but at the same time, there is also a shortage of people who use and appreciate sewing machines, and so often the market is flooded with cheap or even free machines (and good quality ones) and cabinets.... either way, I'm super lucky to now have TWO of these in my life!
Oh my goodness I went to our local tip to throwaway some rubbish that got missed on bin night, I found an old singer sewing machine case and all just sitting on the retaining wall next to the dumpster along with a solid metal security case as well so I just had to take them both😹😹I still need to check out the machine but it it does not work it’s still spare parts for my other singer machine. But will check online first to see if there are parts I can find first😹😹I forgot how heavy the older sewing machines are compared to todays fancy ones.
I mean, you would know!! There's a reason it caught my eye from a half block away - plus their table has a cute little hidden drawer for the button-hole attachment, which is still in it's original case with the paperwork, and looks like it's in great shape! Not used to that knee lever though... 🤔
Rather than saying it's ridiculous, I would say it's serendipitous 12 out of 10
That is the EXACT machine my mother had forever. She made clothes for herself, 7 children, and suits for my dad. You put a smile on my face. This story is about a lovely exchange of human graciousness, thrift, generosity, and community. Beautiful!
Lovely!!!
i was very excited about the bonus scissors.
me too!!
A Singer 301--a contender for the best machine Singer ever made!
definitely!
I agree! It is gear driven, no belts to replace or adjust.
My preferred daily user. Easy and perfect stitches. You struck gold. It is a slant shank straight stitch. Enjoy it to the max.
Grandma had a hand in that for sure. How lovely!
I cried during this. My Aunt sewed at her Singer since 1935 and I have so many good memories of chatting with her while she mended clothes. Thanks for the memories
Oh, I'm not sure if I should say "I'm sorry" or "you're welcome" but I hope it was the good kind of crying. If your nostalgia is related to this machine particularily, you would probably really enjoy my Hobbit Housecoat video, it's very sentimental and features heavily my heirloom machine (the original one I grew up with that's the same model as this one)!!
I bought myself one exactly like that at an auction because I learned to sew on an upscale version (ALL THE CAMS were included). Later, I acquired my mom's machine when she moved in with my sister. ALSO all the cams. Since then, I have been haunted by these machines and I succumbed to one more at a Thrift Store for $5.(No cams). My machine repair shop says these things could sew two Buicks together.
omg, sew two Buicks together... it's probably true! I've sewn a ton of leather boots on my family's 301, and it'll go through SO MANY layers. That's definitely one of the reasons that I love these things! Plus it just has that hit of nostalgia, being the same model as my childhood machine
It is almost a mania but I have stopped at 3.
(We are not counting the serger, the antique foot powered decorative machine, the embroidery machine, the Featherlight (I had two but gave one to a friend.) I am only counting my singers. The antique toys that acturally do chain stitch don't count either. (I am trying to stop.)
@Roxanne Dillie Should there be a prolonged power outage you are set! Well done, ye!!
I have this Singer 301. It is worth its weight in gold. Easy to clean and maintain. The stitches are perfect. Can be used as a stand alone on top of a table or desk. Has handle and easy to transport. Get rid of the table it came with. Keep the medal cradle machine comes in to use on a different sewing table or desk. Keep the cord with the foot pedal.. it is as good or better then a Featherweight machine in my opinion. Hope to see you sew on it soon. It is a slant shaft machine. Made easier to see needle when sewing.
Wow - that is certainly a 10 out of 10 on the "who could have seen this happening" scale! Please bring us along as you rehab it - those old Singers are built like bricks, so I'm sure it will be a workhorse for you.
