Something to Sing(er) about! :)

[suzelle]

Yep, you guessed it! Another Singer!

Picked her up in Seattle today, Seller had it listed on Craigslist for $400, and it looked pretty good in the photos.

I didn't see that it came with extra feet, straight stitching plate and feed dogs, or any tools, so I offered $350. I could see everything was turning, so it wasn't jammed up in anyway. However, something was goofy with the feed dogs and they were not moving the fabric. Figured if everything else was moving, I could fix that!

Got back to the shop and put the Singer up on the table to inspect and found that all it needed was a couple of adjustments and screwing down the feed dogs! Now she sews! Been wanting one of these pretty bad, I'm going to be testing this machine with some lighter weight leather projects, sewing up some western garments for Grand-Daughter Emma, at last! Emma rides horses (thus the leather garments) and I am spending time with her teaching her to design her own clothing. She's very creative and it's a really fun time for me too! I cannot think of a better machine for her to learn on. However, I think I'm going to get another motor so she can start out slow. Emma likes to ride horses, but I don't think she's ready for the Horsepower this thing puts out. LOL

[dikman]

Appears to be in very good condition.

[Constabulary]

Maybe not too importation for you but the 20U is using the same needle plates and feed dogs as the Singer 107W & 457. So you have quite a wide range you can choose from. How do I know? Well I once ordered a 20U & 457 needle plate and feed dog for my 307G2 AND the needle plates of my 107W1 fit the 307G2 as well - conclusion - 20U and 107w / 457 needle plates and feed dogs are interchangeable 

CS in the UK has a wide range but I´m sure you can find them in the US as well.

https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/store/Singer107G,107WSewingMachineParts

https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/store/Singer457G,457USewingMachineParts

 

[suzelle]

9 hours ago, dikman said:

Appears to be in very good condition.

Dikman,

THANKS! Yes, except for a couple nicks and dings, it's in pretty new condition although manufactured years ago. maybe 1980s??? Not sure yet what year, but that will be fun to find out.

[suzelle]

6 hours ago, Constabulary said:

Maybe not too importation for you but the 20U is using the same needle plates and feed dogs as the Singer 107W & 457. So you have quite a wide range you can choose from. How do I know? Well I once ordered a 20U & 457 needle plate and feed dog for my 307G2 AND the needle plates of my 107W1 fit the 307G2 as well - conclusion - 20U and 107w / 457 needle plates and feed dogs are interchangeable 

CS in the UK has a wide range but I´m sure you can find them in the US as well.

https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/store/Singer107G,107WSewingMachineParts

https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/store/Singer457G,457USewingMachineParts

 

Constabulary,

This is very much important, and much appreciated information! Thank you.  Then gentleman I purchased the machine from said he had (3) machines and I bet they were all the same machine style, but saw just this one. He had a business (garment repair and construction) and had employees, then when through some hard times and had to sell machine(s) to afford a move. When I asked him about parts, he would go back into his home and fish out what I'd asked for: a bobbin to test machine, a needle plate, thread, lol. I realized he was trying to hang on to whatever he could, probably for his other machines(s). So the machine is in excellent condition, but she does need a few things.

One of the reasons for purchasing this machine is that I have about 400 various sized needles in packets of 50 each that will all fit this machine. I got them along with a Consew 217 machine I purchased a few years back. I sold the machine though, because the hook broke, and I'd only paid about $200 for it, but the replacement hook was going to cost far more than the machine at the time. I think hook prices have come down on those since then, because those machines are being manufactured again now, under a different name (Global???) in Germany (???). I priced out new ones about a year ago. Wished I'd hung onto the 217. Oh well, I live and learn.  Learning is fun.

Thanks again for the help! I am not selling this Singer, parts are cheap and plentiful. I have loads of bobbins, needles, and feet already that fit it. Thread too, mostly v69 in many colors. Great for uniform repair, which I seem to do a lot of. I have a lot of v92 thread too, I use poly in both these sizes, bonded. I'm pretty sure this Singer can handle the v92 thread, as long as I don't use it all the time? Please feel free to comment on those ideas, I want to learn. Matt at Sailrite posted something a while ago on his forum that you can use v92 thread on the Singer 20U, as long as you have the correct foot, needle plate, and feed dog. He recommended the zig zag set for the v92 thread.

[DrmCa]

This machine may be an upgrade for you, but be aware that 20U is not really a full-blown industrial machine. This is a small-shop glorified household machine, put onto an industrial K-legs. It will run light textiles and denims, but nothing heavier.

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Singer 20U made in Japan is a very describable machine.  

[suzelle]

On 3/22/2018 at 11:29 AM, DrmCa said:

This machine may be an upgrade for you, but be aware that 20U is not really a full-blown industrial machine. This is a small-shop glorified household machine, put onto an industrial K-legs. It will run light textiles and denims, but nothing heavier.

