Date: 8/30/10 7:27 PM

I know these are technically the same machine. I have had my sights on a 401/401A. I cannot find one locally, so am looking on eBay. This is not going to be my primary machine. It is going to be the last vintage I buy so I want to make a good choice.

With the 403, will the cams wear down with constant use? Is there anything else with either of these I need to be aware of? Are they as good as what I've read about (Sew-Classic and other places). I would appreciate some advice from those who own these machines.

I can buy a 500A (with an ugly cabinet) locally but price is a bit high although it comes with a one year warranty. I am concerned about the door hinges on those breaking, so I decided I should not even consider them although I love the look of them.

Thanks!

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~Diana~

♥ Bernina 830E ♥ Bernina 1150MDA serger

†The Lord is my Light and my Salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1†

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Reply to SewBusy63
Date: 8/30/10 9:27 PM

Who is offering a one year warranty on a fifty year old machine and/or table?
I have a 401 and a 503. I never use them. I too was captured by the allure of these machines, and miraculously I paid very little for them- but I consistently use my Kenmore for real sewing. However, I have the luxury of choice. If I only had the Singers - I'd be sewing on them. I have trouble turning the choice wheel for decorative stitches on the 401, but I haven't broken it down - I just oiled what needed to be oiled. I don't know about the cams wearing down on the 503. I would think that someone would have to use those cams perpetually and use them hard. And, they're still available if you needed more.

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Reply to SewBusy63
Date: 8/30/10 9:37 PM

Those cams are very sturdy & thick also. I do not think you would need to worry about them beaking. The 500 will straight & zig zag with some decorative too without any change of cams. I have a 306k also...it uses flat cams & I have not had one break in all the time I have had it & have 6 of the original cams from the person who owned her before me that is nearly 60 years with no broken cam. I use the straight/zig zag stitch cam with her all the time no problem.
I hope this helps. ...Maybe if you tell the person with the 500 you are not interested in the cabinet they will lower the price?? Doesn't hurt to ask.

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A Loved Kitty is pure Joy & A Healthy Kitty is Bliss
Home of much loved kittys Abigail & Lil Mittee ; )

Janome 2212, Hello Kitty green
Kenmore 385.16321
Singer 221

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Reply to SewBusy63
Date: 8/30/10 9:45 PM

Like Bert, I'm also wondering who is offering a one-year warranty on that 500A? Are you buying it from a dealer or a sewing machine repair shop?

Again, like Bert, I have the luxury of choice, and I constantly choose my Kenmores over my Singer 503. I gave away two 401s--that should give you an idea on what I think about the TOL Singer Rocketeer.

I don't worry about wearing down the cams on my 503. I have spares! I have no use for the embroidery stitches, just the utility: zigzag, 3-step zigzag, blindhem, and there's one other that I can't remember at the moment. But 99% of the time, most of the sewing I do on my 503 is straight stitch only. Really, that baby just comes out on 'Tis the Season to Be Jolly projects.

My Kenmore 1040 sits beside my serger on the same table. Because it's only a 3/4-size machine (maybe even smaller), it does not much room. I can easily move it on top of my cutting board and baste there if I needed to. It comes in handy for when I need a second color of thread on the same project, for basting, for crafts, or for just sitting there looking oh-so-cute under its sewing machine cover.

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Her needlework both plain and ornamental was excellent, and she might have put a sewing machine to shame. ~James Edward Austen-Leigh, about Jane Austen

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Date: 8/30/10 10:01 PM

The Rocketeer is listed locally. I really don't know this person and have only inquired via email. One year warranty on parts. Does seem odd to me, but that is what he states.

It's good to hear the cams are so durable. I have never seen any so I did not know.

Tonight I just received a reply from a Craigslist ad placed about three weeks ago for a 401A in cabinet. I had emailed earlier but due to circumstances they are just getting back to me. This machine has been serviced and is to look almost new. The cabinet is the Copenhagen #351 in maple. Not my style but included in the asking price of $150.00. I am going to go see it when we can set up the time. It comes with misc. accessories, cams, cabinet. No manual. It does look very nice in the photo. What would you offer for it if it is indeed in the condition stated and well taken care of?

