I got a hold of one of these too because of their serviceability. Your tensioner may need taken apart and cleaned, also the disks might need a polish. I have fixed up plenty of vintage sewing machines but this is the one I kept for myself. I have seen too many singers from the 70's and newer with shredded plastic bevel gears. Some of them are put in a location where the whole machine has to be torn down to replace, definitely planned obsolescence. Keep this machine oiled up and it will run forever. The best part is that pattern wheels can be 3d printed if you can't find them. Another great option for vintage machines is 60's - 80's kenmore machines. They are even easier to service and are pretty well built.
Awesome video, both topic and production! Thanks! After the tension problems with the Thread Control Device, Singer issued a bulletin to all; to not use the Thread Control Device. These all steel machines are engineering marvels! I gotta go & clean a 500J I'm making efficient & presentable. Bonne journee!
This is my favorite vintage machine of my dozen vintage machines. I use it all the time. I believe mine is identical to yours. It is recommended you skip the extra added configuration when threading the machine. That is probably where your tension problems come from. The foot you showed makes narrow rolled hems and bias tape. It is easy to find what all the feet do on TH-cam. I recommend you get a slanted walking foot for your machine especially if you plan to sew many layers.
I bought one because I loved the space age look..........but a serviceman warned me prior that the 500a doesn't like knits. You know he was 100% on the money in what he said, no matter how I adjusted the upper and bobbin tensions it would not sew a zig-zag stitch in fleece knits! I also own a 401 the earlier machine and it sews knits with out a hitch! Have you tried sewing knits on it yet? I''m curious to see if you had any succes.
Love it! So fancy ✨ A good machine solves so many problems haha Last year I got a heavy duty Janome. The stitch quality isn't great, but I love being able to like... wind a bobbin on my first try.
Hi Victoria !!!! How's it going with you and your NEW Rocketeer? I've owned mine since 1962 bought brand new by silly guilt ridden parents as a non holiday gift one summer? I know what parents buy their 12 year old a 350 top of the line semi-professional sewing machine? Moving on around it's 50th year it's age and the much wear and tear we my husband and I had put that machine through began showing up. The hand wheel spring broke. Four spare 500's later we are still learning things about this WONDER machine and it's quirks too. I learned not long ago how to solve the dreaded thread/bobbin Jam. I'll find the link here on you tube to how to fix it if that's an issue for yours. Then I also discovered how to help get around it being fussy sewing knits. For me my original machine sewed knits pretty well but some of the modern super 4 way knits not as well and skipped stitches as in all of them. Some of the spare machines were even more fussy in the departments with the thread jams and the knit too. So thrilled to have discovered this information even though it's coming up on 62 years later this summer. I also just ordered another SPARE. Turns out I love it set up outside on picnic tables under our 24' covered protected patio area to sew away on. As usually my type of sewing is utilitarian. Lots of pack cloth and outdoor materials think Cordura and marine canvas in the 500-1000D coated and uncoated all kinds of nylons and poly's. Tents, down sleeping bags, down jackets back in the day from kits and from total scratch, (in the 70's to early 80's there was over 5 companies and shops in Fort Collins CO that you could buy snaps from Tandy's, every color YKK zipper and knit cuff material from Frostline, Fabric and down from numerous sellers. I lived the dream. We were cavers and before we were married in 1972 future hubby had my machine complete in it's huge sewing cabinet in his apartment sewing super thick rope pads for our caving and climbing ropes. I discovered a talent for reupholstering furniture next. So yes it sewed my wedding dress but most it's held up to the TOUGH STUFF. I have an industrial, I have 3 feather weights, my husband had the treadle he learned to sew on, Ok 2 sergers he uses along with two computerized sewing machines too. No matter our favorite machine IS THE SINGER 500 (A or not it only stands for Anderson where it was assembled.) Mine being a year younger than yours is all. I also learned Singer quit making these machines in 1963 or by 64. They made around 400,000 of the 500's and another 300K for the 503's. My newest buy where I talked a lovely lady in Washington to ship a machine she had for sale to me in NW Montana she agreed last week. I'm now more picky than I was when I thought I was buying machines for spare parts only. Two of those machines turned out to be bad buys. The newest one comes with a portable carry case. I bought a 22 year old Class B+ RV only 21' last year. I bought 20 yards of coated marine canvas to reupholster and trade out old fabric trim too. One spare outside hung in there as I redesigned the jack knife sofa so it added 5 inches more width to it as a twin bed when not opened. I then cut out all the 12 cushions after doing all the trim work too...late in the fall. There remains 40" left on that 20 yard roll. And I have 12 cushions all cut out and separated into kit fashion that includes precut and pre strung whimsical zipper pulls on the zippers plus more whimsical shank buttons for cushions that originally had