Posted the other day about a good Singer 201 deal but ended up going down the rabbit hole of research and realising I want my first machine to be able to at least zig zag. Have found a nice green 319k close by with all the attachments cams manual etc for 270 AUD or a 306k for 300 AUD. Seller said he recommended the 306k because its simpler for beginners. He also said the 319k already has a modified bobbin case that will work with regular needles. All recently serviced by the seller and wiring checked. Any thoughts? You all were so helpful hyping me up about the 201 I was looking at but when I started to think about what I wanted to sew zig zag stitches came up a bunch. Can post some more pictures if its helpful! I'm leaning towards the 319k so far. Thanks in advance.
Singer 319 is just a singer 306 with addition cams built in. The black 306 is rare, so higher value. People like to collect old black and color scheme machines. They use a needle system different than the common needles, but can be modified to use standard needles. They use singer flat cams. The singer 319 seems to have a full set of cam case. If so get it. 270 isn’t a bad price for a complete 319 that you plan to use. Make sure to inquire about the state of the timing belt.
Both models are very similar. Just the 319 has a built in stitches.
Funny that black is what makes it more expensive, I actually love the green! Seller says needle system has already been modified on the 319k. Is the 319 much more complicated to use / service than the 306 for a beginner?
Servicing and using both models have the same level of difficulty. Which isn’t much. Thankfully there are service manuals for the machine. If it’s been modified to use 15x1 needles. That’s no problem.
My only comment is, do you just want it because it’s pretty or you looking for a good machine? Because there are better models you can get for cheap by waiting and doing the service yourself.
I don’t understand why you’re steering a new sewist away from Singers, which are going to be the easiest to find information and parts for, in favor of more esoteric things. There’s a reason millions of Singers are out there—they’re really good machines that last forever. Maybe a bernina is better in some ways, but by virtue of being rare, it makes life more difficult. Theres nothing wrong with Singers. This one has all the features OP wants and they could get it now and be sewing tomorrow.
I'm looking for a good machine and happy to be pointed towards them if theres something else better I can find! I truly just dont know what other models would be good or a full catalogue of whats good and on marketplace/accessible to me and what is good or reasonable pricing. I was keen on the 201 for under 100 until I thought more about what I'd want to sew and the lack of zig zag. I would however prefer something sooner rather than later (rather than waiting around for a rare find to pop up) and while I'm open to learning to service I would probably feel more comfortable with something professionally serviced to start so I can get started with the sewing and get to know the machine bit by bit with maintenance vs immediately having to take apart for a major service. If its a REALLY good deal on something needing a service I'd be more tempted but its just so hard for me to gauge and even tell what sort of condition things are in and what it might cost for me to repair/service myself. I guess despite being open to learning I'm also just not sure how hard servicing myself would actually be so its vaguely intimidating and just many unknowns.
So rare or high quality brands in the vintage sphere are Bernina, Elna, kenmores, and Necchi. To name a few. These brands from my memory had the durable aspects of vintage machines while being capable of sewing zig zag and stitches that require to move the fabric back and forth
Good models to look out for is any Bernina sewing machine (Bernina 830 record is very sought after). Any kenmore from the 158 series (Kenmore 148.1914 or 158.1941), Elna star series sewing machine (like the Elna 62c), and Necchi supernova. All of these machine can do zig zag and do stitches that moves the fabric back and forth. The 319 only does stitches that move the needle left and right. So no blanket stitches. Which isn’t bad by no means.
For servicing sewing machines, depends on how deep you want to service it. But I know some people just use kerosene and q tips to clean the machine. Really only need a good set of screw drivers and oil but if you don’t want to open the machine. Oil is fine.
Service cost usually is 100-150 for a machine.
I know a family member in Australia who was able to get a Bernina 801 for 200AUD and she loved it. That’s high praise from someone who sews wedding dresses in my opinion.
Thanks this is helpful. The only Bernina 830 I can see is 525 which is out of budget. Theres a few Elna Supermatics from like 60 all the way to 400 but mostly under 200, in various conditions. Can only see one Elna 62c in the whole country for out of my budget lol. There is a Necchi supernova for 320. Can't see any kenmores. There's a pfaff 97 for 225? Lots of old singers around. Any of these sounding potentially any good? lol
None sounds as great as the singer 319. The Elna spermatic are neat as they can make a blanket stitch (one that requires to move the fabric back when sewing) thanks to a disc. Elna made these black disc as the brain of the sewing machine. They made like 80 cams XD.
Elna supermatic often need a new motor tire ($20-30 us) and a new capacitor/transformer.
Try looking for Frister-Rossman sewing machines. That’s what the Manufacturer of Kenmore sewing machine labeled their products in Australia I believe.
Out of any servicing electrical stuff scares me the most and is what I'd be most inclined to get professionally done. Also do the supermatics all have only knee control??
Absolutely nothing in terms of frister-rossman exept a single ol hand crank.
My bad. Frister Rossman was the UK name for the machine. I have no idea what was their name is in Australia.