I would much prefer to buy locally than eBay --avoid shipping charges and know exactly what I am buying. I may not even like it when I test it.

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~Diana~

♥ Bernina 830E ♥ Bernina 1150MDA serger

†The Lord is my Light and my Salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1†

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Reply to SewBusy63
Date: 8/30/10 10:08 PM

Not so odd if he is a dealer..or a tech.. and wants a good price for it.. I wouldn't worry about the hinges,,unless they are already broken.

The cams are tough.. never seen one broken..have seen a couple of chipped ones.. they are like bakelight. Not sure that is spelled correctly..

l50 for a good machine in a nice cabinet is not a bad price.. not a cheap price..but fair IMHO.. Especially if it comes with accessories as those can add up if you have to ebay for them..

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Reply to SewBusy63
Date: 8/30/10 10:12 PM

Those cams seem very thick to me, I have never seen one in person though.
The cams that I hear to watch out for are the tiny little skinny ones, like in the Necchi Lydia, they crack.

You have some nice machines, right? Hmm..$150 is hovering right at the edge. I am more inclined to drop to $100..
And not even sure then...I would have to really like it.
Some people really don't like these...

I really must try mine out tonight. I have the 401, but it was only ten dollars. No risk there, if I did not like it.

If its $150 and you don't like it, there is a risk you can't sell it for what you paid for it. Unless they do go for that high in your area. I think that would be a good reference, if you don't like it, how much could you get for it should you want to sell it again, so its no risk?

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"What you WANT is irrelevant, what you've CHOSEN is at hand." --Mr. Spock

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Reply to poorpigling
Date: 8/30/10 10:19 PM

Right now $150 would be a stretch for me. The cabinet is very ugly -- does not look like an original Singer cabinet. I really don't want it. I emailed to see if they would sell without the cabinet and if the price was firm.

I just may be able to set up seeing both machines on the same day. They are both about 1 hour away.

This would be not be my main machine, but would like to have it for a back up for when mine is in for routine maintenance.

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~Diana~

♥ Bernina 830E ♥ Bernina 1150MDA serger

†The Lord is my Light and my Salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1†

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Reply to SansSouci572
Date: 8/30/10 10:30 PM

You lucked out paying only $10. I paid $9.99 for the 15-91 in a nice cabinet a few weeks ago. I wouldn't have bought it but I really like the cabinet.

Yes, I am going to have to really like the 401A or 500A to pay that amount of money. I have had to earn/save to buy the ones I do have. I will definitely not buy unless I do like it.

These machines never show up locally on Craigslist. Never around here.

Is the Rocketeer all metal like the 401A? I thought I read the 401A was the last Singer made that was all metal.

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~Diana~

♥ Bernina 830E ♥ Bernina 1150MDA serger

†The Lord is my Light and my Salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1†

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Reply to SewBusy63
Date: 8/30/10 10:55 PM

Well--I don't know that much about them either. I heard some people really like them, and it was only ten dollars, so I got it.

The spool pins on the 401 are plastic, but perhaps they are replacements. I have only seen one Rocketeer in person, and I saw it hanging upside down in a cabinet, I was looking at it with a flashlight...in one of those antique stores with all the stuff on the top of the cabinet situations. I thought they were all metal too...that it was the same machine as the 401 but different styling?

I saw your 15-91, that was a great find! And the cabinet too! I noticed because I had just found a 201 for $25. I had my eyes open for either one of those, and saw the 201 first. My cabinet is not a particularly handsome one, its all dried up looking, I was thinking of painting it black. And I wrecked the decals on the machine, wiped them off! They were all on there when I got it, but it was so filthy...

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"What you WANT is irrelevant, what you've CHOSEN is at hand." --Mr. Spock

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