Recent Purchase 201k?

[BovrilOnToast]

Hi guys

Recently bought this Singer sewing Machine and I have a question.

Is it a 201k?

The reason I ask is because the tension dial is different from all other images of machines I have seen.

Got it for £30 which I thought was a good price and it seem to work good.

Here,s some images ...

Also does anyone use v69 thread with this machine, seem to be having problems getting the tension correct, it sews, but can always see the top thread on the underside. Have got Guttermanns Terra 60 to work fine although it pulls bottom thread up through the fabric when back tacking and seems to work better when the stitch length is slightly off max.

Sewing Cordura 1000D.

Any tips?

Oh and great forum, first post.

Thanks

 

[laro13]

With your serial number you can find what type it is and when/where it was build:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-sewing-machine-serial-number-database.html

 

[Mesquite]

Serial number identifies it as 1 of 10,000 201K's made in 1934

 

[BovrilOnToast]

Hey

Thanks for the responses guys, appreciated.

It would seem that this machine was in the first mass production run of the model, with only 1600 having been produced before this.

That would explain the weird tension dial I suppose.

All I need now is some tensioning tips.

Thanks

 

[Twodogs]

I use a 201k2 for my sewing fantastic machine.
Most of the user info I picked up from utube threading , servicing the lot...normally from crazed singer users from the US these folks know there singers.
The rest is just practice.
Twodogs

 

[JamPan]

You've bought the greatest sewing machine ever made.
I have one at home too and it'll sew anything the Pfaff industrial machines will sew.

 

[JamPan]

For tension tips, you're best messing about with different fabric around 250 to 350gsm and adjusting the tension until you can sew neatly. 4oz Nylon is slippery and demanding to sew with light tension and it puckers really easily. 6oz backed nylon isn't as bad.

 

[JamPan]

I've just had a look at your serial number and it seems to be a 66k. That's still an excellent machine, that will sew pretty much everything.

 

[Mesquite]

I've just had a look at your serial number and it seems to be a 66k. That's still an excellent machine, that will sew pretty much everything.

V prefix series machines only went up to 1828349 before being discontinued in 1909 and changing to a W prefix in 1911

[TABLE="class: center collapse bordertable ninefivepcent alternate, width: 934"]
[TR="bgcolor: #EDF2FF"]
[TD]Y-[/TD]
[TD]9603736[/TD]
[TD]9613735[/TD]
[TD]201K[/TD]
[TD]10000[/TD]
[TD]October 29[/TD]
[TD]1934[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[JamPan]

Apologies, my bad eyes are reading it as a V.
(And missing a number off the end!)

 

[BovrilOnToast]

Hi guys

Got it sorted, had to loosen the bobbin thread tension as it was set to max and I ran out of tension on the top thread, with the bobbin tension sorted I,m at just over halfway on the top, also, the tension unit was put together wrongly, so the presser foot lift didn't release the tension, it does now, have ordered a new tension spring, as well as some oil, bobbin winder o-ring, and a 1/4 inch piping foot.

Now I just gotta learn how to do patterns and i,ll be sewing like crazy.

L8rs

 

[BovrilOnToast]

Hi guys

Ok, that was a bit premature, let me rephrase.

I have it mostly sorted, I have good stitches with the Gutterman Terra 60 and dabond v69.

But the back stitch looks like crap. Its pulling the bottom stitch through the fabric to much.

Anyone sewing with v69 and the 201k?

Thanks again.

 

[Twodogs]

up the tension loads

 

[JamPan]

Not used the Guttermans terra 60, but the v69 works fine on my 201k on polycotton and teflon coated pu backed acrylic canvas, though mine is from 1950's so there could be tweaks to it. The Pfaff industrials where I work, the machinists have sewn with that thread for years.

I haven't tried sewing Cordura on my home machine. Again the Pfaffs don't have any issue with it.

If re-tensioning doesn't work.
Here's some random ideas.
Maybe the v69 is gripping to the coating on one side more than the Guttermans which could have more slip?
How does it back tack if you turn the fabric the opposite way?
Also, needle brands can have strange effects on some materials even though they look the same size.