Wizcrafts

I happen to know a dealer who has a Gritzner hand operated sole stitcher that he just might sell, in the USA.

A Frobana sole stitcher will do what you want to do. It only sews along the outer edge of a shoe, with a minimum 1/4 inch thickness, using curved needles. The machines and needles are available from Power Shoe in Holland. They are available in manual or power stand configurations. Alternately, you can buy a Landis sole stitcher in the USA.

Sometimes it is easier to flip the table on its back to change motors and wiring. Take the machine head off completely, as well as the thread stand and remove the accessory drawer. Clean the oli pan with a paper towel, then flip it on its back side. You may need to use a vise grip to hold the carriage bolt heads as you loosen the nuts under the motor mounting brackets.

Ask your dealer what it is cloned after. With that information you can discover what parts are available for it.

Add back tension to the top thread by wrapping around the holes in the guide before the upper tension disks. This may cause too much top tension, so back off the beehive spring nut to compensate. OR If still no happy happy, feed the thread under the little stud on the right side of the tension disks, then up and over/inside the disks. The sharp turn up and down should keep the thread in the center of the disks. OR Some thread, especially black bonded nylon, is very springy. Try a different spool or brand of thread.

Joey; Bob is too modest to let you know that he sells the Family Sew FS-550S servo motor. It is all you will need. No need for a reducer.

You should contact industrial sewing machine dealers to find an oil pan, if any still exist. They will also have the tilt-back pins, depending on what style your table is cutout to take.

You may find that quite a few of or member-dealers prefer to sell over the phone rather than over the Internet. Some of them are just used to doing things the old fashioned, proven way. I know at least two of our member dealers who prefer to talk to customers on the phone and use their websites mostly for information, rather than sales.

Did you know that you can buy a used Campbell Lockstitch Machine directly from Campbell-Randall, in Yoakum Texas?

Power Shoe, in Holland, sells a motorized Frobana sole stitcher. I think you can also get them in the US and Canada through the folks that sell Landis shoe repair machines. Note, the Frobana only sews along the outside perimeter. It does not have any appreciable depth to sew inside or insoles. For that you will need a heavier post machine, or an insole stitcher. All decorative sewing for your shoes can be done on a flat or post bed machine, equipped with either a roller foot, or a full triple feed walking foot. Some pictures of your work will help. Also, have you been to the Crispin Colloquy website? It is all about shoe and boot making techniques and equipment.

The specs on consew.com say it is a light to medium duty cylinder arm, walking foot machine. It claims fairly low clearance under the feet, which if true allows for not much more than 1/4 inch of material. It will be pretty good for garment sewing and light upholstery, with polyester, cotton, or thin bonded nylon thread

You are talking about old iron. What are you looking for in sewing capacity?

Grease (Vaseline will do) the gears. Oil goes in oil holes in the body, and on moving crankshafts.

Describe your projects and plans for leather goods and we can offer more suggestions. For instance, while not actually a leather machine as such, the Consew 206RB-5 does sew up to 3/8" of medium temper leather, with #138 bonded nylon thread. They usually sell for right around $1200.

The Singer 15-91 is NOT a leather sewing machine. In fact, it barely feed Naugahyde, in my own experience. The Consew 206RB-5 is a basic level leather sewing machine and an mid-upper level Naugahyde machine.

The Featherweight is not designed to sew leather. It has light weight components and is meant for broad cloth garments and quilts.

This machine is a good all round leather stitcher. It can sew from about 6 ounces, up to 1/2 inch, with thread as heavy as #415. Personally, I would limit the thread to #277 & #277 top and bottom, or maybe #346 on top and #277 on the bottom. It is a few hundred more that the price you suggested, but well worth the extra funds. This type of machine is a compound, triple feed walking foot machine.

Baby steps, Grasshopper. Looking better all the time.

To change to #138 thread, change to a #23 needle, increase the top thread tension a turn or two and crank down the presser foot pressure adjuster. Also, make sure that both feet go all the way down, alternately.

Keyair; It may be time to take or ship the head to a qualified industrial sewing machine shop. Have them correct the tensioner disks and plates, time the feed dog and needle to the hook - at all stitch lengths, tighten loose screws and adjust the walking feet for equal lift, then oil and lube it as needed. Ask them to set it up so that the machine can sew with any thread from #69 through #138, on top and bottom, or explain why it can't handle #138 thread. BTW: I recommend using a #23 needle with #138 thread, top and bottom. A good mechanic will be able to do all that in an hour or two. It will be money well spent.

My 1921 31-15 will not pass #138 thread around the shuttle and bobbin case, no matter what adjustments I make. I consider them garment machines, best limited to #69 thread. Newer models, so to speak, may handle #138, if you are lucky. The springs and take-up parts are not meant for heavy work.

Merry Christmas back atcha Steve.

From what I've read, a number 5 needle is about the right size for use with 5 cord waxed linen thread. You may also try some bonded nylon or polyester, say #207. Anything thicker and the knots will be hard to center.

Very nice redesign Steve. Kudos to the Webmaster.

I think that you may have better luck if you posted your question on the Crispin Colloquy Shoe Machines forum They are the foremost shoe and boot making forum I know of. Other than that, if you do use the Frobana, try to get a small enough needle to sew with 4 or 5 cord thread. The knots should be centerable with that thickness of thread into thin soles.