BackgroundThe story
The 301 was Singer’s 100th-anniversary machine, marking 1851–1951. According to singer301.com, most makers were still selling pre-war designs after the Second World War, while Singer was engineering something new. The slant-needle patent was filed on 17 November 1944.
Thirty pilot machines were made at Elizabethport on 27 March 1951, serials AK257721–AK257750, and destroyed after testing. A limited run of 10,000 followed from July 1951, and the grand introduction came in October 1952. The head is die-cast aluminium, built with a precision method Singer developed with Doehler-Jarvis. The needle bar leans back 9° so you can see the stitching point better. Singer also pitched it as a cabinet and portable machine in one: you lift it out by its handle and carry it away.
About 700,000 were made, almost all at the new Anderson, South Carolina plant, before production ended in 1957. The 301 founded Singer’s slant-needle family, which went on to include the 401, 403, 404 and 500. Anderson made its last slant-needle machine, the 503A, in 1963 (singer301.com).
ReferenceSpecification
Specification plate
- Years made
- Pilot run 1951, main production 1952–1957; about 700,000 made (singer301.com). The ISMACS model list gives 1951–59.
- Name
- “301” in 1951–52; “301A” from January 1953, marking Anderson-made machines.
- Factory
- Anderson, South Carolina (early machines registered at Elizabethport).
- Build
- Aluminium, full-size head, slant shank. 301-1 has a short bed extension for cabinets; 301-2 a long extension for portable use.
- Hook and bobbin
- Rotary hook; Class 221 bobbin (the same as the Featherweight). Needle bar inclined 9°.
- Needle
- 15x1.
- Drive
- Internal motor with gear drive.
- Stitches
- Straight stitch with reverse and drop feed.
- Weight
- About 16 lb (singer301.com).
Serial numbers: Anderson, South Carolina prefixes: NA (1951–55) and NB (1956–57), per singer301.com and singersewinginfo.
IdentificationHow to recognise a 301 / 301A
The bed extension swings away so you can take the bobbin out quickly (singer301.com). Short beds are 3¼ in long, long beds 6 in.
The left-end face plate swings open for oiling and adjusting the needle and presser bars (singer301.com).
Early machines have a raised border cast around the Singer badge. From about serial NA206500 the border was dropped for a flat look (singer301.com).
Up to about NA050000 the motor plate carries a “Circle S”; after that a “Red S” (singer301.com).
Centennials (NA000001–NA001000) have a non-matching “Celtic Chain” decal on the back of the arm. Later black machines have matching Paperclip, then Prism, decals (singer301.com).
Early machines are Traditional Black or Soft Beige. From 1956 the two-tone is Oyster-White with Solid Beige, which owners call LBOW (singer301.com).
In detailColours, decals and serials
- Black, or beige/tan; two-tone from 1956.
- Black machines carry Paperclip decals up to serial NA130000, then Prism.
- The first 1,000 machines have a Centennial badge.
- Serial prefixes: NA (1951–55) and NB (1956–57; NB000001–NB200000 per singer301.com and singersewinginfo).
Source: singer301.com and singersewinginfo.
VersionsVersions and sub-models
| Version | What sets it apart |
|---|---|
| 301-1 | Short bed extension (170027) for cabinet use, foot controller 194828 and wiring harness 196222 (singer301.com); about 70% of production. |
| 301-2 | Long bed extension (170156) for portable use in the carrying case, foot controller 194584 and harness 196778 (singer301.com). |
| 301-3 | ISMACS lists this version for use with a school sewing and cutting table. |
| Centennial limited edition | The first 1,000 (NA000001–NA001000), 500 black and 500 Soft Beige, with a larger blue Centennial badge; singer301.com has located only 53. |
| Anniversary limited edition | The next 9,000 (NA001001–NA010000), split evenly between black and Soft Beige, with the new Black Band badge (singer301.com). |
Parts and accessoriesBobbins, attachments and the parts it takes
Class 221 bobbin 45785 and bobbin case 45751, the same as the Featherweight. Original cases are marked 45750 (singer301.com).
The all-purpose foot is part 170071. Low-shank Featherweight feet will not fit, because the 301 has a slant shank.
Binder (160624), edge stitcher (160625), adjustable hemmer (160626), foot hemmer (160627), gather foot (160628) and ruffler (160629), with bobbins, screwdrivers and 15x1 needles (singer301.com).
Sold separately: buttonholer 160743, zigzag attachment 160745, and the automatic zigzagger 161103 or 160986 (singer301.com).
Long-bed machines came in a trapezoid case, E24984, covered in light brown grass cloth with brown leather trim. Short-bed machines went in cabinets (singer301.com).
The original Singer oil can is part 120861 (singer301.com).
MaintenanceLooking after it
The hinged face plate gives you access to the needle-bar and presser-bar oiling points. A repairman quoted by singer301.com says the 301 rarely breaks down and mostly needs cleaning and oiling.
Earlier motors have a short chrome tube on the underside. A repair blog advises filling it with Singer motor lubricant. Singer301.com says NB-serial machines from 1956 need no lube tube; the blog dates the grease-free bronze bushings to about 1960. Check your motor before greasing.
Swing the bed extension away to reach the bobbin area and clear lint around the hook.
Push a 15x1 needle up as far as it goes with the flat side to the left, then tighten the thumb screw (singer301.com).
General advice from the sources listed below. If in doubt, follow your machine’s Singer manual.
Before you buyWhat to check on a used 301 / 301A
In-person checks
QuestionsFrequently asked questions
Does the 301 use Featherweight bobbins?
Yes, the 301 uses the Class 221 bobbin, the same as the 221 Featherweight.
Why does my 301 serial start with NA?
NA and NB are Anderson, South Carolina prefixes. Singer’s summary table dates NA to 1951–59 and NB to 1959–61; singer301.com and singersewinginfo date 301 machines to NA 1951–55 and NB000001–NB200000 to 1956–57.
What is the difference between the 301 and 301A?
Only the name. From January 1953 Singer added “A” to mark machines made at Anderson, South Carolina (singer301.com).
Can the Singer 301 sew zigzag?
Not on its own; it is a straight-stitch machine. Singer sold a zigzag attachment (160745) and an automatic zigzagger for it (singer301.com).
Will Featherweight presser feet fit a 301?
No. The 301 has a slant shank, so it needs slant-shank feet such as the 170071 all-purpose foot. It does share the Featherweight’s bobbin and bobbin case.
Can I take a 301 out of its cabinet?
Yes. Singer designed it as a cabinet and portable machine in one: lift it out by its handle (singer301.com). A long bed extension makes it better for portable use.
How fast does a Singer 301 sew?
Up to about 1,600 stitches a minute, according to singer301.com. Period advertising quoted 1,500.
ReferencesSources
Where sources disagree we show each figure rather than choosing one. Spotted an error? Tell us.
- www.singer301.com/about/default.html
- www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/301
- ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/model-list/classes-300-399.html
- www.singer301.com/dating/default.html
- www.singer301.com/limited/default.html
- www.singer301.com/accessories/default.html
- www.singer301.com/technical/default.html
- featherweightrx.blogspot.com/2010/12/greasing-singer-301-motor.html
Last reviewed October 2026