them. I redesigned 6 of the cushions too. I sat down to do my marathon sewing of these cushions and I didn't get more than 20 inches in . The first machine jammed. The second jammed....GRRRR. Yes some 74 year olds can swear... remember we were your age once too. So I had no idea Singer issued knit kit repair kits to dealers or repair shops in 1972 to fix that problem. However one of the videos to share with you if you haven't seen it is AndyTube about 6 ways to thread your machine. He's demonstrating on a 503 but it's the same idea. Half way through it's more to do with twin needle sewing and I don't use it. When I was 12-14 I did a little for flair on a 4H project or two but that was pretty much it. I'm a utilitarian sewer as is my husband and so one needle large sized usually best. I'm trying out non stick needles for the first time too. I use a lot of velcros and some of those have glue coating in the middle if it's non brandnamed and double sided. Also now and again I follow some Sailrite directions on how to insert cleaer windows in sails but apply to tent flies and such that uses double stick tape. The idea is to avoid sewing through the tape holding the pieces together to sew as invisible basting. But sometimes you still go through it if top stitching. To DIY fix all future Jamming issues here is their link. FIXED! Singer 500a Skipping and Jamming Stitch Problems by OutFishing 13. Just copy paste into the search here on TH-cam to locate. Also I picked up the service manual and a few days ago it was on Etsy as a down load pdf file for 5.50. I think my husband paid 5.99 for pdf a while back. They are sold for around 20-25 dollars with shipping on Ebay and other sites printed. One of my hobbies however is making and binding books and I have like 7 different options to bind. So we make our own. I do hope you are still enjoying your Machine. I'm thrilled to learn more about these and I'm thrilled to grasp why some work better than others. The Jam thing's always been very random on my original. But the knit was a problem but rarely sewed knits then. The plan here is to line up 4 of my machines and dremel the Bobbin Thread jams away, Then repair the second time the spring in my original's hand wheel. Then I'll have a spare for outdoor patio and for when a friend joins me making bags for her friends and herself so dual duty. And mu original of course still in it's lovely cabinet. And that newest one for a travel ready portable in my Miss Mini Mo RV. I've been tent camping as a solo female most of 55 years as turns out hubby who we met caving is NOT a camper. One of those how did that happen we didn't know that before I got married but it's now 52 years later. He's fine with me camping several weeks a year without him. Who wants an unhappy camper along and he loves staying home with his garden and the pets. It's a win win to have a partner who wasn't fussy that way. Some men say they would NEVER allow their wives, gals, etc. to came solo. Silly guy's. Mine maybe there was an adjustment period on how he needed to think all that out. But in the end it's worked for us. I'm the happy camper...and maybe a happy camper with a sewing machine too. What to do in the evenings. NO TV, NO Cell service...read the books, OH lets sew. Here is to you finding the journey of 62 years with your Singer 500A....
The tension is a common problem, I usually skip the little finger that comes out as you sew... you know the threading part above the tension disks, especially for knit fabric or twin needle I just skip that part of threading. It just stresses out the thread. Other times it's fine 😅😅😅😅😅
How did this machine work out for you? I just stumbled upon your video. I have the 401a and it is a great machine. Have you made use of the decorative stitches? cam #22 is a great on to have for the 401a its the overcast stitch, very useful
Your upper thread guide is badly bent downward. Take a popsicle stick or some random piece of plastic etc, that is softer than the metal and bend it back up. Is your clutch not releasing when you wind a bobbin ?? The needle should not be moving up and down when you are winding a bobbin..
Hi Victoria, Watch this video which addresses thread breakage on Singer 500a. Hope it helps! Happy sewing. Sheri th-cam.com/video/wa-T7xIS3VA/w-d-xo.html
Actually the model after this was still made will all metal parts...for awhile, and then they switched to plastic part way through. So its a crap shoot from 1963 onward from what I understand.
Yes, it was the #600 "Auto-Reel" or early "Touch and Sew"… They did chain stitch and could sew in knits. They made a better satin stitch zig zag due to a additional floating device behind the feed dogs.
@@TheDevilsquid nothing, I got it for free from my parents neighbor who was moving out of her home into assisted living. My parents had it serviced for me and it’s basically brand new. Just have to learn how to use it now
I got a hold of one of these too because of their serviceability. Your tensioner may need taken apart and cleaned, also the disks might need a polish. I have fixed up plenty of vintage sewing machines but this is the one I kept for myself. I have seen too many singers from the 70's and newer with shredded plastic bevel gears. Some of them are put in a location where the whole machine has to be torn down to replace, definitely planned obsolescence. Keep this machine oiled up and it will run forever. The best part is that pattern wheels can be 3d printed if you can't find them. Another great option for vintage machines is 60's - 80's kenmore machines. They are even easier to service and are pretty well built.