🎉10🎉 I don't even think there will be enough done to warrant a video, honestly, I think it's mostly aesthetic. And as much as I'd love to revamp/restore the table, I think it's in pretty sad state (and I REALLY don't have room for it in my apartment/bedroom... like I'd have to get rid of furniture to make room for it 😥). But at least an update post at some point!!
a 10/10 improbable scenario, but also a little gift from fate! And the man who gave it away seem very friendly too
Best find ever! The best information you could ever find for servicing an old singer is from “Andy Tube” here on TH-cam. He has a whole series on the 301’s, full of detailed information. The cradle was the accessory to make the portable 301 machine fit into the standard cabinets. To remove the machine from the cabinet, don’t unscrew anything just push down on the cradle lever and lift it out. (Best seen @4:17) if you want to fit this gem into a different cabinet then you’ll need to unscrew the cradle and move it to the new cabinet. l went happily down a rabbit hole with these machines. There are beige ones, black ones and the two toned ones. There are long beds, short beds and many accessories, not to mention, a beautiful trapezoid carrying case. (something to keep an eye out for while on your walks) You can sew anything from silk to leather on them. What’s not to love about a rescue like that? You deserve it, and it deserves someone like you. Thanks for making this video, what a thrill.
Thank you for the lovely resource, and I’m glad it’s in the comments both so that other ppl can see it, but also so that I can’t lose it 😂😂 I’ll definitely go check the channel out and do some research before switching it over, but preliminary glance looked fairly straightforward, and I’m pretty handy, so I’m not tooooo worried, but I also like to do things well, so…. Now I just need the time to look into all this!
lolololol
I love the " step away from the furnisher and no one will get hurt" :D
Hah! I think my favorite part of this was you talking yourself out of picking up that additional cabinet 🤣
Awesome he lent you the dolly. I think that would've been a rough trek otherwise!
Haha yea, even I have to draw the limit *somewhere* 🤣🤣 and apparently it’s one piece of furniture per day!
: ) does little Canelle understand what's happening when you suddenly get excited when you spot something along your walks? You certainly deserve to get great gifts from the curbside gods with your dedication to recycling discarded items and not buying new!
I think poor Cannelle probably rolls her eyes and thinks, “oh no, not this again” 🤣🤣
How exciting! I've found this video because I'm looking for machines like this one. I inherited an attic piece, so this one didn't come with a table but I found a LOVELY 1956 table for free too. I'm so excited to see what this machine can make.
The universe is definitely smiling on you!
Apparently, and you know what... I'm not even complaining!
Almost the same model as my mom’s. A workhorse of a machine that retains perfect tension. When my mom was ready to give up her machine, I couldn’t take it. I already had a secondhand Hasquarna that is also super. Still I kind of miss my mom’s machine now that she’s gone.
Brilliant, 10 out of 10!!! And the price was zero, couldn't get better... ❤❤❤❤❤
Totally agree!
That’s the machine I got for graduation in 1976. Mom had the same machine which is black… which was her graduation present in 1952.
The machine head does come out of the table, two screws, flat head. Just so you know next time you find a free 301! I'm thrilled for you. That machine also has the same bobbin case and bobbins as a Featherweight! Just in case you find tat next. Of course you found the exact same machine! You deserve it! Wonderful creator and generous to share with all of us! Super inspiring!
Thank you, that'll come in handy later today/tomorrow when I most likely try to transfer the machine to my antique treadle table (that is missing it's original machine 😥)! I don't even know what I'd do if I found a featherweight - I mean, I know what I'd *WANT* to do, but already I have.... four machines?! and one teeny tiny room in an apartment to keep them... If I find a featherweight, I'm gonna have to buy a house just to store them in XD
Wow, what a great find! I guess Karma just thought, well looks who's here, let's give her a treat.
If the table is saveable use it instead of the older one, who knows what you'll find next.
Miko says: "We always find the best things on our walkies, too! You see how good it is to have a dog! Whoof and high five to Canelle."
I will definitely go over the table again today, with proper light and a fresh brain, but it looked in quite rough shape yesterday and with the size of my apartment, I basically have to choose between antique or vintage table 😭😭 But it's true that none of this would have happened if we weren't out going for a walk!! 🐕
Love your find! Bought a new Singer (after my JC Penney wonder died after 47 years). I am thrilled to go over heavier fabrics for hems and repairs! Your machine is a 10!
