The Story of Vaiden: A Singer 301 Sewing Machine

About 30 years ago, my dad picked up an old sewing machine off a trash pile in Virginia.  He used to do a lot of that... one day I'll have to post about my favorite lamp.  A neighbor, who worked for Singer, told my mother that it was one of the best models that Singer ever made - a 301 slant needle, with an aluminum body.  Light enough to use as a portable, with a special cradle that allowed it to fit inside of a sewing cabinet.  It's also gear driven and can stitch around 1,500 stitches per minutes.

The neighbor told my mother to hang on to this machine, so she did.

When I graduated from college and was still sewing on my great-grandmother's treadle machine, mom tried to give me this machine to use.  At the time, I was not very interested.  It's a straight-stitch only and I had my heart set on a fancy new machine with automatic button holes.  That was when I purchased my Bernina 1020, which I still use today.

While visiting my folks, I decided to take another look at this old machine.  It has been in storage at my parents home for over 20 years.

There are two reasons why I named this one Vaiden, after my grandfather.  The first is that the machine itself reminds me of him.  The style lines are modern and the design is efficient.  The thin hand wheel is flush with the machine, the bobbin winder folds down and the motor is completely enclosed.  It's a very 1950's sort of machine, and he always seemed (to me anyway) like a 1950's sort of guy.

Second, when my grandfather retired, he opened a small engine repair shop.  He was a tinker, my dad is a tinker, my brother is a tinker and I'm a tinker. It's a nice thought that we all like having a project on the workbench and the smell of parts soaking in Kerosene.

Before

Vaiden needed some work.  It was very dirty from being in storage, the finish was dull, and several chrome parts were rusted.  Some parts were missing or broken.  In addition to cosmetic issues, the needle bar was misaligned, which was causing the needle to strike the hook.  Not conducive to good sewing.  I cleaned it up and took care of the mechanical problems as well as I could.  It sews a decent stitch, but I think it needs adjustments beyond my skill. Maybe I'll work on it more some day, but in the meantime, Victory is on the workbench and needs my attention!

After

Vaiden as I remember him, early 1960's

Vaiden at age 14

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