Upgrading my machine, want to gather some opinions

[Gerry]

Can you tell from that photo of the Brother's plate if it's asymmetrical or not?

After doing some looking around there are also several 201s in my area in seemingly good condition - comparably priced to the Brother, so it's down to those two for my machine. Can't decide, I am going back and forth between the two.

By the look of it, yes:

https://coulingsewingmachines.co.uk/brother-pq-standard-needle-plate-quilter-pq1500s-pq1600s-only/

No idea how it performs though [edit: plus there's a lot of plastic in that model?].

[EvanTA]

Do people have strong opinions on the external motor, belt-drive Singers versus the potted motor Singers? I found someone selling a good condition, recently serviced Singer 201-3 which is the belt-drive style. My sense is that these belt-drive ones are found more commonly in europe and canada (the seller is in canada) versus potted motors being more common in US.

My other sense is that the potted motor ones are stronger IF motor and wiring are in good condition, whereas external belt-drive ones give you a little more control over the machine: you can upgrade the motor, replace the belt, fine-tune the belt tension, so is long-run more capable.

I may be getting into "over thinking it" territory, but that's fine. I'd rather over-think it now then have to re-think it after a purchase.

[Gerry]

I follow this chap on youtube. Very informative:

Related vids:

https://www.youtube.com/@VintageSewingMachineGarage/search?query=potted

[Gerry]

Stitch quality shown in this particular vid:

Never used one, but general consensus is that they're more powerful.

[EvanTA]

Ah, that's a good resource, thank you. Ok I pulled the trigger on the 201-3, very excited.

[Gerry]

Well done, good call! The great thing about old singers, as I mentioned earlier, is that they're pretty easy to work on if you do get problems. That guy's channel is a really good resource, and there are other channels on YouTube too that show you how to service and/or repair vintage machines. I found them really useful when I was servicing my 185.

[Gerry]

PS I don't know what the foot peddles are like stateside, but the UK Singers had the button type that you press with your toe. I found them really annoying so I bought a replacement, compatible rocker-pedal, which gives me far better control.

I also took the opportunity to extend the lead (I have long legs and the cables are always too short).

Anyway, let us know how you get on with it.

[Hendrick]

PS I don't know what the foot peddles are like stateside, but the UK Singers had the button type that you press with your toe. I found them really annoying so I bought a replacement, compatible rocker-pedal, which gives me far better control.

I also took the opportunity to extend the lead (I have long legs and the cables are always too short).

Anyway, let us know how you get on with it.

Same here... The one thing I deeply dislike is the footcontrolers that come with Singers. I found a bunch of (brand new) black Pfaff metal footpedals at a place that went out of business a few years ago. Didn't hesitate to replace the pedals of the Singers with them. They're also heavy so quite hard to kick around like todays'plastic pedals.

Cheers and good luck with your machine!

[Schneiderfrei]

Do people have strong opinions on the external motor, belt-drive Singers versus the potted motor Singers?

Nope. All are ok. There's no discussion, like that in industrials; clutch vs servo.

[EvanTA]

Got the machine yesterday! Fooled around with it a little bit yesterday and this morning, it'll take some time to adjust to it I think. Not a steep learning curve necessarily, more like when you're cooking in someone else's kitchen. I know what I want to do but my hands take a few moments longer to execute. I do love how smooth it is. With my kenmore it can get up to speed but it becomes sort of loud and you can feel the machine vibrate and it can be slightly distracting. Not so with this machine at all.

One bummer is it got dinged in shipping and a part of the belt guard broke off along with the bobbin winder. The seller agreed to split the cost of a replacement belt guard which I was able to locate on ebay. He'd otherwise packaged it well so splitting it seemed fair to me.