July 28, 2011

Singer 327 K (1964)

Found the 327 k at an estate sale and although it was a low end model in its day it turned out to be one of the most reliable machines I have. Made in England (k) in 1964 it has the great turquoise color scheme and a well made matching carrying case.


It sews all my garment weight leather without a complaint, and was my number one machine untill I recently discovered the New Home 532.


I don't know why these things are so popular? Maybe they made so many that everyone can find them easily?

I have to admit that I like the fact (on any machine) that the reverse stays in reverse for the next line of sewing; it makes it easier to start in reverse then to have to free up your hand at the very beginning of a new stitch line. This would be a good option on the newest of machines; the ability to remain in reverse after the reverse button has been hit. Just like the auto needle up position the computer could be told to stay in reverse or not.



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32 comments:

  1. This is my first personal sewing machine which i found at a fleamarket. I questioned buying at first because it was missing the lid for the bobbin compartment, but the seller demonstrated that it indeed worked. The other machines were not singer so I took the chance and bought it. The missing parts I have been able to find online. Not bad for a twenty dollar purchase. Not sure what feet are available for it, but hope to find out soon. I may become proficient enough to buy one of the new models.

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    1. hi, good luck with it; it's a work horse!
      Feet are mostly comon either "high shank" or "low shank" almost any one that screws on will do if its the same general height

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    3. Is this singer 327K a zig-zag model

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  2. Ha! That machine was made in Scotland!

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    1. yes in Scotland! in 1961. i am using it for many years, love it!!!!

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  3. I just bought one of these off eBay. A little tweeking and cleaning has been it. This machine is a tough machine. I love the fact that it is all metal gears. No plastic or teflon gears in this baby!!!

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    1. It's a geeky yet fearless looking machine with bumps and lumps allover; that's what makes it so loveable. Who needs anything more than straight and ZZ?

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    2. Trying to sell my Singer 327K. Do you have any idea?

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  4. I was just wondering when mine was made as it seems to be working so well after all this time. Got mine in a charity shop (thrift store?) for 20 pounds - it obviously belonged to a very careful previous owner as it came with all the attachments still in a box. Bless. Lucky me :-)) It's also built into a fine wooden sewing table - not quite so handy for trucking around but very nice to look at. Goes backwards too, not just straight and Zee! It was the lovely colour and retro styling that I fell for but it has so much more to offer!

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    1. Yes, it seems to be a well respected machine and for good reason, but definetly not a travel machine.
      You can pin-point the year and location of manufacture on the Singer site (http://www.singerco.com/support/machine-serial-numbers) you will recognise the number on the underside of the machine when you see it.
      Have fun!

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    2. I tried to follow the link but got a 404 Page Not Found message. Mine is a 327K model without the lightswitch and i really would love to know about it's history.
      Cheers!

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  5. was made in Scotland! in 1961. i am using it for many years, love it!!!!

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  6. was made in Scotland! in 1961. i am using it for many years, love it!!!!

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  7. I have a piece that was made in Great Britain. It looks like to be a 1961 but can't seem to find the exact serial number. Serial number is ET150566. Do any of you know how I could find online it's estimated worth? Thank you! Mel

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    1. Its just an Ebay / Craigslist search, you may have to be patient.

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  8. My mum bought me mine a few weeks ago, because I wanted one. We are of Scottish decent so to find this out gave us a good chuckle. I just hope I can get it cleaned and repaired. It's missing bobbins and 's needle.

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  9. Just bought one as is at a thrift store for $10 in a table. Spent a few hours cleaning oiling and greasing the gears. It runs fine .

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  10. Thanks for the information it was a great help for me. best sewing machine for leather

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  11. I was just giving the 327 for mother's day. It still has the manual with it. It doesn't have a rip off fold in it. I don't know much about these anyone have any info about it. How much it was when it's first made & how much it's worth if any. Thank you Gammy

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    1. My wife bought hers in 64 for £72 that's a lot in today's money.

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  12. I bought my Singer 327K in 1964 and have used it regularly ever since, I would very much like an Instruction / Maintenance manual, anybody know where I might find it download one please.

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  13. Singer.com has .pdf files for many vintage models, and they allow to download them for free. Hope this helps!

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  14. I got mine new in 1964. Trips to repair shops for upper tension problems in the 1990's were non-productive. In '16 I dug in myself and saw the tension assemply's release pin bore on a broken turqouise sliver. I replaced with parts from tension assembly of non-327 and it's less pretty but totally functional again (I' routinely used it for stitching denim and tent canvas).

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  15. Hi, where would I find the serial number on a Singer 327k please?

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  16. Im a 44 yo man. Lol I just got a 327k in cabnet that looks and runs like brand new. I've tried so hard to learn how to sew with it but no luck. It keeps getting the upper thred stuck in the bobbin case and it balls up thred on the bottom side of what I'm trying to sew.i know it's me not the machine. I can't wait to actually figure out what I'm doing wrong.

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  17. The tiniest piece of thread caught in the bobbin casing can cause it to do that. Take it apart and make sure it is clear. Hope this helps.

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  18. I'm the original owner of my Singer 327 cabinet model, and just had it serviced after all these years of disuse. I wasn't sure it was worth it, but the technician assured me that even though new machines could be purchased for roughly the same price, this all metal machine was worth the investment. I'm about to find out.

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  19. Bought my 327 (including a pristine original manual) in 1977--one of my first purchases after college graduation because I wanted to be able to make my own window treatments, pillow covers, etc, when living on a tight budget. Will never trade it in. While I'd like to be able to hem knits, it otherwise does everything I need--a workhorse that's only needed a minor repair once in all these years (because it had been so rarely serviced--my bad). Since March I have made hundreds of facemasks for donate to healthcare workers, low-income moms, and food pantry clients. The 327 is my daily companion--love it.

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