Wow good pick up 👍🦘🦘
I am sooooo happy for you. Somebody who volunteers at a house clearing charity just gave me a knitting machine from there because they just dump them usually and nobody will buy them. He already found me the PERFECT sewing machine for daughter.
If anyone's interested, it's an Erka 40, which seems to be exacly the same as a Brother KH-860 and is in perfect working order with all the accessorories except the punch cards and manual. I haven't been able to get any swatches off it yet because it's a steep learning curve but saving it from the dump gives me joy. I don't want to buy anything new anymore if I can help it. There are already enough manmade things on this planet.
Ooo, I love hearing that! 🧶♻️ Hope you get it working eventually, and thanks for watching!
Self confessed Singer hoarder here, I have 18 of the beauties! I got bitten by the sewing machine bug really bad, who would have thought that one day I would become obsessed with sewing machines! But these vintage Singers are so well made, they will outlive us all!!
Wow, 18 is amazing!! If I had the space, I could easily see that being me… ppl just give them away so much (found 2 nearly identical hand crank Singers for free in Denmark within a few months of arriving a few years ago)!!
I actually got my sewing machine from an ewaste pile set out by a neighbor. I knocked on the door and hollered over the fence to ask if I could have it and figured she wouldn't mind if it was already just being put out for waste. Come to find out she thought I had a sewing machine already and it was her Mother in Laws that was only used 3 or 4 times. I love it and have used it for over a decade now. Its getting a tune up and a new foot pedal since the one it came with has started over heating. It is from the 70's and still going strong.
That’s fantastic!!
My mother had this sewing machine. Great fine, hope it works great.
You were soooo lucky to find that. I’m excited for you!❤
That is a literal "trash to treasure" find! You will get so much pleasure from it and it isn't heading to the landfill, the odds of it being the exact model you know so well are huge. I love vintage and antique machines they are just amazing and meant to last for generations.
Yessss, yes to all of the above!! Vintage machines are great, and I'm so happy to have found and rescued this one!
I love it! In my youth I hauled heavy things like that three flights of stairs. I cannot anymore but love to see you do it.💕
Congratulations on such a great find! 12 out of 10! I would have flipped and carried it home by hand if I had to, even if it took over an hour from having to take frequent breaks. The fact that it’s an exact model you’re very familiar with AND it still functions is absolutely ridiculous luck!!! Look forward to seeing you tune it up and sew on this ‘new’ old beauty.
Yes, I was completely prepared to haul it home by hand, even with the dog, I didn’t even care, but the trolly was definitely an improvement!!
In my way of thinking a wonderful blessing meant 2 delite + please U. Congrats.
In my way of thinking a wonderful blessing meant 2 delite + please U. Congrats.
What a find!! Meant to be. Youre my absolute favourite artist. There is art and beauty in everything you do.
Thank you!! 🥰🥰
Love vintage machines ❤
Congratulations on an amazing find! Those old Singers are workhorses! Enjoy,
Thank you! 😘
My sister and I each have the same model Singer sewing machine our mother used. Nostalgia goes a long way in bringing comfort.
So true!!
Sometimes you don’t find the vintage sewing machine life, the vintage sewing machine life finds you 😉 It can be addictive- you’ll start seeing them everywhere. I have never paid more than $50 for a VSM and I’ve turned it into a bit of a hobby- finding free-ish machines, restoring them, then gifting them in a mutual aid group that serves refugee families.
Yea, it's dangerous for sure! I had two free antique (Featherweight-ish) machines that I picked up in Copenhagen, but I didn't use them enough for it to be worth bringing them back to MTL, plus I can probably just find some more here if I really want to work with the antique machines (where I'd store them though...that's a whole other dilemma XD )
Congratulations what a great find! I recently inherited my husbands old table and machine that's pretty rough. It's sitting in the garage while I contemplate what to do.
