Storm Guild Electric Guitar

Vintage Guitar Tube

Singer 201 - the Best Sewing Machine Ever Made

During the "glory" days of Singer Sewing Machines, Singer produced the model 201 from the 1930's to at least the 1950's. It was their finest (and highest priced) machine. Thousands of these machines were produced -- and most of them are still sewing as finely and strongly today as they did when first produced.

Research the Singer 201 and you'll find more than one reference stating that the 201 is the finest sewing machine Singer ever made. While I can't authoritatively say the same (I haven't tried all the machines Singer ever made!), I haven't found anything about the 201 that would make me disagree with that statement.

I really appreciate fine mechanical and electronic devices. I like old Hammond clocks and organs, tube amplifiers and vintage guitars, vintage sports cars, gizmos and gadgets like that. About 10 years ago (in a fit of mid-life crisis) I bought a used Porsche 944. When I sit down at the Singer 201 and press the foot pedal, I get a very similar feeling to that experienced when cruising down the highway in the Porsche at a way-too-fast speed -- the smooth and comfortable feeling of machinery performing perfectly.

I compare it to a Porsche -- and I've seen others compare it to driving a Ferrari!

Singer produced at least four different versions of the 201:

201-1 - Treadle version
201-2 - Potted motor and gear-driven
201-3 - External motor and belt-driven
201-4 - Hand-crank (original factory, not later conversion)

The 201 is a sturdy and heavy machine -- not a portable at all! This is not a slim and sexy sports car -- it's a full-sized, classy and luxurious grand touring sedan! It's built to last -- but does need maintenance to perform its best. You'll need to oil it regularly and also grease the gears from time to time. You can unscrew the circular silver plate on the backside of the machine to reveal the gears and the greasing points. Use regular Singer Sewing Machine gear grease (not oil!). Use sewing machine oil only at the recommended oiling points. This rotary hook machine uses a Class 66 bobbin (means very little vibration, great stitch quality, and easily found bobbins.)

The machine is easy to thread and easy to use. The fact that some of these machines are going on 80 years old and still outsewing modern machines is a telling point -- they'll probably last at least another 80 years! Maintain them well and they'll keep sewing -- well, longer than you or I probably will!

One reason the machine is so easy to use is that it is a straight stitch only machine. A single stitch ... but a beautiful and perfect straight stitch! You won't find yourself "fighting" the 201 like you might battle with low end plastic machines -- less time fighting means less time fixing and redoing problems and less frustration!

Even though the machine is straight stitch only, Singer and other vendors made a host of attachments that offer a world of possibilities -- free-form embroidery, buttonholes, zig-zag, blindhemming -- pretty much anything you want from a quality sewing machine is easily achievable.

Best of all, prices tend to be really low (supply and demand -- Singer made zillions of these machines!). You'll often pay way less than you would for a plastic import that may die a deserved death after a few weeks or months of sporadic sewing -- and you'll gain a lifelong sewing servant.

How should you view the Singer 201? Well, think back on the Porsche/Ferrari analogy -- except lower the price to less than $100! This machine purrs like the well-crafted piece of machinery it is. It feels "quality:, if you know what I mean. This machine will definitely be in your "keeper" list.

Curious -- check out the Singer 201 in action!

About the Author

Joey Robichaux rides the System's Consultant Road Warrior circuit and also operates the popular free sheet music website, "Free Sheet Music Downloads" at http://www.freesheetmusic.net; he collects vintage sewing machines and reviews them at Sewing Machines and Sewing Projects.

In Store Vintage Vintage Tube Echoplex @823 $695 In Store Vintage VINTAGE TUBE ECHOPLEX @823

In Store Vintage Vintage Risson Lta120 Tube Head $499.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE RISSON LTA120 TUBE HEAD

In Store Vintage Vintage Kay 750 Tube Amp $199.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE KAY 750 TUBE AMP

In Store Vintage Vintage Bardon 803C Tube Amp $199.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE BARDON 803C TUBE AMP

Vintage Neumann M582 Omni Tube $1000 In Store Used VINTAGE NEUMANN M582 OMNI TUBE 102101

Marshall 1987Xl Vintage Series 50W Tube Head $1850 Marshall 1987XL Vintage Series 50W Tube Head

Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 Tube Amp Head $1699 Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 Tube Amp Head

Ibanez Ts808 Vintage Tube Screamer Reissue $179.99 Ibanez TS808 Vintage Tube Screamer Reissue

