Singer Slant Needle 404


Here's the latest addition to my crazy collection, a 1959 Singer Slant Needle 404. This model is a Slant-O-Matic with an internal gear drive, which makes incredibly nice, even stitches. It has a horizontal rotary hook with Class 66 drop-in bobbins, and accepts standard 15 x 1 needles. This machine has a funky "elevator" needle plate system with a lever that allows the needle plate to raise above the feed dogs for free-motion stitching or quilting, or raise all the way up to remove the stitch plate for cleaning.

I've secretly always wanted a 400 series machine, but haven't run across one at a decent price. Also, it's not like I really NEED another sewing machine, right? Because honestly, at this point, I'm not really sure how many I have!

This one though, this machine was free AND close to home. Very close to home—like right out the back door. Literally! My neighbor behind us in the alley tossed it out right before trash day!

Unfortunately, the poor old girl was dropped on her head on the way out to the trash, and had big scrapes and gouges across the top cover and part of the hand wheel. And she was pretty grimy, like sitting in the corner of the basement for probably longer than I've been alive grimy. No extra parts were with the machine, but we did dig out the original cord and foot control from the trash. (And yep, I did ask the neighbor about the machine and if there were any other parts. The neighbor said she wasn't really sure where in the world the machine had come from, but did not belong to anyone in her immediate family.)

Fortunately, she works! And my husband offered to take the top cover and handwheel (which were originally a tan color on this model) and powder-coat them for me to cover up all the scrapes. We picked out a gold color to go with all the gold trim on the machine. And he just took them out of the powder-coating oven last night, so I just now finished putting her all back together again.


The gold color turned out okaaaaay, but in some light it can take on a big of a greenish tinge...like below.


I think I would have gone with a different color had I known this gold was a bit on the green side, but what's done is done! After a little cleaning and a lot of oiling, this machine works great. A perfect machine for straight line sewing and piecing!


Yay! I love her, what a great early Christmas gift!

Comments

Brenda said…
I have a sister to this machine, and she's my main sewing machine. I love her! I hope you'll have the same reaction to yours. :)
Deborah said…
I think your machine looks great. The powder coating makes her look new. I have a 401 that I paid $10 for, and she is really fun to sew on. The 400 series machines have to be oiled on a very regular basis, like every time you sew to stay in good working order. I know you are going to enjoy your machine.
raebethriv said…
Love my 403! Got it in a cabinet, $35, about 8 years ago! It has the cams for a bunch of stitches. I guess I should oil it up!
Material Girl said…
I have many 301s. These slant machines are wonderful!
Unknown said…
Yea you on such a great save! I don't know what is better, the fact that you rescued her from the brink or that your hubby worked his magic on it--powder coating, what a great idea! I think that makes it look pretty amazing. I just got a 401A from the thrift store a few weeks ago & I am really impressed with the 400 series. Thanks for sharing pics of your new beauty!
Erika Mulvenna said…
Thanks so much for stopping by Brenda, Deborahnhamilton, raebethriv, Material Girl and La Vonda C! So fun to see that many of you have a 400 Series machine, too! I can tell I am going to really love quilt piecing on this baby. Happy stitching!
Anonymous said…
Congratulations on your find. I was just sewing on my 404 this morning, one of several slant shank ones I have. I love the sound these gear-driven machines make. Great stitches.
Anonymous said…
I just found this old post. I have several 400 series Singer sewing machines. They are great machines but I can't get past that ugly tan color. I wish Singer had offered them in black like the 301's. If money was not an issue, I would definitely have my machines powder coated in
black.
Erika Mulvenna said…
I totally agree with your Anonymous, I'd love these machines even more if I could afford to have them totally powder coated in different colors! They still sew like a dream. ;)

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