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| 1703 with the crinkled gold plastic decor plates, on the left, 1803 with the crinkled metallic brown decor plates, on the right |
Kenmore made many of their sewing machines identical, mechanically, but with different decor plates, or paint, or dials, and different cam and accessory sets, with monogrammers only included with the top of the line models. The 1703 is the less expensive model, despite it's gold decor, it came with only 20 stitch cams, but it has the same number of built in stitch cams, and sews the same stitches. You CAN use all of the 1803 accessories and cams, in the 1703! If you prefer the gold decor of the 1703, but want the top of the line luxury accessories and feet, monogrammer and buttonholer mechanism, buying the 1803 accessory set, will fill the bill beautifully!
UPDATE 10/23/2023 - I only learned the belt pulley by the handwheel, on SOME VERSIONS of these models are plastic , thanks to Joe Winchester, in one of the Vintage Kenmore groups on Facebook, discovered a brown plastic pulley on his 158.18033, and asked us to check ours. I found plastic pulleys on the 158.18130 (newer than 1603, 1703, 1803 models), one 158.18033, and one 158.17033, but other versions of these same models, both 17033, and 18033, which I worked on, and earlier versions, had aluminum/metal pulleys.
The earlier models of 1603, 1703, 1803, which will had a 0, 1, 2, and SOME 3, for the version number, 158.1603x, 158.1703x, 158.1803x, the pulleys are aluminum, or another metal.
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| 1703 with the crinkled gold plastic decor plates, on the left, 1803 with the crinkled metallic brown decor plates, on the right |
To see my blog about the 1803, with detailed model information, click on this link-
Kenmore 1803 blog with photos & videos
To see my blog about the 1703, with detailed model information, click on this link-
Kenmore 1703 sewing machine blog with photos and moreIf you have problems with the 1703 or 1803 clutch, here is a GREAT blog with a tutorial with photos
from Ed blogpost here-
Kenmore 1703 1803 clutch mechanism disassembly tutorial blogpost
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| 1803 is set into the desk, the 1703 is sitting in front of it. |
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| 1703 is set at the top of the photo, the 1803 is installed in the desk. Note these are literally identical, other than the color of the decor plates. |
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| 1703 on left, 1803 on the right, even the pedals are the same. The 1703 came with a smaller set of stitch cams, but has the same built in stitches the 1803 does. Note they have the same bobbin winding clutch button, bobbin winder, and darning feed dog controls, use the same buttonhole plates, and monogrammer plates, though the 1703 did not actually come with a monogrammer, it can use the 1803 monogrammer, since it is otherwise identical. |
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| 1703 on left, 1803 on right |
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| Sears Kenmore Solid State pedal 1803 & 1703 |
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| Sears Kenmore 1703 and 1803 Solid State pedals on the bottom |
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| 1803 catalog description, and the 4 vinyl "books" of accessories and cams |
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| 1803 buttonholer geared plate, cams, buttonholer on right, presser feet and screwdrivers in top section, Q foot & needle set, chainstitch adapters, needle threader |
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| 1803 buttonholer, cams, chainstitch, needle threader, and Q foot and stretch needle set, with presser feet hiding under the buttonholer |
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| 1803 monogrammer, rolled hemmer adapter feet, and the blind hemmer sitting on top of it's box |
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| 1803 stitch cams, the advertisement for the 1803, the gray and cream vinyl "books" which include the accessories and buttonholer, monogrammer and cams, manual, etc... |
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| Kenmore 1803 on left, 1703 on right top, inside the mechanical workings |
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| Kenmore 1703 inside the faceplate area |
Sears Kenmore sewing machines