I just got one today, table and bench included, with all attachments and cams, for $30! And it just needed a cleaning. Beautiful!
Awesome video, both topic and production! Thanks! After the tension problems with the Thread Control Device, Singer issued a bulletin to all; to not use the Thread Control Device. These all steel machines are engineering marvels! I gotta go & clean a 500J I'm making efficient & presentable. Bonne journee!
This is my favorite vintage machine of my dozen vintage machines. I use it all the time. I believe mine is identical to yours. It is recommended you skip the extra added configuration when threading the machine. That is probably where your tension problems come from. The foot you showed makes narrow rolled hems and bias tape. It is easy to find what all the feet do on TH-cam. I recommend you get a slanted walking foot for your machine especially if you plan to sew many layers.
The info on the feet is also in the manual.
The rocketeer is the most handsome sewing machine ever designed.
Thank you for this! Welcome to the Singer Club!
I bought one because I loved the space age look..........but a serviceman warned me prior that the 500a doesn't like knits. You know he was 100% on the money in what he said, no matter how I adjusted the upper and bobbin tensions it would not sew a zig-zag stitch in fleece knits! I also own a 401 the earlier machine and it sews knits with out a hitch! Have you tried sewing knits on it yet? I''m curious to see if you had any succes.
dexys midnight runners and skills.
And as always
I was entertained
With regard to the thread breakage issue, lifting the presser will release the tension discs.
Love it! So fancy ✨ A good machine solves so many problems haha
Last year I got a heavy duty Janome. The stitch quality isn't great, but I love being able to like... wind a bobbin on my first try.
Hi Victoria !!!! How's it going with you and your NEW Rocketeer? I've owned mine since 1962 bought brand new by silly guilt ridden parents as a non holiday gift one summer? I know what parents buy their 12 year old a 350 top of the line semi-professional sewing machine? Moving on around it's 50th year it's age and the much wear and tear we my husband and I had put that machine through began showing up. The hand wheel spring broke. Four spare 500's later we are still learning things about this WONDER machine and it's quirks too. I learned not long ago how to solve the dreaded thread/bobbin Jam. I'll find the link here on you tube to how to fix it if that's an issue for yours. Then I also discovered how to help get around it being fussy sewing knits. For me my original machine sewed knits pretty well but some of the modern super 4 way knits not as well and skipped stitches as in all of them. Some of the spare machines were even more fussy in the departments with the thread jams and the knit too. So thrilled to have discovered this information even though it's coming up on 62 years later this summer. I also just ordered another SPARE. Turns out I love it set up outside on picnic tables under our 24' covered protected patio area to sew away on. As usually my type of sewing is utilitarian. Lots of pack cloth and outdoor materials think Cordura and marine canvas in the 500-1000D coated and uncoated all kinds of nylons and poly's. Tents, down sleeping bags, down jackets back in the day from kits and from total scratch, (in the 70's to early 80's there was over 5 companies and shops in Fort Collins CO that you could buy snaps from Tandy's, every color YKK zipper and knit cuff material from Frostline, Fabric and down from numerous sellers. I lived the dream. We were cavers and before we were married in 1972 future hubby had my machine complete in it's huge sewing cabinet in his apartment sewing super thick rope pads for our caving and climbing ropes. I discovered a talent for reupholstering furniture next. So yes it sewed my wedding dress but most it's held up to the TOUGH STUFF. I have an industrial, I have 3 feather weights, my husband had the treadle he learned to sew on, Ok 2 sergers he uses along with two computerized sewing machines too. No matter our favorite machine IS THE SINGER 500 (A or not it only stands for Anderson where it was assembled.) Mine being a year younger than yours is all. I also learned Singer quit making these machines in 1963 or by 64. They made around 400,000 of the 500's and another 300K for the 503's. My newest buy where I talked a lovely lady in Washington to ship a machine she had for sale to me in NW Montana she agreed last week. I'm now more picky than I was when I thought I was buying machines for spare parts only. Two of those machines turned out to be bad buys. The newest one comes with a portable carry case. I bought a 22 year old Class B+ RV only 21' last year. I bought 20 yards of coated marine canvas to reupholster and trade out old fabric trim too. One spare outside hung in there as I redesigned the jack knife sofa so it added 5 inches more width to it as a twin bed when not opened. I then cut out all the 12 cushions after doing all the trim work too...late in the fall. There remains 40" left on that 20 yard roll. And I have 12 cushions all cut out and separated into kit fashion that includes precut and pre strung whimsical zipper pulls on the zippers plus more whimsical shank buttons for cushions that originally had them. I redesigned 6 of the cushions too. I sat down to do my marathon sewing of these cushions and I didn't get more than 20 inches in . The first machine jammed. The second jammed....GRRRR. Yes some 74 year olds can