I would like help figuring out what machine I have
#2
I believe it is a Singer 404. You need to check your hinge pins. It look like only the front one is holding. That's a lot of a machine to have falling in your lap. With a helper, tilt the machine back and look at eh front hinge and see the set screw that holds the hinge arm. you may need to loosen it to get the back one in place. Hope it is there. Lots of love for those early slantnose machines.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: South of St Louis
Posts: 839
I don't know how reliable this person's information is, but it is written with authority so I believe it:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/404a/
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/404a/
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,893
I don't know how reliable this person's information is, but it is written with authority so I believe it:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/404a/
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/404a/
bkay
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 809
I have a 401a and the lever on the right front has 3 settings: Down, Up and Unlock. Allegedly, you can use the UP position for darning, and theoretically, for free motion work. In the manual it says, "for darning, embroidery, and sewing on buttons." (Page 16)
So, you don't drop the feed dogs, but raise the feed dog cover. The result is the same, theoretically. You can also do free motion by loosening the presser foot pressure and setting the stitch length at 0. Haven't tried that yet, because my presser foot screw was missing until I got one recently, and other things have been more important.
So, you don't drop the feed dogs, but raise the feed dog cover. The result is the same, theoretically. You can also do free motion by loosening the presser foot pressure and setting the stitch length at 0. Haven't tried that yet, because my presser foot screw was missing until I got one recently, and other things have been more important.
Last edited by themadpatter; 08-01-2020 at 11:30 AM. Reason: Edit to add second paragraph for clarity. Or something.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 809
I believe it is a Singer 404. You need to check your hinge pins. It look like only the front one is holding. That's a lot of a machine to have falling in your lap. With a helper, tilt the machine back and look at eh front hinge and see the set screw that holds the hinge arm. you may need to loosen it to get the back one in place. Hope it is there. Lots of love for those early slantnose machines.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,893
I think there is a miscommunication here. The hinge pins are on the back edge of the opening for the machine in the cabinet. The sewing machine is held in place on those pins by little tiny set screws in the sewing machine. If those set screws are missing, the machine will not stay on the pins.
I once bought a 301 in a nice cabinet for $50.00 because it was missing a set screw. I didn't realize the problem until I got the machine home. They had taken wire and tried to wire the machine to the hinge pin.
bkay
I once bought a 301 in a nice cabinet for $50.00 because it was missing a set screw. I didn't realize the problem until I got the machine home. They had taken wire and tried to wire the machine to the hinge pin.
bkay
#10
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 2
I believe it is a Singer 404. You need to check your hinge pins. It look like only the front one is holding. That's a lot of a machine to have falling in your lap. With a helper, tilt the machine back and look at eh front hinge and see the set screw that holds the hinge arm. you may need to loosen it to get the back one in place. Hope it is there. Lots of love for those early slantnose machines.