Singer 328K Zigzag Sewing Machine with cams
Singer 328K Zigzag sewing machine by Singer is one of their relatively well built sewing machine models. It does not have a built in zigzag stitch cam, but DOES take zigzag cams, the FLAT cams, which fit a wide variety of the vintage Singer sewing machines.
TREADLABLE SINGER ZIGZAGGER! The Singer 328K is one of the RARE Singer sewing machines which are zigzag capable, which will fit into a treadle table, and have the cutouts in the machine bed, for the treadle belt! The slot to the right of the bobbin winder, is for the treadle belt to go through, if you choose to install this model in a treadle table!
There is one plastic bushing that I found, but I think it is used as a spacer for the motor, not actually a working mechanical part. The mechanical parts in the machine appear to be metal. I didn't tear the entire machine apart, but I did do a minor cleanup and oiling of this machine, which I originally purchased, as a non working sewing machine.
The lady who sold it to us, had moved it to her porch, in it's sewing table, once she couldn't get it to sew anymore. I hadn't had any opportunity to sew with, or work on a Singer 328K before, so I did want to get a few photos, and try one out.
The only thing I discovered wrong, was the needle was installed backwards, and it was a size 8 or 9, which means it has such a tiny eye, I can see why she gave up on sewing, after installing such a tiny needle backwards. She said she couldn't see well enough to sew anymore, anyway. I couldn't even see the eye of this needle, it was so TINY! I didn't know if this model had plastic insides, or not, that is what I dislike the most about the later Singer sewing machines, once they began putting in plastic gears and parts, intended to break, so you need to buy a new machine, when you take it in for repairs, they talk you into trading up for a new, more expensive sewing machine. I was happily surprised this is better built than I thought.
To print out a free manual, try the Singer link here-
https://singerco.com.au/support/manuals/
The 328K is a very simple, mechanical sewing machine, easy to use, easy to maintain and easy to repair if anything goes wrong. Singer did not put in any built in gears, in some of their later zigzag mechanical sewing machines, instead, requiring cams, even for a zigzag stitch. The 328 is a good enough machine, I don't consider this a major detriment, but only the zigzag cam came with this one, the seller couldn't remember where she had put the manual and accessories, which included the cams.
I cleaned the machine up, and put fresh oil, and a new size 14 needles, she sews GREAT! As the old oil was removed, and fresh oil added, it picked up speed, and I was able to free up the zigzag linkage mechanism, so it sews both the straight stitch, and the zigzag stitches very well.
The early Singer FLAT cams are the ones that work on the 328K, they also work on the 306, 319, some Merritt models, and many other early Singer zigzag swing needle sewing machines.
TREADLABLE SINGER ZIGZAGGER! The Singer 328K is one of the RARE Singer sewing machines which are zigzag capable, which will fit into a treadle table, and have the cutouts in the machine bed, for the treadle belt! The slot to the right of the bobbin winder, is for the treadle belt to go through, if you choose to install this model in a treadle table!
There is one plastic bushing that I found, but I think it is used as a spacer for the motor, not actually a working mechanical part. The mechanical parts in the machine appear to be metal. I didn't tear the entire machine apart, but I did do a minor cleanup and oiling of this machine, which I originally purchased, as a non working sewing machine.  |
| 328K is a low shank presser foot machine, and has a drop in bobbin, using class 66 bobbins, both plastic and metal class 66 bobbins work well in this model. |
The lady who sold it to us, had moved it to her porch, in it's sewing table, once she couldn't get it to sew anymore. I hadn't had any opportunity to sew with, or work on a Singer 328K before, so I did want to get a few photos, and try one out.
The only thing I discovered wrong, was the needle was installed backwards, and it was a size 8 or 9, which means it has such a tiny eye, I can see why she gave up on sewing, after installing such a tiny needle backwards. She said she couldn't see well enough to sew anymore, anyway. I couldn't even see the eye of this needle, it was so TINY! I didn't know if this model had plastic insides, or not, that is what I dislike the most about the later Singer sewing machines, once they began putting in plastic gears and parts, intended to break, so you need to buy a new machine, when you take it in for repairs, they talk you into trading up for a new, more expensive sewing machine. I was happily surprised this is better built than I thought.
To print out a free manual, try the Singer link here-
https://singerco.com.au/support/manuals/
The 328K is a very simple, mechanical sewing machine, easy to use, easy to maintain and easy to repair if anything goes wrong. Singer did not put in any built in gears, in some of their later zigzag mechanical sewing machines, instead, requiring cams, even for a zigzag stitch. The 328 is a good enough machine, I don't consider this a major detriment, but only the zigzag cam came with this one, the seller couldn't remember where she had put the manual and accessories, which included the cams.
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| Singer 328K has the cam capability (flat cams only) you unscrew the big silver knob on top of the cam, to change cams. Below that, is the left center and right needle position lever, and below that, is the stitch width lever, which allows you to choose how many millimeters wide you want your zigzag stitches. |
I cleaned the machine up, and put fresh oil, and a new size 14 needles, she sews GREAT! As the old oil was removed, and fresh oil added, it picked up speed, and I was able to free up the zigzag linkage mechanism, so it sews both the straight stitch, and the zigzag stitches very well.
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| Singer 328K stitch length lever has reverse, by lifting up on the stitch length lever. You can turn the thumbscrew nut at the tip of the lever, to set the stitch length to exactly the stitch you want. There is a tiny metal fin on the left side, right under this thumbscrew nut, which points at whatever stitch length you have chosen, when the lever is pushed down. To change stitch length, lift lever slightly, and turn the thumbscrew nut, until you can push it down, and it stops at the number of stitches per inch, or millimeter length stitches you want. The bobbin winder is also on this section of the machine, the white plastic spoolpin is for your thread to wind onto a bobbin, the silver piece to the right of it, has the tension for the bobbin winding thread, and the bobbin winder is quite modern looking up near the handwheel. TREADLABLE ZIGZAG SINGER SEWING MACHINE! The slot in the front bed of the 328K, to the right of the bobbin winder tension, is specifically so you can install the 328K in a Singer treadle table, and the treadle belt will line right up! Many zigzag sewing machines have flat beds, or other body configurations which prevent them from being installed easily, in a treadle table, but the 328K is one of the RARE models Singer made with this capability! |
The early Singer FLAT cams are the ones that work on the 328K, they also work on the 306, 319, some Merritt models, and many other early Singer zigzag swing needle sewing machines.
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| 328K I LOVE the simplicity of the metal mechanical parts on this wonderful zigzag sewing machine! |
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| Simplicity, and mostly metal, indicate this is one of the better built modern Singer zigzag sewing machines. |
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| The one plastic piece I found, appears to be a spacer, for holding the motor in position, not a mechanical part. |
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| Singer 328K Sewing Machine with stitch sample and pedal |
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| Singer 328K classic simplicity faceplate view |
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| Singer 328K rear view |