swear... remember we were your age once too. So I had no idea Singer issued knit kit repair kits to dealers or repair shops in 1972 to fix that problem. However one of the videos to share with you if you haven't seen it is AndyTube about 6 ways to thread your machine. He's demonstrating on a 503 but it's the same idea. Half way through it's more to do with twin needle sewing and I don't use it. When I was 12-14 I did a little for flair on a 4H project or two but that was pretty much it. I'm a utilitarian sewer as is my husband and so one needle large sized usually best. I'm trying out non stick needles for the first time too. I use a lot of velcros and some of those have glue coating in the middle if it's non brandnamed and double sided. Also now and again I follow some Sailrite directions on how to insert cleaer windows in sails but apply to tent flies and such that uses double stick tape. The idea is to avoid sewing through the tape holding the pieces together to sew as invisible basting. But sometimes you still go through it if top stitching. To DIY fix all future Jamming issues here is their link. FIXED! Singer 500a Skipping and Jamming Stitch Problems by OutFishing 13. Just copy paste into the search here on TH-cam to locate. Also I picked up the service manual and a few days ago it was on Etsy as a down load pdf file for 5.50. I think my husband paid 5.99 for pdf a while back. They are sold for around 20-25 dollars with shipping on Ebay and other sites printed. One of my hobbies however is making and binding books and I have like 7 different options to bind. So we make our own. I do hope you are still enjoying your Machine. I'm thrilled to learn more about these and I'm thrilled to grasp why some work better than others. The Jam thing's always been very random on my original. But the knit was a problem but rarely sewed knits then. The plan here is to line up 4 of my machines and dremel the Bobbin Thread jams away, Then repair the second time the spring in my original's hand wheel. Then I'll have a spare for outdoor patio and for when a friend joins me making bags for her friends and herself so dual duty. And mu original of course still in it's lovely cabinet. And that newest one for a travel ready portable in my Miss Mini Mo RV. I've been tent camping as a solo female most of 55 years as turns out hubby who we met caving is NOT a camper. One of those how did that happen we didn't know that before I got married but it's now 52 years later. He's fine with me camping several weeks a year without him. Who wants an unhappy camper along and he loves staying home with his garden and the pets. It's a win win to have a partner who wasn't fussy that way. Some men say they would NEVER allow their wives, gals, etc. to came solo. Silly guy's. Mine maybe there was an adjustment period on how he needed to think all that out. But in the end it's worked for us. I'm the happy camper...and maybe a happy camper with a sewing machine too. What to do in the evenings. NO TV, NO Cell service...read the books, OH lets sew. Here is to you finding the journey of 62 years with your Singer 500A....
Any updates on how this does with heavier fabrics like canvas or thick denim?
The tension is a common problem, I usually skip the little finger that comes out as you sew... you know the threading part above the tension disks, especially for knit fabric or twin needle I just skip that part of threading. It just stresses out the thread. Other times it's fine 😅😅😅😅😅
I have this exact machine. It’s the best.
How did this machine work out for you? I just stumbled upon your video. I have the 401a and it is a great machine. Have you made use of the decorative stitches? cam #22 is a great on to have for the 401a its the overcast stitch, very useful
The tension disk applies EXTRA tension when you don't lift the presser foot all the way up.
can this machine and the 503A be used to monogram my name on my workshirts? Thanks
I love the music you used in this video!
I did not but I did enjoy the video otherwise.
I do not like the music..very hard to hear you speaking…very distracting…just want to hear your info
YOU ARE SO RIGHT!
Your upper thread guide is badly bent downward. Take a popsicle stick or some random piece of plastic etc, that is softer than the metal and bend it back up. Is your clutch not releasing when you wind a bobbin ?? The needle should not be moving up and down when you are winding a bobbin..
Hi Victoria,
Watch this video which addresses thread breakage on Singer 500a. Hope it helps! Happy sewing.
Sheri
th-cam.com/video/wa-T7xIS3VA/w-d-xo.html
👌👐
Actually the model after this was still made will all metal parts...for awhile, and then they switched to plastic part way through. So its a crap shoot from 1963 onward from what I understand.
So interesting! Thanks for the info :)
Yes, it was the #600 "Auto-Reel" or early "Touch and Sew"… They did chain stitch and could sew in knits. They made a better satin stitch zig zag due to a additional floating device behind the feed dogs.
🏳️🌈👍🧕🏿🦹🏾♂️👌🏾
Great vid... make vids showing the foot pedal work...
I got this sewing machine at a yard sale and got it repaired. Now I have no idea how to use it 🥲
How much did you pay for it?
@@TheDevilsquid nothing, I got it for free from my parents neighbor who was moving out of her home into assisted living. My parents had it serviced for me and it’s basically brand new. Just have to learn how to use it now
you can download the manual. It will tell you what the functions are, how to wind the bobbin and how to thread. Just set it up and experiment!