I was 50 at the time. I'm 78 now. I still sew! Wish i lived closer to the fabric warehouse!
Huzzah! That's fantastic... and if you ever find yourself in the Minnesota area, you know where to head ;-)
So many people trash these wonderful machines thinking that plastic is better(not kidding! I have heard this said) The 301A is a classic and well built machine that deserves to be taken care of. Congrats!
Thank you!
Im partial to the table. I have that exact same table. My mother's sewing machine lives in that very table. And that machine works FAR better than any other machine i could purchase today. Im keeping that for the rest of my days. Funnily enough, im working on configuring a sewing room of my own.
Yea, unfortunately this table is hot garbage, and doesn't look like it's quality enough wood to be able to salvage, but I have an empty Singer treadle table that's missing it's machine, so I think I'm going to put it in there as soon as the weather gets nice enough to work outside again! BEST sewing machine though, I totally agree!
I know this video is 9 months old now, but congratulations on the singer sewing machine find! I have the 401A from the same series as yours that I've restored from a similar situation as how you acquired your own, and I absolutely love it!! Again congratulations on the find and I hope it cleaned up well for you!
Thank you! I haven't gotten to spend nearly as much time on it as I would have liked, but they're SUCH good machines, I'm so happy I found it!
That's a 59.5 on a scale of 10! WOW!!!! Congratulations, Shannon!
🎉59.5🎉you broke the scale!!! Yes, I’m quite excited 😆
What a blessing! Finding it on the street and for free!!! Knowing all the ins and outs of a machine make it so much easier to use. Plus the fact it’s like the one you learned on makes it that much nicer. My 30+ yr old Bernina disappeared from a repair man it had been dropped off at. (that’s another long story!) A year later my kids found a used one exactly like mine, had it serviced, and gave it to me for Christmas. ❤ I was so excited! One of the nicest gifts I’ve ever gotten. My old machine was totally mechanical. No computer chips as I have a troubled relationship with Tech. Getting exactly the same model was fabulous. Nothing to learn! It works exactly like my old one did. Hope your new find works as well as your Grandmothers. 10\10
Oh no, I’m sorry yours disappeared… although it was very nice of your kids to find a replacement for it! 💜💙❤️ it’s definitely going to be nice to NOT have to learn a new machine!!
What a fantastic gift! You raised some truly thoughtful children.
Lady Luck is on your side! Great machine!
Your luck is incredible 😂 congratulations on such an epic find. Your enthusiasm and energy is just amazing in this video, thank you for sharing
Thanks so much!! I was super pumped about that find (and now that the weather might be nice enough to be on the balcony, hopefully I can get it into a proper table in the coming months)
Get that free furniture Shannon!
💪💪💪 Yesssss!
Nice: Here's a free sewing machine.
Canadian nice: Here's a free sewing machine. I am not sure if it works, but if you tell me what you need, I will help you test it. I know it's kind of heavy, so here's a dolly so you can get it home okay. Also, I found some other stuff that I thought you would like based on the five minute conversation we had.
The world needs more Canadians.
omg, it's so true!!! 100% more Canadians needed in the world
Crazy Fabulous!!! Law od attraction 😂🎉🎉🎉
Wow! What a nice find, especially with a knee controller!
Right?! I have never used a knee controller before, but I think now is a good time to learn!!
@@ShannonMakes a knee controller is always handy with delicate work that needs two hands at the fabric.
Solid 7 I mean you do put yourself in the position for these kinds of happy happenings
Yea, I spotted that thing from half a block away, like *screeeech, violently changing directions* I'd know that silhouette anywhere!
Love the machine and cabinet.
I can't wait until you have it working!!
