This is my workhorse sewing machine. I supplement her with my embroidery machine and my serger, but if I could only keep one machine, this is the one I’m keeping.
She’s a over 50 years old and I inherited her from my mom, who purchased her for $50 (cabinet included) at a garage sale.
In fact, I like her so much I have a backup model (not in a cabinet) that I got at a garage sale for $25.
She is a Singer 503 Slant-O-Matic, sometimes also referred to as a Rocketeer or a 503a.
So, why do I think you should hunt for and buy one of these old machines instead of a new one? Mostly because she can do pretty much everything a brand new machine twice (or more) her price can do and then some.
With the exception of electric motors and computerization, the mechanics of a sewing machine haven’t changed all that much since they were invented almost two hundred years ago. Now granted, she has attachments to achieve what newer machines use their computers to achieve, but I kind of prefer the mechanical attachments. They don’t give you error messages.
First, she’s all metal. Take a look at the inside:
There’s no plastic here, which means her parts don’t wear or break as easily.
See the thread path illustration on the left in the picture above? It’s more complicated than most of the new machines, and as a result I have very few tension issues. See, the more back and forth of the thread, the more loopers to put it through, the more opportunities to regulate the tension before it gets to the needle.
She comes with a variety of stitches, just like a new machine
The difference is that her stitches are tied to discs, not a computer. The disks look like this:
and they snap in and out here
The pattern of bumps around the edge of the disc translates to what the needle does, kind of like playing a record. Pretty cool, I think. These discs are the only plastic part in the machine.
Included in the cabinet when my mom bought her was the original manual and an assortment of feet and attachments.
My Rocketeer can do automatic buttonholes when I attach this piece
It goes on where the foot attaches. You take off the foot and attach this piece, press the pedal and the buttonhole sews out for you. It has metal disks in different sizes that you switch out to make different size buttonholes.
I was in college sewing on a new Brother machine before I learned how to make 4-step machine buttonholes because this attachment spoiled me.
She also came with two ruffler attachments. They’re both the same, one was just a spare I guess.
It doesn’t look too different from a modern day ruffler, does it? It works the same way; you attach it instead of the regular foot and she’ll ruffle away.
So, she straight stitches and zig-zags and does multiple other stitches with perfect tension, she can do automatic buttonholes and ruffle just by pressing the pedal. Why would I even think of replacing her?
Seriously, between my mom and I we own 5 of these older Singer machines (the 300 and 400 series machines were also great, these were made in the 1940s and 1950s). We can’t help but compulsively buy them when we see them, saying they’re for “spare parts”. But who needs spares when the originals don’t wear out? (OK, but don’t tell my dad or Hubby that. We need them to believe the spare parts argument in order to feed our vintage machine addiction).
If you ever see one in working condition, BUY IT. Unless I see it first, then back off.
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Tears! This was my momma’s machine that I learned to sew on!! This is IT!! Sweetness.. oh I wish I had this machine… (deep breath). It was such a wonderful and powerful machine..
Hey Melissa. I had to come over as soon as I saw this picture on Friday Flair. This was the same machine I grew up with. And it was by far the best machine I ever used. Being young when my parents died (26 and 27) I foolishly thought that a newer machine would be so much better. Wrong! Your right, those machines never wore out. Other than having the occasional tension adjustment made, they were perfect. Oh’ how I wish I had mine. And they now say the new singers are junk, made not to last. Oh’ how I long for the days when appliances lasted for 25 + years.
I’m your newest follower. Hope you have a great weekend.
Hugs…Tracy @ Cotton Pickin Cute
What a cool machine. I too collect old machines. They really don’t make them that way anymore! This one’s a beauty. Love the super cool space rocket design. Don’t see many of them! I’m a new follower, too!
