Singer 101 Sewing Machine with potted motor & oil wick system
Singer 101 with rectangular bobbin cover plate, & needleplate, calibrated stitch length dial on bed of machine, is a rotary hook lockstitch, no reverse
Singer 101 was manufactured from 1910 to 1937 according to ISMACS Comprehensive Singer Model List
"For family use. Horizontal rotary hook. Lock stitch. Designed for use with electricity with motor built-in to back of the arm; controlled by knee lever. Has 'Sewlight' at rear of arm. Regularly supplied with 'combination' table. No reverse."
Singer's first all electric sewing machine, which was built to be an electric machine only, is the Singer 101, which has a very unique self oiling system, which uses an octopus like wick, in an attempt to save time oiling the machine, every time it was sewn with.
DO NOT FILL THE OIL BOWL UNDER THE MACHINE BED, BEFORE FOLDING YOUR machine down, into the table, it will drain into the machine bed!
Singer 101 with "self oiling" wick system, oil would be poured into the small metal bowl the wicks are lying in, near the bobbin system. (The very first batch of 101's may not have the octopus wick system, they were not described as "self oiling" like all of the later versions.)
The wicks carry the oil to the locations where the oil was needed. Important not to tip machine, however, or oil would spill, an important point to remember, if it is in a bentwood case, or any other portable form.
With the expectation of an electric sewing machine sewing faster than the treadle, hand crank, or non electric machines, heat from friction, would obviously become more of an issue, which would require more lubrication, hence, the wicking "self oiling" system was installed below the removable bed, of the Singer 101 sewing machine.
The 101 does not have reverse, but you can simply sew 2 or 3 stitches, then raise the presser foot, & scoot the fabric back to the beginning, & restitch over the previous stitches, locking it in place, & repeat that at the end of seams. You can also, simply turn the stitch length dial to 0 for 3 stitches, before choosing your stitch length.
Singer's potted motor sewing machines, have a unique wicking system as well, so Singer installed special wicks here, too, but the motor wicks were to be used with Singer's unique lubricant, which melted at low temperatures, which would allow it to lubricate the motor's moving parts, without flooding it with oil, which would be flung off, at the high speeds the motor operates at.
There are model 101 versions 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, and 11, according to ISMACS.net Comprehensive List of Singer Sewing Machine Models, with no mention of model 101-12, which, according to page 137 in my 1930 "Machine Sewing Singer" Home Economics Teacher's manual provided by Singer, is the "portable" 31 lbs. With base and cover, aluminum Singer 101!
For a very educational blog about why the specific lubricant is very important, see this blog by another vintage sewing machine enthusiast-
To see instructions on rewiring a Singer potted motor, like the Singer 101-
Singer 101 accessories and original box
101 accessories and box stitch samples
Tip out front drawer of library table is convenient storage for accessories
Front view of my 101 machine in Singer table 40 I believe
Support rod pops out of table when opened, to support side leaf
Notice original kneebar setup in table
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The bed of the 101 is not as glossy, due to being a removable piece of sheet metal, not cast iron, or cast aluminum. This is to allow access to the wicking oiling system unique to the 101
Drop in class 66 bobbin system, no bobbin case needed, decorative faceplate
101 rear view of potted motor, and rear mounted light with chromed cover or shield
Bobbin winder, stitch length dial
Calibrated stitch length dial
Schoolbell bobbin winder tensioner
Chromed light shield or cover, can be used to press seams open, when light is on.
101 springloaded buttons help support lever pop out to support table leaves on sides of table
It is easier to remove the Singer 101 machine bed, if you remove the presser foot, and have needle in highest position, or remove needle
Tip out drawer holds manual, attachments & accessories, Singer 101 in library table
Singer 101 has a unique slideplate, do NOT lose it, they are hard to find replacements. Notice the rectangular needleplate, as well. To use the hemstitcher, you need the rectangular hemstitcher needleplate.
101 folded down into the cabinet. Notice the unique first potted motor.
The 101 light cover is chromed, and if kept clean, can be used to press seams open, when sewing, because it gets hot from the incandescent light bulb.
Bobbin winding spoolpin is on the front of bed, next to bobbin winder tension unit.
Notice the chromed stitch length dial, the size of a quarter, on the machine bed. The 101 is Singer's only home sewing machine with this unique removable bed plate.
Unique hinges on this table, allows a support bar to pop out
In case you don't have a manual for your Singer 101, here are threading, stitch length adjustment, oiling, greasing, and motor servicing information from "Machine Sewing Singer" copyright 1923, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1929, and 1930, giving authoritative information on your 101.
NOTICE! The spoolpin must be removed to lubricate the spiral Gears is the S.U. motor! Do NOT oil it, use vintage Singer lubricant low temp grease (vaseline works the same, or Nova's Featherweights , or The Singer Featherweight Shop both sell a replacement lubricant) do NOT USE NEW SINGER LUBRICANT, it separates, and is NOT the same!
Be aware, if you have a Singer 201, it has very different lubricating and oiling instructions, so make sure you use the correct instructions for each model of machine, they are similar, but definitely not the same!
Another blogger's information on her 101. You will find conflicting information about many sewing machines, dates of manufacture, etc., I tend to side with information from the manufacturer, but not all companies kept good records, and some factories burned, or flooded, so many records have been lost, over the past 150+ years of sewing machine history, but
Singer had some of the best record keeping, and sites like ISMACS.net and Needlebar, have good information, though incomplete, of course, since the internet has only existed for a fraction of the time that sewing machines have been manufactured.
If you have the opportunity to acquire any of the original manuals, advertisements, or paperwork on any of your own vintage, or antique sewing machines, I highly recommend sharing them in your blog posts you make about your machine, because much of the books and paperwork are thrown away, by non sewing family, when the machine owners pass away, and so much incredible information is becoming lost, to future generations.
RARE Singer STRIPPER DARNING FOOT ATTACHES TO NEEDLEBAR not the presser foot bar! Notice the curved darning plate is used on the rectangular Singer 101 plate! Machine Sewing Singer Copyright 1923 to 1930