Hmmm, the 319/306 were never designed to work with 15x1 needles. There are workarounds, like modifying the bobbin case and changing the timing. For your first vintage sewing machine you may want a simpler one until you are confident in servicing them yourself.
If you want a zigzag, look into the slant o matics. The 401G is readily available in Australia. You can occasionally find the version that is treadle convertible. Very rarely you can find the 411G with chain stitch capabilities. I started with a 401G, and its still my favourite. You don't need extra top hat cams to make a variety of stitches, the built in cams do enough. You won't get front and back zig zag stitches though, the cams only make the needle go left and right. Front and back cams weren't added until much later when the machines were made of plastic. So you can't get a nice blanket stitch, greek key, or feather stitch.
For an all metal machine with left/right/front/back movement you could go with Elna Supermatic and use Super Double ElnaDiscs. I'm not sure how easy these are to find in Australia.
The 201 was an excellent deal, I'd go with that. Its a fantastic price and its already been serviced. Especially for your first machine. You can learn the basics of vintage machine sewing and servicing.
The same seller has a 401g actually but its out of my price range at 470. Theres a few Elna Supermatics an hour or two drive away for 100-200 but none mention recent servicing or wiring checks. Not sure about attachments. I do have a soft spot for these green machines though. In this sub some people say the elna supermatics have a different belt system that can wear faster/have more issues?
The seller said the 319k has already been modified to work with regular needles, are there any major issues with that if the workaround has already been done? This 319k has been serviced as well.
I did like the 201 but just dont want to be stuck with straight stitch when I know I'll want at least zig zag, and I cant afford to buy and store multiple machines like lots of people here seem to :(
Elna use a friction drive for their motors. These tires often develop a flat spot when sitting for decades and need to be filed down or replaced.
A lot of us collector get our machines for cheap and also struggle to store machines.. I literally had Sewing machines on the bedroom floor at one point. Thankfully not as bad now.
Elnas also are not super powerful and IIRC there is some plastic in the innards. But they're very cool and the cases make them portable. I had an SU for a while and it was so quiet you almost couldn't hear it sewing.
True. Not strong compared to all metal machines but will still sew 8 layers of denim. Loved my Elna’s
I have a 306k and modified it to work with 15x1 needles. Honestly, the sewing experience is nowhere near as quiet and smooth as my 401a or 201. Its belt driven motor is a bit anemic compared to the 201 and 401a, and i would say that while it's a tiny bit more powerful than my elna 62su, it's nowhere near as smooth or quiet. I wouldn't pay 150 for a 306k. The 319 was a tiny bit more quality, but i would stick to the flagship singers to fully deliver on that combo of power, smoothness, and utility that the brand is known for.
At the risk of throwing you down a rabbit hole, i much prefer my kenmore 1802 to the 306k now that I've used the 306k for a few projects.
Any recs for something that can zig zag though? Are you saying Elna Supermatic over a 319k? The 201s look lovely and get high praise but I've settled on wanting more than a straight stitch. Editing to add: are all the supermatics knee control? I'm not sure how I feel about that over a foot pedal.
The first time I used the Elna it was so quiet that I thought the thread had broken and it actually wasn't sewing. But today I get to test the 1780 with the final assembly of a slash/ballistic jacket liner with up to 22 layers of 0.3mm kevlar. That high-lift feature will be put to the test. At this stage it is more wrestling than sewing.
I just typed something similar about an SU I had for a while. So smooth.
Arrrrgh! The evil end-of-the-month crafters have the utility room at the library. 30 glue guns and piles of styro balls. Don't they know that Christmas is over, and it is too early for Valentine's Day?
Of my zigzag machines, i would rank in order of my experience and preference
Also, for garment work, i do use my 201-2 quite a bit because you can get a button holer with a bar tack. When i stitch knit and stretchy fabrics, i prefer finishing seams with my bernette funlock 006d so i can put a straight stitch down first for fit and then serge it for the stretch stitch.
Thanks. Pretty much all of these other than the Singers are either above my budget or not available from what I can see at the moment. Have you used a 319k or just the 306k? Would the 306k be smoother?
I haven't tried a 319, only a 306. I haunt thrift stores and estate sales and got most of those for under 50. Most were 25. The ones i paid more for were the bernina record and kenmore 1040.
I just want the green one… because it’s green. I can’t help you decide. I’d say both…. Because they’re pretty… and you can have two different bobbins threaded…
Don’t listen to me I have 5 machines.
Do we start getting ignored at 5 machines, or do we not exist until we have 5 machines? And I am still on the look-out for a 201, which I promise, will be the last, and this time I mean it.
I have a 201 and a 15-95…
It's my favorite machine I've ever owned. Handles stretch fabrics beautifully.
I like the green one. Such a pretty girl!
I’ve been seeing too many r/salary posts and assumed these machines cost 300 grand
My first swing needle was a 319. My second was a 306. I like them both. I like the 319 better, though, when it comes down to it - I like the built in stitches and the bonus of cams. Mine are both unmodified for class 15 needles, but I have a pretty big stash of needles in all sizes for the unmodified swing needle that should last me the rest of my life.
What did you end up choosing?