Singer · Zigzag · Late 1950s to early 1960s (manual dated 1958)
Singer sold the 401A as the world's first automatic with a slant needle and gear drive, and its 1958 manual calls it the only automatic zigzag for home use made entirely in America. It was built in Anderson, South Carolina, in an aluminium body with the needle bar tilted toward you so you can see where you're sewing. Open the lid and you choose built-in stitches from an eye-level chart, and five Special Discs add more. There's no drive belt to slip. The motor meshes with a worm gear and the arm shaft runs on bevel gears lapped together at the factory. Sewists rate it among Singer's best, so expect plenty of company when you shop. Check it has its Special Discs and slant-shank feet, because standard low-shank feet won't fit.
Under the throat plate
Ask for a photo under the slide plate with the bobbin case in place. A missing bobbin case or the wrong needle system is the most common reason a machine that looks fine won’t sew.
The usual trouble is old grease hardened on the gears, which makes the machine stiff or sluggish. Missing Special Discs and slant-shank feet are common, and anyone oiling the gears instead of greasing them makes a mess.
New to old machines? How to check a used sewing machine walks through the handwheel, the wiring, the bobbin case and a test seam.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 401A with its case, foot pedal and manual at $310 delivered from a 99.1% seller, under the $290–420 delivered band most complete 401As ask. There are at least 51 for sale, and heavy-parcel shipping of $75 to $145 is a big share of the cost on many, while the cabinet machines mostly quote none, so plan on pickup for those. Count the five Special Discs, check the feet are slant shank, and ask for a video of the handwheel turned by hand, since hardened grease on the gears is what usually makes a 401A stiff. Skip the zero-feedback accounts sharing the copied title "Working Fine", which ask $320 to $1,544 delivered.
$334.17est. delivered
The lowest delivered 401A titled working, at $334 delivered with its foot pedal and power cord. The $144 shipping is most of that, so make an offer on the price and ask for a video of it sewing a zigzag.
Singer 401A Sewing Machine Slant O Matic Foot Pedal Power Cord Vintage Working🔥
$310.00est. delivered
A 401A with its case, foot pedal and manual at $310 delivered, under the band median of about $341. It isn't titled tested, so ask for a video of a zigzag and one built-in stitch, and count the Special Discs in the photos.
Vintage Singer 401A SLANT-O-MATIC Sewing Machine, Foot Pedal, Manual And Case
$425.00est. delivered
Titled professionally serviced, with extras, so the gears should have fresh grease. At $425 delivered it's at the top of the band, so ask what the service covered and whether the five Special Discs are there.
SINGER SEWING MACHINE MODEL 401A PROFESSIONALY SERVICED EXTRAS
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$334.17est. delivered
$190.00 + $144.17 shipping
Buy It Now$190.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Titled working, with pedal and cord. $144 shipping.
Seller: steviev1976
100% positive
Used$310.00est. delivered
$250.00 + $60.00 shipping
Buy It Now$250.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
With case, foot pedal and manual. Not titled tested.
Seller: soaringhocksales
99.1% positive
Serviced$425.00est. delivered
$350.00 + $75.00 shipping
Buy It Now$350.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Titled professionally serviced, with extras.
Seller: kensellsusedvacs2145
100% positive
Used$173.64est. delivered
$95.00 + $78.64 shipping
Buy It Now$95.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Our take
Not titled tested. The photo shows the foot control.
Seller: bradtwizzler
100% positive
Used$341.44est. delivered
$250.00 + $91.44 shipping
Buy It Now$250.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
In its hard case. Not titled tested.
Seller: carrion-pickers
100% positive
Used$348.99est. delivered
$299.99 + $49.00 shipping
Buy It Now$299.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled working. Ask for a photo of the foot control.
Seller: sahorban
99.4% positive
Used$274.94est. delivered
$250.00 + $24.94 shipping
Buy It Now$250.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Zero-feedback seller with a bare title, and a cabinet in the photo for $25 shipping. Pay only through eBay checkout.
Seller: s3ascloset
No feedback yet
Used$1,544.17est. delivered
$1,400.00 + $144.17 shipping
Buy It Now$1,400.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Copied title shared by three zero-feedback sellers, at over four times the median. Avoid.
Seller: alexthemexicoin
No feedback yet
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