Me neither
You found a Singer 301, all gear driven (no belts) and the bobbin case is the same bobbin case that fits the Singer Featherweights that every quilter owns or wants. The bobbin case in that 301 is worth over $60! I have 80 vintage sewing machines including 12 Featherweights but the Singer 301 is a MUCH better sewing machine. I have at least four of them. The black ones are the most desirable. They also come in short and long flip-up beds. Keep the cabinet in which it came. That is one thing I don’t have but I do have a wood “card table” made for the 301s. You really scored on that find and it was definitely meant for you. You can Google and download a manual for it, too.
thank you! I know how to use it already tho, like I said, I grew up using this model :-)
I swear, that machine is identical to the one I learned on as well! 🤣
The stand as well when I think about it......
Nice!! The 301 is such a great machine, I made SO many things on mine!
Great find! Not ridiculous at all. My Aunt Elma had one either the same or close to it. I miss the old machines that came in cabinets. We had a Kenmore sewing machine as I was growing up. I can't wait to see the set up once you get the cabinet cleaned up.
Today I'm waiting for my new machine to arrive in the mail. Bought a Singer heavy duty with 350+ decorative stitches. I really want a Sail-Rite machine, which will sew heavy canvas and leather with ease. However I don't have $1,100. Also waiting for six different fabrics to arrive. All were clearance and what I was wanting. My sons helped me out with buying it. 😊
Wow sounds like you’re gonna be all set!! 😊☺️
What a great curbside find! Here in the states we call this Curbside picking or Curbside diving!
Glad you enjoyed it!
This was absolutely ridiculously amazing and fun!😂
🥳🥳🥳
I love it!!! My dear departed Mr Yipper used to demand long walks. I found so much useful stuff out walking him.
Long walks are the absolute best for finding treasures!! 🥰🥰
Absolutely amazing!! Great find, Shannon. 👏😃🌈
Thank you!! 😊
What a score!
Oh, I know, I'm so pleased and excited!
That is so awesome. My mom had one just like it. She sewed all my clothes on it. Ot ran excellently. When she died my friend asked if she could have it. I already had an updated machine. Of course. Just clean it goid and oil it! Like you!
Yes, I'm so thrilled with the find! And so lovely of you to pass on your mother's machine to your friend... keep the love for sewing (and good quality machines) going!
I share your joy! I found a vintage Singer on the verge. It works, although I got the power cord replaced pretty quickly. It was made in 1947, in Glasgow, and was one of 22 machines sent to Brisbane to start up the clothing industry there and provide employment. So it is older then me, yet works better than I do!!! :)
Oh that's absolutely fantastic that you were able to get so much of a backstory on it - did you get it all from the serial number, or did you have to dig around a bit more?
@@ShannonMakes I have a friend in Glasgow who is a history buff, but NOW... it is all available on the internet just by putting in the make and model.
What a find! Can't wait to see you get it in working order and what you make with it. I have 2 - 1970s model Sears Kenmore machines. Work horses for sure.
You and me both!! If it's anything like my family's 301, it's also going to be quite the workhorse machine!
Awesome! My personal favorite from my childhood is a 401.
Nice!
This is great I'm so glad you found the same kind of machine 🎉
Me too!!
La générosité canadienne en action!Ce qui fait le plus chaud au cœur après la découverte de la machine,c'est la sollicitude du propriétaire qui fournit courant,trolley et réunit encore d'autres articles à donner.....
Oui, c'était effectivement une experience très canadienne!!! Puis en fait, quand j'ai retourné avec le trolley, il m'a fait visiter tout l'appart qu'il est en train de rénover, on a parler ( dans la sense quebecois 😉) des outils, il m'a donner les ciseaux, etc!!
10 out of 10! I love it. Here in Amsterdam we have found many treasures, alas, our apartment is very small, so we have to be very selective about what comes home with us.
🎉10🎉 Alas, my apartment is... incredibly small too, and shared with three other people, so I have just a big room to myself. So I'm thinking that I'll probably have to scrap the table (which is in really bad shape already), and transfer the machine over to my antique treadle table
That’s awesome!