I’d love for you to add it to my Thrifty Thursday link party – it would be perfect!
http://quiltedcupcake.blogspot.com/2011/11/thrifty-thursday-6.html
Ok girls I am going to date myself but I started on a treadle machine at age 11. My Mom then got one of these machines with the cams while I was in high school. That is when I learned to use a ruffler on the machine. Then right before I graduated high school I got a new Kenmore machine that I used forever. Then went on to buy a New Home then Janome and now an Elna. I guess I need to start trying to find an older machine cause you are right-much better and all metal parts. Proud to be an accomplished seamstress.
“Grammy” you’re only dating yourself if the treadle was bought new.
I ended up getting a 503 throught Ebay. Mom had one for as long as I could remember (probably bought between 61-62) before trading it in for a Bernina 830, which is the machine I am now using. With my wife’s sewing studio, we’ve got a section of display of older/vintage machines, the oldest is a Singer 66 crank circa 1906.
Any time we’ve had our sewing setup at a craft show (promoting the sewing school/studio) we get a lot of reaction if I’m working on a project there, so many are intrigued at a “Man sewing”.
I just inherited one! I’m so glad to see this post! I can’t wait to get it tomorrow!!!
I just inherited one! I’m so glad to see this post! I can’t wait to get it tomorrow!!!
I got mine from my grandmother years ago. I learned to sew on it (I didn’t have the opportunity to learn growing up), and I still love it for every project I do today. My mother (who is a professional herself), doesn’t seem to see what I see in it. I just figure she has never been able to work on it herself. I love, love, love it, and you can’t beat it’s beautiful retro style. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever want to own a “modern” sewing machine.
Found one in the original cabinet for $20 and it looks brand new – machine AND cabinet. The machine even has masking tape under the front with notes on when it was cleaned, lubricated, and adjusted. Last entry was 1987 but entries before that were every two years. What a find. It is, however, missing the accessories and power cable/foot pedal, but I found one locally in a junk shop that also repairs machines.
Found one in the original cabinet for $20 and it looks brand new – machine AND cabinet. The machine even has masking tape under the front with notes on when it was cleaned, lubricated, and adjusted. Last entry was 1987 but entries before that were every two years. What a find. It is, however, missing the accessories and power cable/foot pedal, but I found one locally in a junk shop that also repairs machines.
My mom has one, original owner, I am trying to find a serial number to find when it was made. She was trying to figure it out by how many WEDDING DRESSES it had made and if she made my oldest sisters on it(!), which would mean 1960!
When looking I managed to break one of the plastic spool holders on top of it. I found an online source for it no problem and ordered it. She had me swap the left spool holder to the side that I broke (the right one), easy stuff to work on. WHY are there two of them anyways?
Would the machine have the cover up on top always? Hers is not there, may have been at some point though (meaning the hinged lid on top).
WHERE is the serial number???
I have a 501A ( same machine). There are two spool posts for when two thread lines are used with a double needle. If you look closely at the tension knob, you will see two separate areas for running your thread. My serial number is on a tag on the back left lower area. This was the style of the machine my grandmother bought. She WORKED for Singer in thier store in Spokane, wa. She NEVER bought another machine, and she could have had ANY machine. I LOVE IT! Looking for one for my son.
PS this is in the original cabinet as well, I think that lid should be there. I see a stamped number under the hinged wooden lid on the cabinet I think it was 2874?
So glad I found your site!! A good friend just gave me hers that has been in their barn for a few years. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take it in to be cleaned, but after reading this post I will definatley be keeping “her”
Thanks for all the great info!!
Just found this through Google because I wanted to look up the machine that my wonderful repair guy (CJ) found for me when I said I wanted a “work horse.” He called today to say he had a Singer 503, so I was looking up to see what feet I wanted him to get for me. Any suggestions? You sold me on this machine even more that CJ did, which is saying something!
I have my mothers 503a plus original accesories. I am trying to fill in the missing extra attachments listed in the book. I was wondering: when I look on ebay there a lot of other slant accesories like two different monogramming attachements, do either of them work on the 503a?
Okay, I’m throwing myself on your mercy! My new-to-me 503 keeps breaking the upper thread. Any ideas? I’ve changed the thread and the needle and rethreaded several times. This is the first time I’ve used it, so maybe I’m missing something.