DrmCa,

Machine is not an "upgrade" for me, actually it fills a gap in my herd. I have what you called a "full blown industrial" lol. So don't worry 'bout me, k?

Oh, and thanks for the encouragement.

[suzelle]

18 hours ago, Gregg From Keystone Sewing said:

Singer 20U made in Japan is a very describable machine.  

Greg, Thanks very much! Yes, I have wanted one of these Singers for some time.

The advantages for me are: I can mount it in a portable case and take it on jobs with me when my projects call for any work on the spot. I may not be able to use the heaviest of my threads (v92) in that situation, but I can with confidence use a Bonded Poly v69  thread for my proto-type aircraft covers, knowing it won't damage my machine. The v69 thread is strong enough to hold my fabrics together and to get approval on the fitting, but this is not the thread I would use in the final product, nor would the Singer 20U be the sewing machine I'd use for the final product. It's at least an answer to travelling equipped, and getting a good fitting initial pattern.

Another advantage: This machine was manufactured in Japan, and although it's an older machine, it is like new. After fully inspecting it, I've found that it just hadn't been run, hadn't been oiled or greased either. These older Japan made machines seam to be very dependable. Again, parts are plentiful and affordable! Oh, and this type of machine is still being manufactured today, under various names. I think my $350 investment was a smart one. In fact, I know it was! Money well spent.

In my experience, it has been a challenge finding a versatile machine I can use on a job or at the shop, one that is portable and takes the industrial needles and threads I commonly use. When travelling to a job, it just makes sense to have a machine with me so I can make the best use of my time and travel. One thing I won't do again is ship a machine to a job, have had some damage in shipping.    I have also purchased machine(s) when having to travel to another State and that's not fun either, never know what you will end up with when you get there. So these days, I don't go too far. A day trip, maybe a weekend, and I can pack my Singer 20U with me!

I am sure the Singer 20U will handle much of my smaller stuff, upholstery work and most uniform work with ease, it won't even sneaze! I have 6,12, and 15 needle embroidery machines and  make large, pretty densely embroidered jacket back patches that are sewn onto garments, I think this machine will handle that task with ease as well. I won't have to tie up my Pfaff 545, which I keep set up to sew over the street banners. It's not the thickest thread available, but I use Bonded Poly v92 on this machine and I don't like to fuss with it since it needs to be ready to run banners immediately after running them on our HP Latex Printer. My banners can go up to 60" wide and any length, so no screwing around here! LOL.  I keep that area set up with extension tables needed to sew long banners, and use these tables for some of my portable machines and sergers when I NOT on a banner job. I also use these tables to spread out/sort paper work and pack orders. this is the most efficient use of that area in the shop. Above a section of the tables that are against a wall, I keep the portable machines. They are ready to pull down and use for whatever orders I've got. Also, assortment of threads, needles, velcros, banner making supplies, etc...

The Singer 20U takes industrial needles, you can even set it up as a "twin" needle (I just learned) which can be helpful with a double-stitch look. I'm sure not a true double stitch as it's not a double bobbin machibne, but it's somethi'n! It has pretty good reviews for it's wide zig zag stitch and people do comment on the lovely Satin Stitch, beautiful straight stitch. I know it's got more oomph than a domestic/household machine. I'd call that Glorious! I mean Glorified!

Since I really put my sewing machines through the paces, it's a great plan to have a couple of Home/Domestic machines in my shop too! After all, we make and fix garments too! I think that the making of a fine garment is the most intricate work I do. I feel that every machine is a tool and like a set of socket wrenches, it's good to have them in various sizes. After 32 years in business, I've gathered up a few of these tools! Love them, have never lost my excitement over getting a new one. Correction: New/Old one!

Edited March 24, 2018 by suzelle

[suzelle]

20 hours ago, Gregg From Keystone Sewing said:

Singer 20U made in Japan is a very describable machine.  

P.S. Gregg - I mean to say good eye! You caught that - 2nd photo included shot of back of the machine with "made in Japan"

That is why the 2nd photo was included. Other wise, who cares?  When you have a chance Gregg, let me know if you have parts for these 20U machines. I'm going to make her portable. Looking for parts that are missing. I think previous owner moved parts off for another machine, either that or it just never had them in original table set-up? The motor is old (Arrow brand) but looks unused like the machine. I do have a nice portable motor I bought a few years back that is heavier than a standard household motor, I think 1/4 hp or something like that. Going to mount that to the motor boss, or back, we'll see. Also, need a decent box to put her in. Something like what Sailrite has on their website. I don't want plastic. If you have things, let me know please. Or if you have used parts from the old machines I'd be interested in that too.

Thanks!

Edited March 24, 2018 by suzelle
adding a line