In Store Vintage Vintage Risson Eta50 50W Tube Head $450 In Store Vintage VINTAGE RISSON ETA50 50W TUBE HEAD

In Store Vintage Vintage 1960'S Univox Tube Amp Head $299.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE 1960'S UNIVOX TUBE AMP HEAD

In Store Vintage Vintage Alamo Jet Tube Amplifier 55W @131 $299.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE ALAMO JET TUBE AMPLIFIER 55W @131

In Store Vintage Vintage Ampeg Vt22 100 Watt 2X12 All Tube $699.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE AMPEG VT22 100 WATT 2X12 ALL TUBE

In Store Vintage Vintage Original Tube Echo Plex @851 $695 In Store Vintage VINTAGE ORIGINAL TUBE ECHO PLEX @851

In Store Vintage Vintage Gibson Eh150 1X12 Tube Amp $1199.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE GIBSON EH150 1X12 TUBE AMP

In Store Vintage Vintage Danelectro Model 132 Corporal Combo Tube Amp $449.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE DANELECTRO MODEL 132 CORPORAL COMBO TUBE AMP

In Store Vintage Vintage Music Man 212-75 Tube Combo Amplifier $499.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE MUSIC MAN 212-75 TUBE COMBO AMPLIFIER

In Store Vintage Vintage 1978 Fender Princeton Tube Amp 042812 $699.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE 1978 FENDER PRINCETON TUBE AMP 042812

B-52 St-6012 60W Tube 2X12 Guitar Combo Amp W/ Celestion Vintage 30'S $749.99 B-52 ST-6012 60W Tube 2x12 Guitar Combo Amp with Celestion Vintage 30's

Used Crate Vintage Tube 30 1X12 Combo $249.99 In Store Used USED CRATE VINTAGE TUBE 30 1X12 COMBO

Vintage Garnet Minibass 70S Tube Combo $379.99 In Store Used VINTAGE GARNET MINIBASS 70S TUBE COMBO

Used Tc Electronic Vintage Tube Primer $106.99 In Store Used USED TC ELECTRONIC VINTAGE TUBE PRIMER

Marshall Jcm800 2203 Vintage Series 100W Tube Head $2044.5 Marshall JCM800 2203 Vintage Series 100W Tube Head

Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 Tube Amp Head Black $1499 Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 Tube Amp Head Black

In Store Vintage Vintage 1964 Epiphone Devon Tremolo 1X12 Tube Gutiar Amp 051312 $499.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE 1964 EPIPHONE DEVON TREMOLO 1X12 TUBE GUTIAR AMP 051312

In Store Vintage Vintage 60'S Kay 703 Tube Amp 7.0 234 $200 In Store Vintage VINTAGE 60'S KAY 703 TUBE AMP 7.0 234

Used Crate Vintage Club 30 Tube Combo Amp 8.0 03092 615 $249.99 In Store Used USED CRATE VINTAGE CLUB 30 TUBE COMBO AMP 8.0 03092 615

In Store Vintage Vintage Airline Black Electric Guitar $379.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE AIRLINE BLACK ELECTRIC GUITAR

In Store Vintage Vintage Archtop Acoustic Guitar 050312 $99.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE ARCHTOP ACOUSTIC GUITAR 050312

In Store Vintage Vintage 1980S Roland G707 Guitar $799.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE 1980S ROLAND G707 GUITAR

In Store Vintage Vintage Takamine C128 Classical Guitar $249.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE TAKAMINE C128 CLASSICAL GUITAR

In Store Vintage Vintage Mansun Guitar Amp $199.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE MANSUN GUITAR AMP

In Store Vintage Vintage 1975 Hernandiz Classical Guitar $899.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE 1975 HERNANDIZ CLASSICAL GUITAR

In Store Vintage Vintage Sigma Dm4 Acoustic Guitar $199.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE SIGMA DM4 ACOUSTIC GUITAR

In Store Vintage Vintage Holiday Hollowbody Electric Guitar $250 In Store Vintage VINTAGE HOLIDAY HOLLOWBODY ELECTRIC GUITAR

In Store Vintage Vintage Gibson Lg-0 Acoustic Guitar $799.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE GIBSON LG-0 ACOUSTIC GUITAR

Traveler Guitar Eg-1 Vintage Gold Electric Guitar Vintage Gold $499.99 Traveler Guitar EG-1 Vintage Gold Electric Guitar Vintage Gold