Did you give them your contact information so maybe they could contact you when they set items out to the curb? Or do you just plan on camping out on that corner every garbage day?
I think that having nostalgic items, to use, makes every activity better and easier to do.
Love this for you!!!!
I suppose I could have given my contact info, but I didn't (they had already given most other stuff out to the curb earlier on in the reno process), but I did make it clear that I pass by often and live in the neighborhood, so if the door's open, it doesn't feel too odd to stick my head in and say, "hi" and see how the apartment is progressing! And yea, nostaligic items can really carry an intangible weight that is just delightful!
Great find! WoW! Happy dancing 💃🏻 And luckily you are an atlete, I wouldn’t have had a chance dragging it upstairs. But sure I would have done everything to find some help 😁
Very happy dancing!!!!😍😍
On a scale of 1 to 10.... definitely an 11..!
What a find, congratulations/felicitations....
Tu as de la chance!
Thanks 👍
I just push a metal lever (to the left) on the metal machine holder under my 301 and lift the sewing machine out (after disconnecting the electric plugs). The Singer 301 is a true portable sewing machine.
This one, like my parent's machine, is hinged in. Easy enough to remove, but not quite as simple as lifting it out!
It was looking for you! Very nice score, the bobbin case is worth as much as the machine!
Wow-the Universe Loves a Scavenger like U, Dear!!
I sure hope so!!
My Mom had a knee pedal machine too. It got slot of wear.
Wow! What a great blessing!!!
what a bonus, if you haven't done so yet, get some mineral spirits (not oil, SPIRITS), use it to clean it out with ventilation, be safe , cover eyes & hands, clean out all parts, you'll likely see black grease, clean all that out too ( means it's old lol), head to your local auto shop & grab a tube of white grease ( little dab will do ya around those gears), then oil as normal love. great old machine.
Thanks for the tips! I'm a member of a vintage Singer machine FB group too, so I'll probably poke around there as well, see if Dave the expert has other pointers I can follow :-D
@@ShannonMakes name that group & let an old dog like myself in love , PLEASE
It's not my group, but it's called "Vintage Singer Sewing Machines UK" (clearly focused on the UK, because sometimes there's selling, but you don't have to be living there to be part of the group)
I do have an old Singer with Tabel and Footpedal it is full functional at least when I will enter a new leatherband into the pedal wheel. I am looking forward to do this in the next weeks.
Lovely!!
9/10 improbable but oh so awesome!!!!!
Chanceuse! Tu me donnes envie de parcourir les rues de Montréal pour trouver des trésors. Tu as beaucoup de talents. Merci de partager.
Merci, ça fait plaisir. Je t'encourage à explorer les chemins et ruelles de MTL avec un nouvel oeil!
What a fantastic find. Thanks for showing it to us - I completely get your excitement. In my city, people often put things out and while I've found some amazing treasures (working oval slow cooker, books, curtains) the best has been a cake mixer with bowls and attachments (I must give it a whirl and see how well it goes).
Last year I took my two machines to be services - a Featherweight (50's) and a Style-O-Matic (60's) - and the person doing the servicing asked if I'd swap my not very good 60s machine for a better one he had. The reason being he wouldn't feel bad pulling mine apart for parts whereas the one he had was too good to do that to. So I jumped at that and now have a much better machine. At second hand shops I've found feet, cams and other attachments for my machines and it's great as they both take the same feet.
Ooh, a cake mixer, that's a real treasure, and the one kitchen device I have yet to get a hold of... what a lucky find!!!
And definitely agreed with you that thrift stores can be great places to find miscellaneous sewing machine parts (provided it fits with your machine, and it seems like you've gotten lucky enough that they do, which is just brilliant)!!
Amazing find!
Thank you!! Was I supposed to be using the rest of the evening to try and finish the cape embroidery? Yes... Was this absolutely worth the distraction? Heck yes!!
