Cari-in-Oly

John,
Another great forum that's very friendly and informative is the Victorian Sweatshop.

Cari

Beachbaby12

Beautiful machine and table - happy for you.

tessagin

I love my 401. Got it at an estate sale. I have the larger desk cabinet but not 3 way. Mine came with attachments and the manual. It was a one owner. There are a lot of You Tube videos to show how to properly oil and lube the machine. I lube a couple times a year and mine sews like a purring, sleepy kitten. the hubs wasn't happy when I first got it. But next morning I wake up to a buzzing/ humming sound. Guess who was testing it on his denim jacket that needed mending. This was 4:30 a.m. the next morning. I asked him if I did good and he shook his head yes. He uses it for numerous repairs. Turns out his mother had one just like it and still does. videos are very entertaining to me.

ppquilter

Very nice find!

Mickey2

I have seen this cabinet once before, or something very close to it. We never managed to identify it, but my friend found it ugly and didin't like it very much. She kept it, still has it, and disliked it only because it was worn and very beaten up by the time she got it. The formica-laminate surface is difficult to restore. It came from a school with a 401 in it too. Both machine and table were once highly regarded by staff and other users, so it's quite a catch to find one in good condition.

Daylesewblessed

Congratulations on your find and the sense to value the cabinet/desk!

Johncn

Thanks to all responders. My wife is working on upholstery piping with the machine today and it's working, but the thread seems to periodically snag or pausing going through the tensioner on the 401A. It was bunching up underneath, but she adjusted it so it is working now...but every X stitches she has to pause and adjust the thread as it comes through the tension dial. Any suggestions appreciated by us novices.

Regards,

Johncn

Mickey2

The 401 has very good thread guides and should keep the thread in place. Is the tread twisting? Double check for correct threading. The lift up lever pulls in just enough thread to make a stitch, and the upper tensioner tightens the two threads just right as they interlock. Make sure the thread in properly inbetween the tension plates. You have to match thread size and needle size well, or you can get snagging or threads snapping, but not in the tensioner itself. I assume you are using a thicker thread for the upholstery. The top tensioner might need to be taken appart and cleaned, but the problem might as well be cause by other things.

Johncn

She is making cushion covers some fairly heavy feeling cotton upholstery fabric. The backs and the piping she is using a cotton "duck" fabric like canvas

Here is the upholstery fabric:

Ellen DeGeneres Upholstery Fabric 54''-Indigo Watercolor Stripe
http://www.joann.com/ellen-degeneres.../15363344.html

The needles were recommend by a local sewing store and are Inspira Universal 130/705 H 80. But, when I look in the PDF of the 401 user manual, it says, "This machine uses a 15 X 1 needle. Sizes 9,11,14,16 and 18."

Here are pictures of the way she has it threaded:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]579254[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]579255[/ATTACH]

Thanks, all!

Johncn

Cari-in-Oly

130/705 needles are 15x1, just different numbering system for the same class of needle. What I wouldn't be using though, are universal needles. You should be using a sharp needle for that type of fabric, I's be using a 90/14 instead of an 80/12 too. I also think that the tension discs need to be cleaned. Another thing that can play heck with all sorts of issues that look like tension problems is dirt/lint under the bobbin case. I have a 404 that randomly will have the top thread break every once in a while and I'm sure that removing the bobbin case and cleaning under it is what needs to be done.

Cari