This is my 2nd video of yours ive seen. The first was a surprise bot recommendation about the making of your Hobbit coat and i was blown away. The 301 is one of my favorite vintage machines, stronger than the featherweight. I'm sure by now you know it could be popped out of its cabinet cradle. I currently have 3 of them but downsizing. I've become a hoarder of fabric and vintage machines planning for a phase of Someday projects but there's no possibility of 3+ lifetimes. I've bookmarked your site and am looking forward to riding on your coat tails as I follow your adventures. Thank you!
Well I’m glad that you found me and that you’re enjoying the videos! Hopefully they help to inspire that Someday phase 😉♥️🧡
That's awesome! I have the black version of this (among 30 other vintage machines) and I restore them. If you need any help let me know. If you get rid of the table, keep the metal cradle that the machine sits in, it's worth money!
Oh, that's fantastic to know - do you have an IG or somewhere I can follow you? I also don't know that this has a metal cradle? But then again, I didn't spend much time looking inside of it beyond checking that the bobbin holder was there, and that the machine folded away as it should. I will definitely keep that in mind for when I do open it :-)
When you tilt the machine back there are two small screws that hold it in. Only have to loosen them to take it out. The cradle is the metal tray left in the table. If your are going to put this machine into another table, you'll need the cradle likely too
stephaniemillerphd
Ahhh, yea, that makes sense. Yes, I think I'll try and pop it in my antique treadle machine, but of course the cavities of the tables aren't the same size, so I'll probably just have to build a custom box to hold the 301's cradle, and set the whole thing inside the treadle cavity.
That's awesome 😊😊
What a great find!
Congrats! That’s a sweet Singer… 300A? Little sister to the Rocketeer.
301A, the exact same as I grew up on.... what are the odds?!?!
That is an awesome find. Congratulations 😊
Thank you 😊❤️
That was an awesome find.
This is awesome!! I’m going with 10 out of 10.
🎉10🎉 whooo hoo!!
Great find
Lucky girl!❤
Yes, very!
What a great find! Good for you.
Thanks!!
Such a fantastic find! So surreal that it's exactly the model you grew up with. 😲😯😮😳
Yes, that is definitely the part that blew my mind the most!!
I would have taken that painting as well. But wow, the guy was super nice.
Haha the painting was not quite my style 🤣But yea, he was quite nice #canada 🇨🇦
Congratulations 🎊
Thank you so much 😀
I'm so envious!
I was just looking at that model online. People are asking $200 - $500 plus up to $200 for the cabinet.
Oh wow! It's so funny what sewing machines will go for, because on the one hand, to someone who knows how to sew and knows the quality of vintage machines, they ARE worth a lot, but at the same time, there is also a shortage of people who use and appreciate sewing machines, and so often the market is flooded with cheap or even free machines (and good quality ones) and cabinets.... either way, I'm super lucky to now have TWO of these in my life!
Oh my goodness I went to our local tip to throwaway some rubbish that got missed on bin night, I found an old singer sewing machine case and all just sitting on the retaining wall next to the dumpster along with a solid metal security case as well so I just had to take them both😹😹I still need to check out the machine but it it does not work it’s still spare parts for my other singer machine. But will check online first to see if there are parts I can find first😹😹I forgot how heavy the older sewing machines are compared to todays fancy ones.
That is sooo awesome !
Definitely!!
So awesome 🎉
Thank you 🤗
Not crazy at all! What an awesome haul!
Thank you!! 😁
Wow you found a 301A? No way! Back in the day, that was the primo professional Singer sewing machine.
I mean, you would know!! There's a reason it caught my eye from a half block away - plus their table has a cute little hidden drawer for the button-hole attachment, which is still in it's original case with the paperwork, and looks like it's in great shape! Not used to that knee lever though... 🤔
Well, a 12 out of 10! Definitely.
💯❤️😊